Massey Harris 44 restoration

[@vonRow]

I'll never forget the sound of the transmissions on those '44s. My dad had one on the farm when I was a kid. It was the first stick-shift vehicle of any kind that I learned to drive. I'd love to have one again for my own farm someday. You don't see many folks working on the M-F rigs all that often. Thanks for sharing!

[@brianprocter6191]

I think that sound is caused by water getting into the transmission through the worn out rubber on the stickshift. I am going to drain the old oil out as it has sat out in the rain for many years. I don't think it will solve the problem now but worth a try.

[@rickykraus7450]

Our Massey Harris 30 sounds the same. I don’t think it’s from water. I’m guessing they’re straight cut gears in the transmission the causes the whine sound.

[@ezraennis-fink8564]

Very nice, my father and I restored two 44's back in the 80's and loaded them up for tractor pulls. Decals were unavailable but everyone admired. Yes, that rear end noise is familiar...almost whiney. Many of the rear ends were pulled for high performance "tractors" with Allison or Rolls Royce V12 power because they held up. Same for the Gibsons and mini's. Always warms my sould to see a 44 running and not rusting. ron

[@ColeAviation]

Beautiful job on the restoration Brian!! 👍🏼👍🏼 Up.

[@alexpowers3697]

Beautiful tractor and snow capped mount in the back.

[@jet4fun54]

I also drove one of these about from when I was 7 years old. Couldn't reach the clutch so had to sit on the arm that came up to the seat. Brakes were about useless and the steering was difficult to manage. I don't know if it was a quirk on just ours, but it had a habit of locking up the steering at the extreme ends of the steering travel. If I let that happen, I would have to get my dad's help because I just was not strong enough. However it was our main workhorse for about 15 years. It plowed a lot of acreage!

[@brianprocter6191]

It is allot different with kids today. In 1953 dad bought a new allis charmers tractor, It has a hand clutch as well is I was able to drive it in the hay field to pick up bales. I was 8 then. A few years ago I bought the same year and make of tractor. but with the front end loader. restored it to and use it steady on my 40 acers. There is a picture of it in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWKUl6CqapupmM0. I am 75, how old are you.

[@rickshafer4241]

Yes, likewise, I have no idea what that thing on the front of the tractor is. Looks like some sort of stump puller, but I doubt that's right. Maybe something they used out west that us folks here in the Midwest didn't? Anyway, beautiful scenery and a nice job of restoration. Massy Harris's were not very popular in our area of the Midwest, but the few people that had them seemed to like them really well.

[@prodaddy1035]

Wow you live in a beautiful spot. We're is this. I love the mountain view.

[@mikeblock8436]

What was the part on the front of the tractor? Never seen that before. I just bought an old 44. Been thinking of restoring it. Any thing you would do different?

[@ronbriscoe6842]

What paint did you use for yellow and red . i have One To paint

[@brianprocter6191]

Red was an industrial paint that used a toxic thinner, something like lacquer thinner. Just asked for massey harris red . the yellow I believe I used tremclad as I didn't want to buy a gallon, and the store for the other is 300 miles away.

[@ThoenWorks]

Sounds like you had it in 3rd gear ? :-)

[@utubekpphoto]

WHAT DID U SAY!!!????