Need mechanic

[camohn3]

My Massey Ferguson is a 202 front end loader. I've not the tools nor the background to improve the engine performance. Does anyone know of a mechanic in Massachusetts near Mendon (01756)?
Finally Farm

 

[560Dennis]

Listen ,tools you can buy , knowledge you get from the operating and shop manuals. All you need to do study ask questions ,and desire to learn .
Just try ,what I suggest , you will find it not that to terribly difficult .

 

[Mule Meat]

". . improve the engine performance.. ."

Exactly what do you wish to accomplish? A simple engine tune up or increase the horsepower output?

 

[Stan Coryell]

My Massey Ferguson is a 202 front end loader. I've not the tools nor the background to improve the engine performance. Does anyone know of a mechanic in Massachusetts near Mendon (01756)?
Finally Farm

I also have a 202. It's a simple machine ment to be field serviced and maintained. I live in South Jersey.

First question: New to you tractor or new problem.

Second question: do you have the owner's manual, service manual, and parts manual? They all work together and are a tremendous help.

Third question: What is the performance complaint?

 

[camohn3]

". . improve the engine performance.. ."

Exactly what do you wish to accomplish? A simple engine tune up or increase the horsepower output?

The engine runs but had to put foul arrestors on all four spark plugs. The top half of the engine needs work, a kind of work I've no experience with. The biggest problem is I've nowhere to work on the tractor. We have a small horse farm; the tractor lives in the paddock under a tarp. Not that I could not take the fuel tank off to get to the engine, there is just no clean environment to work. I have replaced the starter motor and later this week the generator, also I've rewired the machine and repaired some hydraulics. It comes down to, I think, rebuild the top of the motor.
camohn3

 

[camohn3]

I also have a 202. It's a simple machine ment to be field serviced and maintained. I live in South Jersey.

First question: New to you tractor or new problem.

Second question: do you have the owner's manual, service manual, and parts manual? They all work together and are a tremendous help.

Third question: What is the performance complaint?

The engine runs but had to put foul arrestors on all four spark plugs. The top half of the engine needs work, a kind of work I've no experience with. The biggest problem is I've nowhere to work on the tractor. We have a small horse farm; the tractor lives in the paddock under a tarp. Not that I could not take the fuel tank off to get to the engine, there is just no clean environment to work. I have replaced the starter motor and later this week the generator, also I've rewired the machine and repaired some hydraulics. It comes down to, I think, rebuild the top of the motor.
camohn3

 

[camohn3]

I also have a 202. It's a simple machine ment to be field serviced and maintained. I live in South Jersey.

First question: New to you tractor or new problem.

Second question: do you have the owner's manual, service manual, and parts manual? They all work together and are a tremendous help.

Third question: What is the performance complaint?

The engine runs but had to put foul arrestors on all four spark plugs. The top half of the engine needs work, a kind of work I've no experience with. The biggest problem is I've nowhere to work on the tractor. We have a small horse farm; the tractor lives in the paddock under a tarp. Not that I could not take the fuel tank off to get to the engine, there is just no clean environment to work. I have replaced the starter motor and later this week the generator, also I've rewired the machine and repaired some hydraulics. It comes down to, I think, rebuild the top of the motor.
camohn3

 

[ss55]

My Massey Ferguson is a 202 front end loader. I've not the tools nor the background to improve the engine performance. Does anyone know of a mechanic in Massachusetts near Mendon (01756)?
Finally Farm

Get some estimates or budget $2,500 or more for that type of repair. Shop rates are over $100 per hour, parts are no longer cheap if still available, and when you open up a machine you will likely find more things that also need work i.e.: rings sleeves and pistons; clutch; transmission main seal; the engine bottom end ( and balance shafts? ) also needs new bearings; oil pump, distributor, carburetor, governor and camshaft are well worn, etc. Make an honest assessment of your tractor compared to your needs: 25 hours per year or 500 hours, etc.

A reasonable backup plan is to start shopping for a replacement tractor that your loader will fit. If you can find a field ready replacement for under $3,000 to $4,000 that could be less than the cost to repair what you have. Salvage value of your tractor running as-is should be over $1,000 plus the value of the tires.

 

[Stan Coryell]

I don't disagree with any of the comments here. The tractor isn't worth paying a shop to rebuild the engine. You'd easily be $5k.

Are the plugs oil fouled? That would point to rings. What is the compression? What heat range plugs are in it?

 

[JWinIndiana]

Check with your local High School or Joint Vocational School and see if they would be interested in checking bearings, honing cylinder walls, doing a valve job and checking head for flatness. They will generally do the work for cost of parts and if it turns out well, surprise them with a bunch of pizzas one day.

 

[Frankmn]

My 135 has the Perkins gas engine. It was using a gallon of oil per tank of fuel. I got the rebuild kit from this site. Had to have the crank ground, replaced the sleeves etc. I had the head rebuilt a couple years prior. I had about a grand in parts including the crank work. My buddy and i did the labor. The head was 750 bucks at the machine shop previously. If I had to pay a shop to do that work it would have been cheaper to find a different tractor. BUT, now i know what I have. Even sprung for 4 brand new tires. Upside down money wise, but you don't actually lose the money until you sell it and I hardly ever sell anything. I will say it is a better feeling when you can use it all say without changing spark plugs every 2 hours when you are adding oil.

 

[camohn3]

Just to say thank you for all input, especially to ss55 who lay it out understandably for me. I have always found good answers and advice on this forum.
camohn3

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Figure out what's causing the fouled plugs and poor performance before you commit to a rebuild. Oil fouled or carbon. Have you tried adjusting the carb, too rich or air filter restricted, weak spark, timing? Exhaust, blue or black and sooty? Correct spark plugs? Oil fouling could be rings or valve guides. I suggest finding out a bit more.

 

[m16ty]

That’s the thing about these old tractors, if you can’t work on them yourself you’ve got to have deep pockets. If somebody has to hire work done on them, it’s probably more economical to buy at least a low hour late model.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

That’s the thing about these old tractors, if you can’t work on them yourself you’ve got to have deep pockets. If somebody has to hire work done on them, it’s probably more economical to buy at least a low hour late model.

I agree. Even if you find an independent mechanic they still charge money for their work. It won't take long to run up a significant labor bill, and exceed the value of an old tractor. The upside to that is once it's done you know what you have vs. buying something else.

The hard part is finding a mechanic. Not many people do the independent mechanic thing because it's a fickle and thankless job. If they're any good they're booked for months if not years in advance. They don't advertise because they don't have to.

Beware the "mechanic" who says they can start on a major engine project right away. They will likely be here asking which way to turn each bolt, and will give up on the job when it gets too involved, then disappear.

You're not going to find a mechanic here. This is a worldwide forum. You need to ask around LOCALLY to find a local mechanic.

 

[m16ty]

I agree. Even if you find an independent mechanic they still charge money for their work. It won't take long to run up a significant labor bill, and exceed the value of an old tractor. The upside to that is once it's done you know what you have vs. buying something else.

The hard part is finding a mechanic. Not many people do the independent mechanic thing because it's a fickle and thankless job. If they're any good they're booked for months if not years in advance. They don't advertise because they don't have to.

Beware the "mechanic" who says they can start on a major engine project right away. They will likely be here asking which way to turn each bolt, and will give up on the job when it gets too involved, then disappear.

You're not going to find a mechanic here. This is a worldwide forum. You need to ask around LOCALLY to find a local mechanic.

Growing up there were several independent tractor shops around here. Most of them sold some sort of short line, sold parts, and mechanic work. Now there is basically just one left, there is another one but the guy is in his mid 70s and he still does parts and some light mechanic work. The one that is left sells Vermeer hay equipment and McCormick tractors. I go there for parts as he keeps a good selection for all major brands, but I was in there last week and he said he was backed up until next winter on anything he didn’t sell new.

I just fear a lot of these people you see nowadays that buy a small acreage and they see a shiny new tractor for $30k and they see a used tractor for $5k, know nothing about tractors or how to work on them, and think the $5k is the better deal. The $5k tractor my serve them well, but just know if something breaks there may not be anybody around to fix it for you, and when you do find somebody it’s not going to be cheap.

The tractor in question is probably not worth paying somebody to fix, on paper. That’s not to say it isn’t worth fixing, but to ever come out on it the guy will have to work the money out of it. The problem is once he gets the engine fixed there is a good chance another repair is right around the corner.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Growing up there were several independent tractor shops around here. Most of them sold some sort of short line, sold parts, and mechanic work. Now there is basically just one left, there is another one but the guy is in his mid 70s and he still does parts and some light mechanic work. The one that is left sells Vermeer hay equipment and McCormick tractors. I go there for parts as he keeps a good selection for all major brands, but I was in there last week and he said he was backed up until next winter on anything he didn’t sell new.

I just fear a lot of these people you see nowadays that buy a small acreage and they see a shiny new tractor for $30k and they see a used tractor for $5k, know nothing about tractors or how to work on them, and think the $5k is the better deal. The $5k tractor my serve them well, but just know if something breaks there may not be anybody around to fix it for you, and when you do find somebody it’s not going to be cheap.

The tractor in question is probably not worth paying somebody to fix, on paper. That’s not to say it isn’t worth fixing, but to ever come out on it the guy will have to work the money out of it. The problem is once he gets the engine fixed there is a good chance another repair is right around the corner.

It seems to be that way with a lot of things, autos, appliances, etc. gm