Suddenly addicted to our MH50!

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

Hello all,

I am new to this forum and joined to hopefully get a few great tips on being a tractor owner. I was given a '56 Massey Harris 50 by my father. He purchased this tractor in the mid 80s and feels it is time to pass it on. He used it primarily for plowing his steep mile long road to the house. I have been using it over the past week to practice for plowing soon

and had a few questions about it and found this forum.

First is....
Where can I find a mount for the front of the tractor for pulling and attachments?
Is there any special maintenance things I need to know.
How to get it started in cold temps? I had trouble today when it was 35' F but it started right up at 50'F.

Attaching a few photos. My 13 year old motor head son is addicted, just like I am! Thanks for reading and hope to hear form some!

kmassing · Oct 25, 2015

I can't help with your Massey questions, but that is a jewel! Really nice tractor.

Utopia Texas · Oct 25, 2015

I hate to be the one to tell you this but your son may never give you the chance to drive the tractor at all!
I remember when I was 12 and my family bought our first used Ford 8N. I spent many a hundred great hours on that tractor as a teenager!!!

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

Thank you, kmassing!

UT, I am seeing that already in him. But it will also give him a feeling of usefulness and his ideas to keep busy positive with productive things to do. That alone is worth that tractor's weight in gold. It's another task to place on his resume or scholarship application. He plans to be an automotive engineer. He already is trying to modify cars and trucks to make them better.

Utopia Texas · Oct 25, 2015

snuppaelena said:
Thank you, kmassing!

UT, I am seeing that already in him. But it will also give him a feeling of usefulness and his ideas to keep busy positive with productive things to do. That alone is worth that tractor's weight in gold. It's another task to place on his resume or scholarship application. He plans to be an automotive engineer. He already is trying to modify cars and trucks to make them better.

Don't be surprised when he wants to mount a Cherry Bomb muffler on the Massey !

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

Much like the glass packs we have on a '62 Willys that is being restored. Lol

dgeesaman · Oct 25, 2015

I don't know much about older diesels, but on my NH the engine starts up much better when the oil is synthetic. Shell Rotella 5w-40 is reasonably priced.

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

kmassing said:
I can't help with your Massey questions, but that is a jewel! Really nice tractor.

dgeesaman said:
I don't know much about older diesels, but on my NH the engine starts up much better when the oil is synthetic. Shell Rotella 5w-40 is reasonably priced.

Thank you for the reply.
I should specify more on my Massey. It's a gas powered Massey and has had trouble with the gas tank and gas line from tank to engine. It has been replaced and a shut off valve and needle valve placed. Now starting it yesterday was near impossible til the afternoon when it warmed up. I even warmed the line in case there was water from condensation in the way and frozen, blocking the flow.
I'll find out what oil was placed when it was changed a few weeks ago.

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

I forgot to mention we do use the lead additive to the gas as it requires leaded gas.

murphy1244 · Oct 25, 2015

Howdy snuppaelene! You will find a lot of help in the Massey vintage forum.

George2615 · Oct 25, 2015

Since its gas you should have a choke on the carb with a cable to close it for cold starts. If you have a choke cable check to make sure it closes all the way when you pull the cable.
Can't help with front mounts for attachments. You may find some searching on line or may have to make your own. What kind of attachments are you planning to front mount.

PHPaul · Oct 25, 2015

I suspect your starting problem is one of (or a combination of) two things:

1. Make sure you have a good gas supply to the carb, lines are clear, filter (if any) is clean and a good flow.

2. Make sure the choke is working properly. Don't know about your application specifically, but typically on tractors that old, the choke is just a butterfly plate on the air cleaner side of the carb with a rod or cable opening and closing it.

Is it running good once it does start? Plenty of power, smooth idle, good throttle response?

Ivan49 · Oct 25, 2015

Couple of things to check, make sure your choke is working, use the oil like was suggested, and change your plugs and check the timing. If worst comes to worst hand a light under a cover on it at night or install a block heater. That is a nice looking tractor

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

George2615 said:
Since its gas you should have a choke on the carb with a cable to close it for cold starts. If you have a choke cable check to make sure it closes all the way when you pull the cable.
Can't help with front mounts for attachments. You may find some searching on line or may have to make your own. What kind of attachments are you planning to front mount.

My son and I will look for the choke. We will need it on cold days soon here in North Idaho.

Front mounts: My son has a 4-H steer, and we have horses and goats, I would love to be able to move round bales with a spear, possibly have it as an attachment on a front bucket. For rear attachments, possibly harrow and plowing field.
We often have to pull stumps and would like to have the option of pulling from the front for safety.

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

PHPaul said:
I suspect your starting problem is one of (or a combination of) two things:

1. Make sure you have a good gas supply to the carb, lines are clear, filter (if any) is clean and a good flow.

2. Make sure the choke is working properly. Don't know about your application specifically, but typically on tractors that old, the choke is just a butterfly plate on the air cleaner side of the carb with a rod or cable opening and closing it.

Is it running good once it does start? Plenty of power, smooth idle, good throttle response?

I will locate the choke. The fuel sediment bowl assembly and fuel on/off valve have been newly replaced. Once it starts it has power, sounds smooth and throttle response is good. When we are done we do have to shut off fuel and close the fuel sediment bowl assembly or it will drip gas.

snuppaelena · Oct 25, 2015

Ivan49 said:
Couple of things to check, make sure your choke is working, use the oil like was suggested, and change your plugs and check the timing. If worst comes to worst hand a light under a cover on it at night or install a block heater. That is a nice looking tractor

Ivan, I am looking into a heat lamp to have for the colder days if this continues. Possibly will look into a block heater. We will need the tractor for plowing this winter, the ol Subaru can only handle a few feet of snow!

jimmysisson · Oct 26, 2015

Choke knob is under dash on left side and pulls a rod, not a cable. I had an MH 50 40 years ago. Continental 4 cyl gas. Normally started down to zero in a turn or two. Before winter make sure your ignition system is in too shape, too.
Sounds like a fuel-to-carb problem, or float in carb is set too low and running past. A block heater will help too.
You will like the power. You won't be moving round bales up front unless you get a loader. I'd recommend a 3-point hitch bale spear. That tractor was designed before loaders were so popular. With tire chains that rig will push a lot of snow. Nice to see the old girl.
Jim

snuppaelena · Oct 26, 2015

jimmysisson said:
Choke knob is under dash on left side and pulls a rod, not a cable. I had an MH 50 40 years ago. Continental 4 cyl gas. Normally started down to zero in a turn or two. Before winter make sure your ignition system is in too shape, too.
Sounds like a fuel-to-carb problem, or float in carb is set too low and running past. A block heater will help too.
You will like the power. You won't be moving round bales up front unless you get a loader. I'd recommend a 3-point hitch bale spear. That tractor was designed before loaders were so popular. With tire chains that rig will push a lot of snow. Nice to see the old girl.
Jim

Thank you! We did locate the choke, she started right up yesterday morning when it was 34'F with a slight adjustment of the choke. Good idea on the three point hitch bale spear. My father never removed the chains and they are wearing thin. We removed them and will replace when snow flies. She is a gem. I feel honored to have this Massey!