Hello! Having lived on my 5 acre mostly wooded lot for the last 12 years, I figured it was about time I invested in a tractor to help be a bit more efficient. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, am able to diagnose and fix most problems that come up with the dirt bikes and daily drivers. However I have not owned anything tractorwise bigger than a riding lawnmower. I have some experience operating heavy machinery, but not much on the mechanical maintenance side, which I'm looking forward to learning.
I was looking for something for under $5k with a FEL. Turns out that is a tall order to ask around here. After months of looking, I found a 1962 MF 65 Diesel. Purchased for $3800 which included a box scraper and additional blade scraper. Motor sound fantastic. Started right up with the push button. Drove it back and forth a bit, and loaded up onto my trailer for the 3 hour drive home.
The next day I had a better chance to look at it. For one thing, it doesn't seem to want to start without a small squirt of starter fluid in the morning. Once it's started once, no problem after that until it sits a while again. I think that means the injectors may be bad. No worries.
Front steering tied rod/linkage needs some work. Oversteers by a lot one way, and barely turns the other. Tie rod bushings all blown out. Will get that all replaced.
The previous owner gave me a I&T Shop Manual for it, but it's pretty vague and covers a broad spectrum of MF. I ordered a factory service repair manual and parts catalog for the MF 65, I'm sure that will make chasing parts down much easier.
I think I got a decent deal on the thing, and I am looking forward to slowly restoring it for many more years of use on the farm!
I was looking for something for under $5k with a FEL. Turns out that is a tall order to ask around here. After months of looking, I found a 1962 MF 65 Diesel. Purchased for $3800 which included a box scraper and additional blade scraper. Motor sound fantastic. Started right up with the push button. Drove it back and forth a bit, and loaded up onto my trailer for the 3 hour drive home.
The next day I had a better chance to look at it. For one thing, it doesn't seem to want to start without a small squirt of starter fluid in the morning. Once it's started once, no problem after that until it sits a while again. I think that means the injectors may be bad. No worries.
Front steering tied rod/linkage needs some work. Oversteers by a lot one way, and barely turns the other. Tie rod bushings all blown out. Will get that all replaced.
The previous owner gave me a I&T Shop Manual for it, but it's pretty vague and covers a broad spectrum of MF. I ordered a factory service repair manual and parts catalog for the MF 65, I'm sure that will make chasing parts down much easier.
I think I got a decent deal on the thing, and I am looking forward to slowly restoring it for many more years of use on the farm!