Look how much I saved by doing it myself...

   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #1  

Old Gray Mare

Silver Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
136
Location
Ash Fork, AZ
Tractor
'96 Massey Ferguson 1250 4x4 w/1246 FEL, 6' LandPride rear blade, ABI rock rake, Farnam 8' double arena harrow.
My MF 1250 sprung a bad radiator leak and needed to be repaired or replaced. I am *very* rural in northern Arizona with no nearby tractor mechanics. Also, I am 66, live alone, and an "old gray mare*. I don't have access to a trailer to haul the tractor to get it repaired. I spent a couple of days getting estimates and finding someone who would actually do the work LOL! Taking it to a radiator shop would have entailed me taking the dang thing out, so I cowgirled-up and did it all by myself :silly: Here's what I saved!!

Repair shop 75 miles away:

Pick up tractor........................... $275
Deliver tractor............................ $275
6 hours shop labor in Arizona......... $720
Radiator repair............................ $250
Parts......................................... $150

TOTAL...................................... $1670

What it cost to DIY:

Reconditioned/repaired as new
radiator purchased online.............. $140
1 gallon antifreeze........................ $18
1 gallon distilled water................... $1
1 1/2" hose clamp......................... $1
Cleaned/inspected/reused hoses...... $0
Cleaned/inspected/reused cap......... $0

TOTAL........................................ $160

NET SAVINGS............................... $1510!!!!!!!

Now THAT is worth crowing about :laughing:
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #2  
Congrats - glad to hear that Massey is all fixed up!
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #3  
Where did you get the radiator at?
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #4  
Great Job - There is a lot of satisfaction in fixing stuff youself:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself...
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Where did you get the radiator at?

A shop in North Carolina that repairs small tractors & garden equipment had it. Apparently the tractor it came out of had a problem with the fan and it caused damage to the fins and dented the bottom tank. It only had 86 hours on it, so MF replaced the radiator with a new one (must have been under warranty?). It was a few years ago. The shop owner gave it to one of the guys to fix/sell and he had it repaired at a radiator shop (he gave me the repair receipt). The radiator looks brand new and functions perfectly :)

It was a complete fluke that I found this because they are extremely rare! Now I have to figure out what to do with the one I pulled out :rolleyes:
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #6  
Clean it up, fix it and sell it for $140
(Or more since their rare donchaknow)
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #7  
Woohoo. :thumbsup: Probably got it done in less time than the shop would have too.
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #8  
Good for you, OGM.:thumbsup:
 
   / Look how much I saved by doing it myself... #10  
Priceless , proud of ya .
 

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