Awwww man.......! (tragedy strikes)

[Farmwithjunk]

It HAD to happen sooner or later.... My '71 MF 150 suffered a mechanical failure yesterday.

Almost 4 years ago, I decided to "clean it up". That led to an eventual paint job, a few thousand hours of searching Ebay/Craigslist/internet sites to find OEM "original" parts to make it look as new as possible. Nothing seriously mechanical was touched. It didn't need anything, 'cept a set of tires, belts and hoses, and a couple tie rod ends.

During the "clean up", I put on things like new emergency flasher lights, a new steering wheel center cap, seat cushion, battery cables, and a host of other "detail parts". Again, nothing major.

3451 hours on the clock. 38 years, 35 of that spent on the farm. Since the clean-up, she's done mostly hay work around my place and a LOT of bush hogging. 541 hours since the paint flew.... Since, only oil changes, a couple flat front tires, a new (home made) water bottle holder, and a new SMV emblem.

Then tragedy struck.....Parts failure

The dang crimp-on connector (original) where the hot wire connects to the fuel gauge decided to come off the wire. OH NO.....

Took every bit of 2 minutes to trace down the problem, put no a new end, re-connect, and go on with life. I'm thinking this wasn't the first domino to fall, just a fluke. This has to be the most reliable tractor ever built.

They don't build 'em like they used to.

 

[irvingj]

Know the feeling! After 27 years and about 200,000 miles, --imagine this-- I had to replace the front rotors on my '72 Blazer, and then the darned parking brake cable broke, and the water pump began to leak! Man, they just don't build 'em like they used to....

Watch out for all those other parts to fail!

 

[milkman]

Your problem began when you decided to "clean it up", that's the beginning of things starting to happen, next thing you know the SMV sign will start to peel.

 

[jinman]

Only 367k miles on my Dodge Cummins and the darn windshield washer quit. Dadgummit! I know just how you feel.

 

[Thomas]

You got me hook line sinker.

I couldn't believe rear tire needed replacement after all these decades on my 1965 JD 110 lawn tractor.

 

[RollTideRam]

You should have sold it before it started to nickle and dime you to death. JC

 

[Mace Canute]

Only 38 years old and already a failure? You're right! They sure don't build 'em like they used to!

 

[lawn_king]

Im still running 2 lesco 30 core aerators i purchased new in 1985, i have repowered them both several times and replaced the bearings every other year. Son of a gun, these machines may outlast me?

 

[Texas Tractor Man]

I would demand satisfaction from the manufacturer. Having a wire become disconnected in that amount of time is just pure criminal.

 

[Kernopelli]

Only 4000hrs and you have to stop in the middle of doing something and reconnect a wire? What a piece of crap!!!!

Good story, I was expecting the old "hole in the side of the block" type ending.
Shoot, I bought a used "Chinese tractor" to resell recently and while I was giving the new owner the "once over" and showing him how/what everything was/worked had two wires come uncrimped........it had 189 hrs on it.

 

[milkman]

Clearly a design flaw, I'd demand they take the tractor back and give you a new MF 150. On second thought you've probably got it better than new.

 

[FxdGrMind]

Funny thread.

When I decided to get my B7800, I had thought my Cub 1461 was done and had discussed with the folks where I bought it (Same as the B7800) if they might just take it off my hands.

1) The prior year it would barely run and when cutting grass bogged severly... Smoked like the dickens when it did.... Imagine a Miquito fumigator.... that's what it was like!
2) Wouldn't start that spring.
3) 54" deck was beat and battered, only 2 of the 4 rollers were still attached at the corners, one completely broke off!

It just wasn't the tractor I thought it was when I purchased it 10 years earlier....

Then when they dropped off the Bota, they needed to get it loaded back on the truck... So as it was in my pole barn and they couldn't drag it out with the winch.... The driver said... hey let me take a look and see what we can do to get it started.

To my supprise, the intake had a mouse "HOME" built into it, the carb was covered in oil... The pluggs were BLACK as coal.
I had changed filter, pluggs the prior year but missed the little Mouse home.

He cleaned out the mouse home, used my air hose to clean the pluggs and filter. We charged up the Bat.... BINGO! Started with a cloud of smoke... then cleared up and ran like a champ!

The driver asked if I realy wanted to "Give" it away? He suggested I keep it and see how it worked.

Well that was 2 years ago and it's still running very strong. Granted it's not the B7800, and it gets far less use than before, but it's great at cutting the 2 acres of grass arround the house once again!

How did I miss the Mouse home......??? Now I check monthly.

It did get a new Battery this year though... OMG!! $29... for 12 yrs of work... he he he

 

[Gary Fowler]

Heck you guys are sure lucky. My brother in law just bought a brand new 2310 New Holland with cab and with less than 3 hours operation time, the lower cab glass busted out, and then @ 5 hours the hydrostatic transmission wouldnt stop till you killed the engine. The dealer took about a week to come pick it up . They agreed to replace the glass under warranty since there was no way a rock could break the front lower glass. After 3 days in the shop, they called and that when they got it to the shop,it wouldnt move at all. It seems the transmission shift bracket weld had failed. I guess their $5 per day welders arent that great. I spent a week visiting him and never got to drive his new tractor. Bummer.

 

[LBrown59]

I have 41000 miles on my 1989 Nissan Pick Up.
Never have had to make any repairs.
Have onley need to do Regular maintenance

 

[kevinj]

Thats better than my brush hogging yesterday. Punched a steer tire just about as far from the shop as I could get.

At least it was a small hole. One plug and then an internal patch and back in business

I did get some much needed exercise though walking to the shop to get another tractor to carry air tanks and such to the field

 

[Charlesaf3]

That's great!

200k miles on my 1988 Toyota Landcruiser. I did have to replace the windshield wiper blades this summer though.

 

[Soundguy]

I hear ya!.. on my 59 541 I actually had to rebuild a tie rod end ( yep.. rebuild it not replace).. was an older crimp together style you could actually take apart..

soundguy

 

[papavillars]

I know how you feel I recently had to fix a seal on my fuel cap as it would not vent this is on a early 1970's 4020jd. In my opinion the BEST TRACTOR EVER MADE. although I did recently buy a Kubota m4900 for a small 85 acre farm in Texas. Dad would have a heart attack if I ever asked him to use the kubota.

 

[markhen]

I really enjoyed your restoration project on the flex 71 corn planters. I too would enjoy restoring a couple of those myself. Any suggestions on where I might find some.Email address is papahender@bellsouth.net Mark