Tractor Repair: Massey 265, massey ferguson tractor, haybine

Question
Big Dean

I am in the process of purchasing a tractor.  My intention is to use it for a very small farm (177 acres).  All we want to do is make hay using a 4FT round baler, and a small haybine, as well as other general purposes like plowing (2 furrow).

We have found a 265, with a massey loader, with 4600hrs.  The older retired gentleman who has it for sale is a bigtime stickler for pricing and absolutely refuses to let it go for less than $12,500CAD (approximately $9200US).  Based on my research, this is $2000-$3000 more than the going price.  He does have a reputation for being an individual who is fanatical about maintaining his equipment.  Literally everything in his shed looks brand new, including this tractor.  

Is this a lot of hours given what we want to do with it, and for the price?

It has a Perkins 236, is this a good engine?  Should I factor in the price of an overhaul immediately, or are chances good that it lasts another couple of thousand hours before headaches set in?

If they hook it up to a dynamo, what should the HP read?  Is this a good test?  Is there something else that we should try?


As you can tell by the nature of my questions, I am new to this.
 
Thanks for your time.

BJL  

Answer
The $9,000 is about $1,000 to $1,500 higher than the average but for clean straight well maintained MF265 I would say that $9,000 is about right the average life for
the MF236 engine is some where around 7,500 to 8,000 hours. I have saw a few with over 10,000 hours on them. The Nebraska test results for the MF265 was 60.73 pto & 50.3 drawbar horse power. On a dyno it should be with in 5 HP. One way or the other. The thing about a Dyno is that it is only as good as the guy running if you took it to 5 different people with the same dyno you would probably get 5 different readings. On my web Site there is an article on what to check when buying a Massey Ferguson tractor. It will catch most of the major thing you normally find wrong on used Massey Ferguson tractor.
  That tractor sounds like it will do everything you need it to on a small operation as the one you have & with proper maintenance it could last you for several years. Hope This helps If I can be of further assistance Email at > daustin62@aol.com < My web site address is > http://hometown.aol.com/bigdean62/index.html < Big Dean