I am reaching out to say hi and ask for some advice.
Im not a tractor guy, but Ive wanted a tractor with a loader for over a year now for some dirt hauling, gravel spreading, just messing around. The subcompacts are ridiculously expensive so I turned to looking at older more affordable tractors. After missing some good deals on facebook market place I found what I thought was a gem so I jumped on it without too much thought hoping to beat out competition. It was a Massey Ferguson work bull 204 for $1850. It ran and the bucket lifted so I jumped on it. I knew it had a power steering leak, the PTO didnt engage, and the 3 Point hitch didnt lift. Little did I know that it was so old (1959?) and it has a odd reverse-o-matic that uses a torque converter. Ive never owned or drive a old tractor so I didnt know any better. Anyway It needed a battery so I put on in it and I took it out back for a victory lap and play in the dirt. Then the right hydrophilic cylinder started leaking, no big deal I can probably fix that... Then I smell smoke... I look under it and the generator was smoking and a wire melted.
Then I wanted to do a fluid change and I got the owners and shop manual and it uses Auto Transmission fluid type "A" which they dont make anymore... the transfer and hydraulics use 90 weight mineral oil. So im a little overwhelmed. Im somewhat handy, I can work on old cars and I thought this woudl be a fun project. But I think im in over my head. But I dont know anything about tractors. Looking stuff up antique tractor info on forums is overwhelming because I cant get straight answers. Can you guys give me some tips? Is the reverse-o-matic junk? Is my generator shot? Should I replace it with a alternator? Should I just cut my losses and get rid of it?
Im not a tractor guy, but Ive wanted a tractor with a loader for over a year now for some dirt hauling, gravel spreading, just messing around. The subcompacts are ridiculously expensive so I turned to looking at older more affordable tractors. After missing some good deals on facebook market place I found what I thought was a gem so I jumped on it without too much thought hoping to beat out competition. It was a Massey Ferguson work bull 204 for $1850. It ran and the bucket lifted so I jumped on it. I knew it had a power steering leak, the PTO didnt engage, and the 3 Point hitch didnt lift. Little did I know that it was so old (1959?) and it has a odd reverse-o-matic that uses a torque converter. Ive never owned or drive a old tractor so I didnt know any better. Anyway It needed a battery so I put on in it and I took it out back for a victory lap and play in the dirt. Then the right hydrophilic cylinder started leaking, no big deal I can probably fix that... Then I smell smoke... I look under it and the generator was smoking and a wire melted.
Then I wanted to do a fluid change and I got the owners and shop manual and it uses Auto Transmission fluid type "A" which they dont make anymore... the transfer and hydraulics use 90 weight mineral oil. So im a little overwhelmed. Im somewhat handy, I can work on old cars and I thought this woudl be a fun project. But I think im in over my head. But I dont know anything about tractors. Looking stuff up antique tractor info on forums is overwhelming because I cant get straight answers. Can you guys give me some tips? Is the reverse-o-matic junk? Is my generator shot? Should I replace it with a alternator? Should I just cut my losses and get rid of it?