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off the land
02-10-2003 11:24:29
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Re: How rare are wide front M.H. 444s? in reply to Bluesman, 02-10-2003 08:04:50
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They look great, but 45 years proves many wear
parts. The wedges oval out the adjustment holes,
pulling sample bushings and bearings will let you
match at a supply house. Tie rod ends: try Tisco,
MF 35 & F40 will retro-fit. The sector gear is a
pricey task: dress at a machine shop? If the
steering support housing is hack welded, best to go 'pro', or nearly drive over the front wheels,
when it snaps on a hole. Steering box always needs
a rebuild, worm shaft problem:zero parts, all
the NFE & Standards are reverse direction. Add yet
another layer of confusion, if you have WFE with
factory PS:machine shop fabrication parts $$$.
Great Hi-Arch tractor, but the scant two year production, with no R & D budget, left the bugs to
the buyers. Parts & Pro welding can run a quick 400. The question is not how rare, but how many
have been converted, to NFE, from parked Triples
and Specials? All M-H production figures are subject to dispute. Those 361(?) '58 444's, are
outsourced parts inventory, vintage late '57. As
the song goes:"nothing was delivered". Possibly
the most beautiful tractor of the century.
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