International 254 tractor

A Massey Ferguson 65 is nice to have. Over the years, I’ve learned that a tractor is essential. The point was made in about 2002 when I decided to buy a truckload of decomposed granite to improve the driveway. After spreading 10 yards of material with a wheelbarrow and shovel, I realized there had to be a better way. I didn’t have much money, so I resorted to an eBay search just to see what tractors cost, and found an International Harvester 254 listed for about $1000. The owner insisted it had run in the previous season, but it now needed a new starter and battery. I took a chance, and a few days later he delivered it to me.

As promised, it needed a starter and battery, and I had the starter rebuilt in Johnson City. With fresh diesel and a lot of hope, I ran the starter. Nothing. Diesel engines are pretty simple, and a knowledgable friend made a few suggestions. I tried them all without success. In desperation, I decided to remove the valve cover to see what I could. One of the push rods had come away from its rocker arm. Could it be that simple? I replaced the rod, set the valve lash, and . . . it started. I had beaten the odds and gotten a smoking deal on a tractor. It’s been in service ever since.

Trouble in [tractor] Paradise

The lever snapped off

Unfortunately, it started to develop issues a couple of years ago. The lift lever for the three-point hitch became harder to move and finally froze. Trying to move it one more time, it snapped off, making the hitch useless. The lever connected to hydraulic lift linkage through a hole in the transmission, and it had rusted in place. I didn’t have any idea how to get it loose.

I got along without it for a while, but tractor jobs were piling up. Most of all, I needed to shred plant debris that had accumulated during an extremely wet year. By now, the rain had stopped and we were once again in a burn ban. I needed a chipper for all the trimmed and broken branches and especially — Bluebonnet debris.

We found a Massey Ferguson 65

There are a couple of tractor dealerships between here and Fredricksburg, and another in Marble Falls, and it was clear we were talking about a major purchase. The best “deal” we found was a 14-year-old Kubota for $12,000. I decided to go back to the eBay strategy, but it doesn’t excel in regional listings and I didn’t want to buy a tractor and have it shipped any great distance.

A Massey Freguson 65 on Craig’s List

Chatting with my neighbor about the problem, he generously offered to help haul any tractor I found back to the ranch. The next day, I looked through Craig’s List and found a few candidates. We decided to go visit a couple of them the next day. First stop: Kingsland, Texas for a Massey Ferguson Model 65.

The tires looked new

Initially, I had been more interested in a couple of Ford “N” series tractors that were also listed, with the Massey as a backup. It was more convenient to see the Massey first though, and we found it along the main road leading out of Kingsland just like the seller had promised. We got out to take a look. It had obviously been repainted, and the tires looked surprisingly good — maybe new. Model 65 tractors came with either a Continental 4-cylinder gas or Perkins 4-cylinder diesel, and this had the Diesel engine. The Craig’s List ad said it was a 1964 model, meaning it probably had the later, AD4.203 engine. About 55 HP to the PTO. All for $1900.

Closing the Deal

Before long, the seller came to join us, handed me a key and mentioned that the brakes were a little weak. I wanted to drive it. The engine started easily, and sounded good. I put it in gear and took a spin around his place. The tractor was at least twice the size of the IH 254, and at 4500 lbs, considerably heavier. The word “massive” came to mind. Since I mainly wanted it to power a Bearcat chipper/shredder, a 5-foot Bush Hog and a couple of other 3-point hitch implements, the lack of a front-end loader didn’t matter too much. By the end of the check ride, I was sold.

I said we’d think about it overnight. He wanted cash, so we headed into town in search of a bank. I called my neighbor to see it he could transport it the next day. He could.

Moving Day

The next morning, we took my neighbor’s big flatbed trailer back to Kingsland to complete the deal. I couldn’t believe how quickly it had all come together. There was one more bonus: The seller had dropped the price overnight to $1500. I ended up giving him $1600 because he threw in a new service manual. Roy Creek Ranch had a great tractor once again!

A New Tractor for Roy Creek Ranch