Buying Advice MF 202 loader/backhoe

[Carl in CT]

Hi, I'm new to TBN and could use some advice. I am thinking of getting an older loader/backhoe and I found a Massey Ferguson 202 for $4,000. I am hoping to go look at it tonight. It seems like a decent price if everything works but I don't know a real lot about tractors and was hoping for a little advice.

The guy said it has been well maintained and the only issue is the backhoe has a slight leak in the cylinder so it leaks down in about 30 seconds from full upright. Sounds like more than a minor leak to come down that fast but he swears the backhoe still has tons of power, he just chains it up to move the tractor around. I'm OK with that as long as it really is OK to keep running it like that for a while until I can get the cylinder rebuilt. I don't know how much that would cost.

Are there any obvious red flags I should look for without being a tractor mechanic? Does that seem like a fair price if it's in decent shape? I tried to attach pics, hopefully they came through.

Thanks

- Carl

 

[jlsmith]

Thats not a bad price but it will cost 3 to 5 hundred to fix the cylinder depending on which one it is. just check for knocks and keep plenty on hyd fluid in it till u get it fixed. Im a MF dealer and would b glad to help u any way i can.

 

[Carl in CT]

Thanks jlsmith. I'm hoping to bring my friend who is a tractor mechanic with me but I can't get ahold of him so I may be on my own. The owner of this machine says he looses about a teaspoon of hyd fluid every time he uses the backhoe for a while (not sure how long "a while" is) but it is not gushing out by any means. Are you near CT if I need to get a cylinder rebuilt and I can't hire my buddy to do it?

 

[Carl in CT]

Anyone else have any thoughts on the price if it's in decent shape or any general opinions on that model tractor?

 

[Carl in CT]

Well, I did not get a chance to look at this tractor as I had hoped but maybe that's for the best. The guy has changed his ad to include details he did not share with me over the phone. It's a 1958, it smokes a bit/burns oil, he thinks it needs new rings and it says it has it has a few leaking hydraulic cylinders. He has reduced the price to $3,500 firm. Turns out it is not in CT as he stated before but it's in RI so it may not be feasible for me to go get it either. So now the question is in light of these new negative details does $3,500 seem fair assuming there are not other issues that we know about?

 

[doall]

I think you should look around some more. Don't want to build an engine and a cylinder do you? But its not a terrible price.

 

[Carl in CT]

No, I don't want to rebuild an engine right now. Actually it might be fun if I had a garage to work in, time to work on it, etc. Hard enough working on my cars, lawn mowers and house nights/weekends as it is. I dunno, if it doesn't smoke too bad maybe I could put off the rebuild for a while. It's just for homeowner use, digging out some stumps, rearranging one of our wonderful New England stone walls, etc.

 

[racerboy832]

Not to Jump in but, My Father in Law has a 1957 350 International Utility Tractor with front loader and backhoe. He's getting ready to sell it cause he has no use for it. He is in Danbury Connecticut. He said he wanted $4000 but would take $3500 for it. If you or anyone is interested let me know. I can pass on his #. Thank.

 

[jlsmith]

Not a bad price but would check around. Like the other guy said, may need alot of work and money.

 

[Carl in CT]

Busy week, anyway now the guy has dropped the price to $3,000, here is his latest ad.

"strong unit in operational condition. Everything is functional. It has a very easy to work on 4 cylinder gas engine. This tractor will need an overhual in future. It has a couple leaky hydraulic cylinders and it smokes quite a bit. It has had three new hydraulic lines installed, fuel tank flushed out and oil changed. Also has aftermarket alternator. Sold with manuals. Rebuild kit costs $700 for this unit. Hydraulic seals are $15 each. I am letting this go for $3000 because I am moving and need money. I will not go any less then that, so please don't call with the intention of getting an awsome deal when I am already giving one."

So the price seems OK as long as I don't mind either overhauling the motor in the near future or hoping it holds together long enouigh for me to do my work. Then I could sell it and let the next guy know the problems so he can deal with it. I'd probably want a tractor for a while though, maybe the overhaul would be worth it in the next year or so, just don't have time to deal with it right away.

 

[Carl in CT]

Hey racerboy832, I appreciate that offer. Danbury is over an hour from me but if your Father in Law's tractor is in good condition I may be interested. I will have to either rent/borrow a trailer or hire someone to transport it unless he can help with that. If you want to send a private message with his number I'll try and give him a call.

Thanks!

 

[MFRED]

That thing will probably run another 10 years smoking a little bit. I would buy it if I needed one. It's worth almost $3,000 in scrap, pull the cylinders & sell those seperate, you can't lose.
No, really, I think if it starts and runs decent, and can do the work you need, it will probably still do a lot of work and save you a lot of money in the end.

Rebuilding an engine and doing it right will cost more than the $700 kit. If the machine has life in it, it's worth the rebuild.

 

[Carl in CT]

I'm a shade tree mechanic at best and I don't have a barn or garage to work on something major like an engine overhaul. If it ran long enough to get my work done and I sell it just to recoup most of my money, great. If it craps out before I'm done, I guess I could still get most of the money back but then I'm scrambling for another one before winter. I'd like to get something I can run for a few years though. Maybe this one would, hard to say.

It's always a risk trying to get anything for cheap but beggars can't be choosers. Guess I just have to keep gathering info, looking around and eventually decide which one to gamble on.

I certainly do appreciate the responses from everyone, it's a tremendous help, more info/opinions are always welcome!!!

I've also located an IH 300 Utility with loader/backhoe, it's $1,000 more. The guy said the engine is great, no smoke, probably no overhaul needed too soon. Uh oh, is it bad to mention an IH on the MF forum? I have a tread open in the Case-IH forum for that one.

 

[Carl in CT]

OK, I have found another Work Bull but the guy says it's a Work Bull 55. Is that right? I can't find any such thing online. He thinks it's from the mid 1960's. He says it runs good, no real smoke, no leaks, everything works for $3,000. The catch is it's over an hour away so I need to find transportation. If I rent a trailer or hire someone I need to know how much it weighs and I can't find specs anywhere. I'm thinking it is a Work Bull 202 and he just has his numbers crossed. Anyone know about how much a Work BUll 202 with backhoe and loader would weigh?

 

[Carl in CT]

So I bought this mystery tractor today for $3,000. He is going to deliver it to me for just the cost of gas and $75 to rent a trailer. I still don't know exactly what model it is which I know is kinda dumb but the thing ran well, no major leaks and everything worked good so I went for it. He still says it's a MF Work Bull 55 but I still can't find that model listed anywhere.

I took it for a drive, it shifted nice, power steering worked good. I got to dig with the hoe which worked well and the loader worked well. Rear tires are in very good condition, no cracks or dry rot and good tread. Fronts are truck tires, dry rotted a bit but hold air and have decent tread so not that bad.

I just didn't see finding a fully operational loader/backhoe for $3,000 that I can have delivered for $125 so I jumped. It's going to be delivered Wed. evening. I'll post some pics and details when I find out what it actually is. It's not pretty but who cares, if I like it enough maybe I'll paint it.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Sounds like a good buy. I expect the fast leak is a "control" seal and not the cylinder itself.

Look at the engine and you should find some numbers and I am sure it is a standard MF engine of the era in it. Unless it does not have much power or you just want a hobby I would not rebuild it just because it smokes.

A gas MF is a sweet spot for an old tractor vs diesel in my book. They can be jump started with a light battery and as long as the engine can power the pump that is all it needs to be able to do.

Keep a mixture of 2 oz to a gallon of gas in the tank at all times. I would use it in the crank case an hour before changing the engine oil too in case the smoking is from sticking rings. I do NOT do any WOT stuff with Sea Foam in the crank case. Instructions are on the can. All of my gas and diesel engines that I service gets the Sea Foam in the crank case.

Update us when you get it.

 

[Carl in CT]

I got the little gem tonight. All rusty and ugly and the guy left the key in the ignition and in the on position for the 2 hour haul so of course the battery was dead. A quick jump and it fired right up. Unfortunately he came late, around dusk and I had to go somewhere with the wife/kids so I haven't even played around with it yet.

The manual he gave me was for Massey Ferguson 202-204. Tomorrow I will look for the model and serial numbers on the tractor - uh, can anyone tell me where I might find that?

I know the loader is a Davis loader, not sure about the backhoe yet. Funny though, I think the front of the tractor says MHF but it was faint and it was almost dark. Could that be Massey-Harris-Ferguson? If so it must be a bit older right?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Could be a transition model?

 

[Carl in CT]

Took a quick look before work this morning, I think the plate with the serial number is missing. There are four holes in a square next to the steering column, I think that's where it was. The previous owner gave me a complete shop manual with the tractor and from the sheet metal appearance the book says it is a model 202 before a serial number 301 194 which I think would date it to late 1958 or early 1959. There is a number written down in the manual that reads JGF 300188 but that does not look right for a MF serial number. Tractordata.com and other sources say the earliest numbers for the 202 are 1958: 301172 and I don't see any other models with that serial number. Might never get the serial number but at least I think it is a 1958 202.

 

[Carl in CT]

Here are some pics. I don't really think it's ugly and not that rusty really. Just needs a good wash and fresh paint.