36 years ago...

[flusher]

Not that cheap.... MSRP was $4100 roughly. I paid $3750 delivered to the farm along with an assortment of filters and a hat. A 150 diesel in average condition sells for around $6000 here now. Doubtful you could get this one for double that.

FWJ: excellent job. Hope my MF-135 refurbishment turns out half as nice as your 150.

That $3750 (1971 dollars) is worth about $15,000 in today's money.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

FWJ: excellent job. Hope my MF-135 refurbishment turns out half as nice as your 150.

That $3750 (1971 dollars) is worth about $15,000 in today's money.

And a shiney NEW Massey Ferguson 533 sells for around $15,000 in todays money. It's the closest thing to compare to. I'll still take what I got with the '71 bucks.

Oh yeah, thanks!

Here's what she looked like just before the paint started flying. 2 days after this picture, it was dismantled for the better part of 2 months. Entire job, 16 months to date. (and not entirely finished.)

 

[billbill1]

She looked darn good before you started, better now tho.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Wow, what a great job. I agree with Bird, change your "handle" name.

I hope you have a bead blaster or something like it to help remove all the old paint from all the small parts...whew...

My mother bought a brand new FORD Pinto in 1971 for $2500. What a hunk of junk. I doubt it looks as good as your Massey now. It's probably been melted down to make jinma's with it by now.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Wow, what a great job. I agree with Bird, change your "handle" name.

I hope you have a bead blaster or something like it to help remove all the old paint from all the small parts...whew...

My mother bought a brand new FORD Pinto in 1971 for $2500. What a hunk of junk. I doubt it looks as good as your Massey now. It's probably been melted down to make jinma's with it by now.

I'm considering a name change. On another site I frequent, someone already had the same (simular) username (Farm w/ junk) so I started using a new name that describes what obsessive restorations on an old Massey can do to your checkbook. MF Poor. May switch here someday.

No bead blaster. I've got a couple different SAND blasters, but don't use them too often. I use wire brush, wire wheel/angle grinder, paint scraper, sharpened screwdriver, air gun, sand paper, paint solvent, ect. Next project in line is a rust ball. May have to invest in a bead blaster cabinet before hand.

Just a few months prior to buying the Massey, I bought a new 1970 Chevy C20 pick-em-up truck. It's sitting out behind the barn over at my sons place.. Remove all the rust on that mess and you'll have 4 old tires left over.

 

[Harvey7]

Sweet tractor, gotta love those Massey's.

 

[chad22]

I know this is an old thread. But I thought I would post anyway.

You did a great Job on that tractor. :thumbsup: Fantastic restore.

Chad

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I know this is an old thread. But I thought I would post anyway.

You did a great Job on that tractor. :thumbsup: Fantastic restore.

Chad

Wow....

Here it tis again, age 40 now.

I should have bought TWO of 'em! I'm that pleased with it.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[JB4310]

That sure is handsome :thumbsup:

JB

 

[MasseyWV]

Very nice job on the restoration! I hope to achieve the same results someday. Altogether, how many hours would you estimate it took you to get from the before to the after?

 

[Bob77064]

Great job, looks new.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Very nice job on the restoration! I hope to achieve the same results someday. Altogether, how many hours would you estimate it took you to get from the before to the after?

Wow...Old post revived.

It's now approaching "41 years ago"....

I started with a "before" that was in excellent mechanical condition. That cuts off a number of steps in a typical restoration. The entire process was an ongoing project that lasted for over a year. The lions share was done in a couple months during the winter/spring of '06. Done right, even with the tractor being used just as it had in the past, a good refurbishing will hold up just like a NEW tractor's paint/overall condition. There's a little paint wear around hand holds on fenders, on the pedals and running boards, and on some of the 3-point hitch, but in general, she still looks good today, after 700+ hours of additional use. Just a wild guess on my part, but I probably spent roughly 250 to 300 hours of fussing and fiddling with the 150 to get it "right".

 

[MasseyWV]

Wow...Old post revived.

It's now approaching "41 years ago"....

I started with a "before" that was in excellent mechanical condition. That cuts off a number of steps in a typical restoration. The entire process was an ongoing project that lasted for over a year. The lions share was done in a couple months during the winter/spring of '06. Done right, even with the tractor being used just as it had in the past, a good refurbishing will hold up just like a NEW tractor's paint/overall condition. There's a little paint wear around hand holds on fenders, on the pedals and running boards, and on some of the 3-point hitch, but in general, she still looks good today, after 700+ hours of additional use. Just a wild guess on my part, but I probably spent roughly 250 to 300 hours of fussing and fiddling with the 150 to get it "right".

I noticed that the "before" appeared to have been well cared for, albeit used as a tractor should be. I'm quickly learning that I will be very fortunate if I can find one that even comes close to approaching that kind of condition to use as a starting point for a full restoration project.

 

[Soundguy]

well cared for originals, with use, make some of the best restorations.

I have a ford 4000 4 cyl from 63.. it was wearing original tires and paint when I got it.

it had usual character marks.. but had been maintained pretty good.

it made a very nice restoration..

I love those pics FWJ posted. VERY nice work!

 

[greenmachine86]

Looks good!

 

[creekbend]

I realize that this is a revived post, but I wasn't a member of TBN when you first posted. I wish to take the time now to compliment you on your restoration project. Well done. :thumbsup:

 

[cobraclay]

FWJ,
I just purchased an MF 150 Diesel, and am pleased with its condition enough that Id like to restore it, and Id like to try and keep it as original as possible, as it appears to not have been overly tampered with or beat up. I was wondering if you could email me some picture files of your tractor as its one of the nicest I have seen on the internet. Thanks for any help you can be. Close ups of the dash and gauge area would be helpful too as I can see just about everything else from the pictures you have already posted throughout the years, I hope to someday collect some of those nice implements you have to compliment my tractor as well!

Clay

 

[165jim]

outstanding restoration,fwj. its almost impossible to find a 150 here in northern ohio. the local dealer said at the time,they sold 18-20 135's and 165's for every 150. our first 135 cost us 2700 in'66 gas w/basic options and got a '68 165d w/ everything for$ 4800.it even had the pressure control hitch on it. its something we never used to much. wonder how many on here know what pressure control was?
i had tried to get dad to buy a 150 ,but he had to watch his pennys to earn a living on the small dairy farm he had. at that time credit was alot harder to get than it is now. i got a new k-20 chev. 4wd pickup in 75'- now wished i would have picked up one of the last 150s made.-jim


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