1950 Farmall M

I should have posted this earlier, but..... ..I'm looking at purchasing a 1950 Farmall M this weekend. The ad says "new tires wheels muffler cam gear tin, wide front end is good runs great"

I have already looked/listened/driven this tractor and it is in really good shape. I did notice a "clunking" when driving in 1st gear, as well as reverse, louder in reverse. No noise in the upper gears. Should I be concerned? What is the cam gear? The guy says when he changed the cam gear he is wondering if he put the steering back together correctly. There is play in the steering, but considering the age I'm not too concerned, should I be? The area where the belt drive should be is empty. Looks like one end of a yoke sticking out of the case. PTO works. Is there anything else I should look at, be concerned about? The thing sounds very good, slight smoke at startup, but clears up immediately and runs clear. Want to pull a manure spreader, hay wagon, tedder, maybe rake. I know it's a big tractor, but wanted to explain the intended use. Will have to give $1500-$1600. Is this reasonable? Please e-mail directly if you wish, rleighton@lisbonme.org
Thank you very much for the anticipated help.
Ryan

I have no idea what that yoke could be. A picture might help.

The main concern that I have is the very limited clearance between the bull gears and the bottom of the case and the fact that if any hardened steel (like a gear tooth) gets between the tight clearances and goes through the gears something has to give. It might cost you a case or more gears or you may get lucky and the broken pieces will settle in the middle of the rear end. At this point you have no idea what additional damage may have occured.

If you have a lifting device the top cover isn't that hard to get off. Then you can drain the rear end lube and find out what is going on for sure. Nothing too difficult in that rear end for dissassembly/assembly. Repair isn't difficult, but may be costly depending on what all needs repairing.

Thanks again, Ryan

The play in the steering is common, if excessive you will want to fix it before it becomes a safety issue.

The noise in the transmission in first and reverse is more than likely a tooth or teeth missing on the back gear on the pinion shaft. If memory serves me correctly, this is the only gear that serves as both 1st and reverse driven gear. To me this should drop the price a few hundred.

I知 not sure what you are saying about where the belt pulley should be. If the belt pulley gear case is there but the pulley is not bolted on I知 thinking that the yoke you are referring to is the lever that puts the belt pulley in gear. If there is a flat plate in front of the battery, I have no idea.