Wes, this is one of your best. It has everything - the soul destroying absurdity of having to do things not once but twice, "in the field", the cockfest of fastener extraction, the need to manufacture parts (how on earth did you manufacture those valve like things? ), the photogenic superiority of the Loch Ness monster to pics in the manual, the sheer terror of splitting the gearbox and - wait for it - the business proposition that any rational man would run from!!! As someone very acutely commented this is a case of two backhoes or no backhoes. I feel for you. Have the bevvy. I'd recommend more than one (bevvy, not backhoe)
"the photogenic superiority of the Loch Ness monster to pics in the manual" That is what happens when you photocopy coloured photos with a B/W copier. I had manuals that had coloured bands on the edge of the page, photocopying gave you a black edge and made it look like a funeral notice. 😁 Big give away that it was not the original manual.
If you mention Diesel Creek, then you already know the answer: You can't own just ONE piece of crappy equipment. Long ago, he needed his crappy (but running) skid steer to fix his crappy (and non-running) skid steer. Just yesterday, he used his bulldozer to drag his mini excavator off the field of battle. That only leaves two possibilities: two backhoes or no backhoes.
Didn’t know the BH39 was considered a mini. Those steel tracks make it like huge lol. Either way it’s not a cheap hobby. And requires a lot of land to store all that equipment
"Then again, this isn't Diesel Creek" 🤣 You could always get Matt to buy it, he buys ANYTHING! And he did miss out on buying something at the last RB auction!
Do the deal. Fix the other broken backhoe you’ve got on the channel. Sell them both and buy another, nicer piece of equipment that you actually want at auction. Fix that on the channel too!! Great content Wes, truly enjoy your channel. Thanks!
I definitely would not make the trade.! Your channel is about the only one that shows all things that you’ve made mistakes with and then shown how you fixed them. As a wise person said, “You learn by your mistakes.” Your an honest lad who teaches others… which is great. Thank you. Great channel. 😁👍🏻🇦🇺
The facts are in the video - it’s worth nothing. The owner of the MF has just realised how many hours more will be spent to get it running. The statement about razors underlines the truth.
Wes, you and Mortske are my all-time favorites on RUclips. You aren't afraid of hard work and your dry sense of humor just slays me. Your "Loch Ness" comment made me laugh out loud! Also, I am so impressed with your skill at sleuthing out electrical problems. Please keep churning out these videos.
I love wes, southmain auto, diesel creek, and Andrew cam. Every time wes puts out a vid I always click on his before I watch anyone else, btw I have a channel as well if u want check it out 👍
"This isn't Diesel Creek" gave me a chuckle too. I'd say one of the best ones is "So we should be home free" followed by the sounds and sights of a gas axe though.
Hello Wes. Love your channel, watch all of your videos. I am a RUclips creator as well and from Illinois too. No, It is not a good trade Or I should say it's a good trade for the other man. You already have too many projects, all though not nearly as many as, matt LOL. Keep up the great content
"I mean, this isn't Diesel Creek." I literally LOL. That was a hilarious insert just for Matt's ears. Also, "I've seen better pictures of the Loch Ness monster." Your humor is getting to be as good as your mechanical skill.
I can say from experience with an earlier Massey with this style transmission that they're really nice to use when they're working. That shuttle shift transmission is very nice to use when you're running the loader. They were way ahead of their time on that design. Same speed forward and reverse is mint. The thing I didn't like about that machine was that it's a Rube Goldberg machine in tractor form. Mine had a gannon box on the rear instead of a backhoe, and I had nothing but problems with the lift valve mechanism. You've laid hands on pretty much everything that sucks about these machines though, so maybe you shouldn't be afraid of all of that. It's relatively clean, it's complete, and you know it's going to work when you get it back together. I'd say do the deal. You'll never sell that loader and 2-post for the price of a complete backhoe plus your labor. A running/driving backhoe with no leaks of any year is probably going to bring $8-10k. I'd say $3k max for that loader and lift. Make the deal, fix the tractor, then sell either that or your Ford. Keep the one you like better. Better yet, since you have other tractors with loaders, sell both backhoes and get yourself a mini excavator. You'll like that for hoe work a lot more.
There is always a hole to be dug and I hear that the mechanic that worked on it before was halfway competent. Plus it will make for great future content so pull the trigger Wes.
"What's the worst that could happen?" I don't have any advice for you, Wes. Pardon me if I admire you just a little more. Your willingness to tear into some of these problems just amazes me. Reminds me a bit of myself when I was a lot younger. I'm still taking on stuff like this at 74. More power to you, kid!
Ask the backhoe owner. He's getting what he needs in the deal. Unless you can get lots of money for the backhoe, You're only getting something which is redundant to what you already have. A "good deal" is defined by improving your position.
And losing something far more valuable in your business, the lift, even if it will become a backup seems a poor strategy. Also separating bucket/loaders from their tractors is generally a bad idea and greatly reduces value of the tractor, especially if old. I would pass on the trade.
Wes, How often do you find yourself needing a backhoe? Rarely is my guess. And if you needed one, couldn't you just borrow or rent one? Time is your most valuable commodity. Spending time fixing an old piece of equipment you really don't need is wasteful. There are only so many minutes in a persons life. Fix the man's backhoe and get paid for your labor. If you want to sell the other stuff, do that and keep the money to buy something you or your wife would really enjoy, like a vacation. Oh and Wes, thank you for the videos. Your comments are instructive, humorous and yet, somehow, calming. Thanks and best wishes.
That manual was "reprinted" by photocopier set to text mode which essentially tries to make grey scale into black and white. "We're home free", we just need a cutting torch. Trade it for stuff you want to get rid of anyway, finish it and sell it to buy parts for the other backhoe. You get a "finish this" video, and "2-post lift tear out" video", a "loader removal" video and "new post lift" video, and a whole series of "fix the other backhoe" videos.
There is no doubt the one thing above all others about yourself that I most admire is that you will work on almost anything. Of course I realize because of You working on so much that your experience and knowledge base is logrythmitly increasing upwards. My dad made me repair anything on my first car and started me on a mechanical journey. Its not my vocation but I turn my own wrenches on all my own equipment. which includes a diesel tractor and a diesel truck. So I love this content. Plus your dialogue is amusingly entertaining. Thanks!
At todays used equipment prices, I’d say it’s a fair trade, especially if you were already planning to remove the loader off the Oliver and replace the lift with a newer one. I saw a 70’s JD backhoe sale this past Friday at auction for $9200, non running!
What a nightmare. I can't even imagine trying to put that thing back together. Could you possible use cap screws instead of hex heads? You are fearless and gifted. Good combination.
Love the video Wes. The thing is I can't blame the owner for wanting to keep the old girl running. He's lucky to have you doing the work for him. Replacing a piece of equipment like that is almost impossible. Used ones are totally crapped out by the time they're ready to hit the used market. Nobody is selling a good used backhoe. And if they do you're going to pay new prices for it.
I think you're probably right on the 'worth basically nothing' portion. 2WD backhoes are a bit cheaper than 4wd, as I'm sure you know. That loader and two post lift is worth more than the backhoe in its condition, IMO.
Just needs some new friction and steel disks a d she should be working again nice to see its not a catastrophic failure like the torque converter or bearing issues good video @Watch Wes Work
When I made my apprenticeship on farm equipment in the 80’s we had an angle iron frame with two dollies that go under the tractor to split them. It seemed to work pretty good. I did many clutches with that setup. On the trade it comes down to how much money you could get for the backhoe after it’s fixed. Compare that to your loader, lift and labor.
The weak point on those is the clutch pack. They are built undersize. Go ahead with the deal!!! At least on your channel we do learn something! Your channel has value!!
Hello Wes greetings from the UK, great content again and being a retired truck mechanic I love tractors and heavy machinery. My Dad was a farmer so I grew up messing around with all sorts of stuff back in the 70s & 80s. I still love tinkering with anything from lawnmowers to trucks but I don’t do the heavy lifting anymore. Someone beat me to suggest using Allen cap bolts especially if you are going to keep the machine for yourself. I guess the other thing to look at is once you have repaired the Massey Backhoe is it worth a fair bit more money than the trade for the front loader and lift. If so you could always sell the Backhoe once it’s fixed. Keep up the great content and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
Wow! I looked at replacing the a drive belt on my Toro walk behind mower and gave up without a fight. Took it to my favorite lawn repair guy. I thought I worked way over 50 years so now it’s time to read a book and help out a younger man by paying him to fix my problem. At my age (and four time cancer survivor) who knows how many books I can get read. 😊👍
Wes I feel you pain , worked as a tech at a municipality that liked to keep equipment way beyond its prime, repairs were often a exercise in futility, getting parts was always fun as well.
Wes, Your undertaking of very complex and dangerous projects make great content. Your personality , knowledge and humor brings me back for every new video. Thanks, John
As an owner of multiple pieces of junky farm and construction equipment, with three different pieces currently broken and waiting for my knee to heal up enough to crawl around repairing them, I would think your "razor blades" suggestion was the most viable solution. (In response to your request for input.)
But you are hurt see and I am too and it turns out a hurt man dont need nuthin to work on!!! Broke my kneecap in half on my motorcycle. I will be out of commission for a while.
First off, thanks, Wes, despite spending a couple of formative decades around MF tractors, this is the first time I've seen one split. IH, FarmAll, NH--seen all of those split, but never an MF. Secondly, bravo on carrying off that split, as it's clearly a task. Thirdly, serious chops for making it into a good video despite the clear need for extra sailor language while at the task.
Sounds like a good deal to me. Backhoes, at least here on the West Coast, even in horrible condition are bringing in the neighborhood of $15k-$20k. Don't know about your area. It eliminates the hassle of selling the lift and loader and you can always sell the other backhoe for parts to someone. Add to that, you have gone through the offered Backhoe and know exactly what you are getting and it is already torn down to complete the repairs. Sounds like a no brainer to me. But that is just me. Thanks for sharing.
Your mechanic skills and never wavering sarcasm makes me a fan/subscriber from day #1, keep it up Wes! ... it's a pleasure to watch you work ( and comment ) ... again greetings from The Netherlands ( Holland 😉 )
taking out those shafts with out loosing the needle bearings is like disarming a bomb. Love all the different stuff you work on. learning stuff ill never directly use but am fascinated with.
The deciding factor for me is how long do you expect the swing motor to last with the worn splines. Of coarse at home and work we keep everything well past the projected end of life. Thanks again for a another great video
Regarding the trade, do what makes the most buisness sense! Part of what makes your channel so great is that its an unpretentious look into a working shop, not just a guy having fun with the money printing machine
Love the content Wes! Even though I'm out of Ag machinery business now (car wreck) I remember all too well the frustration doing that. I admire your work ethic
Thanks Wes. Your dry humor and comments have me laughing out loud. 30 minutes with you is the best material I've seen all week thanks again! Thanks for taking us along. Keep them coming.
Wow, you have pure guts to tackle that. That bright red cherrybomb just makes it so much gooder. Take the deal, you know once finished it is all good. The Ford isn't. And, you are out only your labor and clutch plates.
IDK man.. It doesnt look like a bad machine, but its not enclosed and not 4wD. If you can use it great, but if you don't need it I'd pass. They are great to have with a bunch of land as you are always doing something, but not needing one is even better... Sometimes it cheaper to rent for that one project, than maintaining for the next. I have a JCB Sitemaster 1800, and it is a great machine, but its so big and a pain to move... it almost makes it worthless in my situation. the 9k excavator has now taking almost all its work. You have a class a, so you got a huge leg up on that. Anyway, great video.. anything you do is a enjoyment to watch.
Wes, only you are in a position to know the value of the machine for trade purposes . Also how you can budget the available time you have and what that time is worth to you (and your family).I applaud you for taking on the transmission repair of this unit - not many without prior experience on such a unit would even attempt it. So Talley Ho , lets go!
Thanks for the video, Over the years I've seen some rough Masseys and other basically scrap machines like Kleemans Ford he's "fighting the battle with". I'd say this ones very straight with some wear and age related problems, it doesn't have 2 ton of extra plates / pigeon weld all over it either . If you can do alright on the swap without dealing with 100 clowns off craigs list/market place first for your stuff.Then repair and keep it or sell it later for profit somewhere, or do the same with the ford and keep one if you choose I'd do it. My buddy has that same Massey machine but with a cab and it's way rougher than this with the welding and extra plates. He says it pushes snow real good and actually bought it to dig a basement for his house/yard expansion . He has 10K in his with repairs like I do with my JCB to get them right, to be honest we both have machines that were cheap to buy at 5K each. They both might sit months without moving, then get used for all kinds of stuff round the yards/farm five times the next month. They are both worth way more than we have in them to sell, but it would cost 20K plus now to do it and you might not find a better machine to replace them in the end . Take care
Wes one of the things I like the most with your channel is the variety. A truck one day, a car the next then a backhoe. Thanks for showing us. I am glad to see the channel growing.
Massey held the patent and sold the reverser to just about everyone except maybe Deere. As an old MF service rep, my heart is singing:) Keep'em coming!
"this isn't Diesel Creek ", and the evil laugh after popping out the clutch pack retaining ring made my day! It's your decision, but you are good at this stuff and know the history of the machines.
You honestly are the best judge of that piece of equipment do you know what inside and out. Change the bell housing bolts to Alan headed bolts. It’ll make it easier going back together
In America today, Millennials and Gen-z's (who don't go to college) don't want to enter the trades to become plumbers, mechanics, electricians, etc. Thus, there's a tremendous shortage of those workers. Mechanics in particular have been in short supply for at least the last two + decades. Pick an industry that uses mechanics and they are all desperately trying to hire for those positions. I know several kids in their early to mid-20's who didn't go to college. They work as servers in restaurants for low wages and struggle through life living paycheck to paycheck. I hope some of these kids watch channels like this to see both the challenges and rewards of being a mechanic. Then realize that it's a good career and can pay great wages. I know mechanics in the equipment rental industry making 6 figures with overtime. Glad to see channels like this that show the trade so well.
Hello Wes I live on a island in the caribbean i have the same struggle over here your a verry talented mechacnical keep up the good work i love your video's best regards Peter from Curacao
I loved your comment about pics of the loch ness monster! You are either a brave man taking on this project or not the sharpest tool in the shed…. I always enjoy your content. Thanks.
Any tractor driveline work is usually pretty evasive. Add in the difficulty of the loader and backhoe frames it is more than most people are equipped to deal with. It is probably still worth fixing and selling or using yourself. The Perkins diesel engines I have been around were not great cold weather starters. Thanks for the videos, Wes. Hopefully the Mrs doesn’t notice her baking pan missing.
From one Wes to another thanks for the great videos as always. You’ve already done most of the repair work yourself. If the fixed rig in your area will fetch more than the loader and the lift I’d say put the work into it. Keep it and scrap or part out the other one. Or sell it after you fix it then use the money to fix your other one.
Wes, I think that is a solid deal. Thinking that 2 post lift is worth ~2500-3000$ That front loader is probably close to the same give or take. But pretty much all of the major work on that backhoe has been completed. Sell it, likely worth 10k+. Love the channel! Don't blame you for putting this off.
That lift is a give away item around here. I've seen two go for free in the last few months. Old lifts from shops just don't bring much money and are hard to get rid of. I live a couple hours south of Wes so I can't imagine it's much different there. New lifts just aren't very expensive but they are a lot of work to install. I've sold three new lifts in the last few months. The old ones two went for free and the last was a labor trade to help install the new one. The heavy equipment and tractor I don't know squat about. It's been 30 years since I worked for a township.
Wes, it would be great if you could break down the time it took you to complete this project at the end. Basically how much time for each part of the process took. Even a guesstimate would be helpful/interesting.
Thanks for this video - looking forward to part 2. IMHO, I would make the trade - why? - because a functioning backhoe with this documented repair/maintenance history will always sell easily and for a good price in the future - it has a far higher value than the post-lift and the loader, both of which you were thinking of shedding anyway. Good luck with whatever you decide and thanks again for the great content.
First off, I love your videos and extremely dry sense of humor. Since you already have a backhoe in need of your talent, and this one keeps showing up like a bad penny, I'd say no and look for a halfway decent mini-excavator. Love the content and your humor, brother. I'll watch whatever you decide.
@@WatchWesWork How about Australia? We could do with a decent mechanic here. Our "rusty $#!+boxes" contain less rust than cars you describe as "rust free". The coldest temperature ever recorded where I live is -3°C (~26°F) 🥶. It even snowed here once. And I do mean ONCE. 90-something years ago.
@@altonbarbee8864 I have family on my late father's side that live up in the hills and have been there too. Spent one whole summer with the cousins and Aunts/Uncles in 1982.
Wes being a retired engineer equipment mechanic my hat is off to you, I have worked on crap that came off battle fields of Iraq and Afghanistan that were in better shape. I expect someone to present you with a fleet of AMC Pacers any day now. Yes it might be easier. Hahaha
Wes, I remodeled a house years ago, that at one point had the water pipes had frozen. I had to make a swaging tool to expand the existing pipes so I could add new to it. I made it from a piece of strut rod. This saved me a lot of hours and money for new pipe and fittings.
For me it would really only come down to one question, is the saleable value of the repaired MF equal to or more then the loader and two post lift. You said yourself that you have no real need for it, so what can you flip it for considering all the recent parts/repairs??? As for the procrastinating, if it makes you feel any better I have a loader that needs the seals replaced on both lift cylinders and I've been looking at it for about six months now. I hate hydraulic oil!
Wes, if you do the trade as proposed, will the "MF" [it has been, literally] then be your only front loader/back hoe? Do you need a fl/bh? Alternately, what would the MF be worth when repaired? In other words, I would prefer to end up with as few pieces of running, functional equipment as possible, versus several pieces in various states functionality. Hope this helps you decide.
Wes, you are the best mechanic I have encountered and I love your content however you have young family and I would highly recommend leaving crape such as the backhoe out of your shop and furthermore 200 miles away from your property. Working on that piece of junk is very dangerous.. Please be blessed
Really enjoy your videos, especially your presentation and sense of humor. Regarding the offer to trade the backhoe I suggest you ask yourself these questions; Am I in the used equupment business or am I a mechanic? What use do I have for a backhoe? If I trade for the backhoe and simply sell it will it return to haunt me? How do I get hold of Diesel Creek? Keep on keepin' on!
As you might know, both ends of that tube collapsed because of the metal MF used for it. Inferior metal does that, Wes. Knowing about how much pressure a hydraulic system is able to produce, it's no wonder that those ends did fail before they did. So, yes, you were partly correct about why that tube collapsed. I could only imagine how much oil spewed out from between that collapsed tube and thst seal.
Like your humor. The "I've seen better pictures of the Loch Ness monster" comment, and the "no need for two backhoes...we aren't Diesel Creek" comment. Good ones.
Considering it’s already half done and you where gonna replace the lift anyway, it seems like a good deal. Especially knowing all the work that’s already been done. That’s assuming the clutch sets are insanely expensive. Diesel Creek Matt would be proud if you took the trade.
Who pays for the work that gets the job half done? He still owes Wes for that labor. Keep in mind if Wes says no, the machine owner will have to pay wes for this work or Wes will get the machine in lieu of payment.
I hope you will replace the hex bolts with Allen or torx style bolts that will accept a socket for easy installation. I enjoy your show. Keep up the good work.
I'm a retired aircraft mechanic and have run into similar situations with difficult repair scenarios with turbine engines and many airframe issues so I assure you this looks like a time and money trap for sure. I would not do it!! It's your call Wes.
Isn't it the Citation 500 or somesuch jets that sell cheaply 'cause you can't get the engines, or engine parts anymore? A friend of mine owns one... I don't have the stomach for such things.
Well, Wes do you come from a long line of horse traders? Pro: You know what's been done to it already and your clearly not scared, clearly "apprehensive" but not scared to "do the work". Your half way there already. You were going to change the lift out any way, and the other fixings are just sitting there. So carry on, make the deal, and then you have a serviceable backhoe you can sell with confidence that it will make it past the white line. The other bonus is you might coin out on a resale to cover any costs you have had to ingest along the way. So remember in the immortal words of Nickolas Cage "she's a peach"... Good luck Laddy, you got this.. Thanks for the share!
The best examples of sunken cost fallacy are "Renewables" and "Electric cars". My uncle has a Mercedes tractor called a MB1500............to do a minor repair, he had to split the tractor into 3 parts. Some machines have a really steep learning curve........... Wes you have epic patience. When machines get to a certain point, if they dont get a full and proper rebuild,rewire etc.........they become an endless series of patch up jobs mixed in with break downs. Ive seen this is in the trucking industry.......everyone thinks they are getting older cheap truck, and then wonder it breaks down so often.........when its simply lack of attention to deal with common,predictable issues.
Could you imagine how much free time Matt from Diesel Creek would have if he had all the mechanic's skills and sensibilities of Wes? I'm just kidding, he'd just use that free time to drag even more old machines to his lair :)
Thanks for taking one for the team Wes. Your efforts have not been in vain. Just think of how much better the world is now that you suffered so much to fix this! Too bad the owner doesn’t want to pay you for all you’ve done here though. That’s a bummer.
Wes, I have to admit, when you mentioned the trade offer, my 1st response was "say WHAT???". After checking just a few of the other comments, I have to say I'm voting w/the group that says give him a hard NO, but I'm sure whatever you decide will be the best for you. I'm just astonished at how much detailed info that you have learned about such intricate products & your willingness to tackle such jobs.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
"this isn't diesal creek" ... good stuff.
Matt will buy it from you 😀
@@redhawk4859 yeah! 😅😂
Matt has so many projects going he already needs a clone or two of himself.
Wes this was awesome
DD Speedshop
Wes, this is one of your best. It has everything - the soul destroying absurdity of having to do things not once but twice, "in the field", the cockfest of fastener extraction, the need to manufacture parts (how on earth did you manufacture those valve like things? ), the photogenic superiority of the Loch Ness monster to pics in the manual, the sheer terror of splitting the gearbox and - wait for it - the business proposition that any rational man would run from!!! As someone very acutely commented this is a case of two backhoes or no backhoes. I feel for you. Have the bevvy. I'd recommend more than one (bevvy, not backhoe)
"the photogenic superiority of the Loch Ness monster to pics in the manual"
That is what happens when you photocopy coloured photos with a B/W copier.
I had manuals that had coloured bands on the edge of the page, photocopying gave you a black edge and made it look like a funeral notice. 😁
Big give away that it was not the original manual.
If you mention Diesel Creek, then you already know the answer: You can't own just ONE piece of crappy equipment. Long ago, he needed his crappy (but running) skid steer to fix his crappy (and non-running) skid steer. Just yesterday, he used his bulldozer to drag his mini excavator off the field of battle. That only leaves two possibilities: two backhoes or no backhoes.
Did you count the number of the same ride on lawn mowers he owns. 😂
Snowball down hill of needy metal ( that is worth saving).
@@Mark.R_ To Matt's credit the Cub cadets are just as much a hobby as anything else, he collects the old girls.
Didn’t know the BH39 was considered a mini. Those steel tracks make it like huge lol.
Either way it’s not a cheap hobby. And requires a lot of land to store all that equipment
@@Mark.R_ I counted 13 Cub Cadets in various states of decay.
I've done that job plenty of times, but never on my own, I didn't think it would be possible, you have some serious skills, and balls of steel.
That looked like a 2 man removal job. Then only one guy can work on the trans.
"Then again, this isn't Diesel Creek" 🤣 You could always get Matt to buy it, he buys ANYTHING! And he did miss out on buying something at the last RB auction!
I thought Matt said he doesn't really like backhoes
Flush with funds? Matt buys broken stuff so he can make content, or at least that's what he tells Mrs Diesel Creek;)
@@dwitcraft Yeah at times I wonder if he enjoys sleeping in the garden shed/doghouse. 🤣🤣
LOL! He'd have to scratch the paint, rip the seat, then put it in a Richie Bros. Auction for Matt to show interest!
@@johnmccallum8512 It's why he now has a new 40x60 workshop, I mean apartment. Lol.
Do the deal. Fix the other broken backhoe you’ve got on the channel. Sell them both and buy another, nicer piece of equipment that you actually want at auction. Fix that on the channel too!! Great content Wes, truly enjoy your channel. Thanks!
"...perpetual content machine..." BEST ever!!
I definitely would not make the trade.! Your channel is about the only one that shows all things that you’ve made mistakes with and then shown how you fixed them. As a wise person said, “You learn by your mistakes.” Your an honest lad who teaches others… which is great. Thank you. Great channel. 😁👍🏻🇦🇺
Wes I must agree here. Backhoes are such a limited machine and most people have woke up to this and don’t want them.
The facts are in the video - it’s worth nothing. The owner of the MF has just realised how many hours more will be spent to get it running. The statement about razors underlines the truth.
Wes, you and Mortske are my all-time favorites on RUclips. You aren't afraid of hard work and your dry sense of humor just slays me. Your "Loch Ness" comment made me laugh out loud! Also, I am so impressed with your skill at sleuthing out electrical problems. Please keep churning out these videos.
I love wes, southmain auto, diesel creek, and Andrew cam. Every time wes puts out a vid I always click on his before I watch anyone else, btw I have a channel as well if u want check it out 👍
Lock Ness got me too!
Then Mortske leads you to Puddin, he's a hoot!
@@mylor1066 Yep "Seen Better Pictures of the Lock Ness Monster" Im using that term but I have seen manuals that are that bad!
"This isn't Diesel Creek" gave me a chuckle too. I'd say one of the best ones is "So we should be home free" followed by the sounds and sights of a gas axe though.
Hello Wes. Love your channel, watch all of your videos. I am a RUclips creator as well and from Illinois too. No, It is not a good trade Or I should say it's a good trade for the other man. You already have too many projects, all though not nearly as many as, matt LOL. Keep up the great content
"I mean, this isn't Diesel Creek." I literally LOL. That was a hilarious insert just for Matt's ears. Also, "I've seen better pictures of the Loch Ness monster." Your humor is getting to be as good as your mechanical skill.
I can say from experience with an earlier Massey with this style transmission that they're really nice to use when they're working. That shuttle shift transmission is very nice to use when you're running the loader. They were way ahead of their time on that design. Same speed forward and reverse is mint. The thing I didn't like about that machine was that it's a Rube Goldberg machine in tractor form. Mine had a gannon box on the rear instead of a backhoe, and I had nothing but problems with the lift valve mechanism. You've laid hands on pretty much everything that sucks about these machines though, so maybe you shouldn't be afraid of all of that. It's relatively clean, it's complete, and you know it's going to work when you get it back together. I'd say do the deal. You'll never sell that loader and 2-post for the price of a complete backhoe plus your labor. A running/driving backhoe with no leaks of any year is probably going to bring $8-10k. I'd say $3k max for that loader and lift. Make the deal, fix the tractor, then sell either that or your Ford. Keep the one you like better. Better yet, since you have other tractors with loaders, sell both backhoes and get yourself a mini excavator. You'll like that for hoe work a lot more.
definitely go for the mini excavator .
Replace the bolts with sockethead cap screws. You'll thank me later. 😁
That's a very good idea!
I was going to say the same thing Allen screws with washers
Yep.
Good Idea or 12 points socket bolt. Better than Allen screw I think.
@@Mmercier942 torx bit
There is always a hole to be dug and I hear that the mechanic that worked on it before was halfway competent. Plus it will make for great future content so pull the trigger Wes.
Wes, you're not only a brave man you're also willing to accept a challenge.
"What's the worst that could happen?" I don't have any advice for you, Wes. Pardon me if I admire you just a little more. Your willingness to tear into some of these problems just amazes me. Reminds me a bit of myself when I was a lot younger. I'm still taking on stuff like this at 74. More power to you, kid!
Ask the backhoe owner. He's getting what he needs in the deal. Unless you can get lots of money for the backhoe, You're only getting something which is redundant to what you already have. A "good deal" is defined by improving your position.
Well said, Bob.
Yes sir
And losing something far more valuable in your business, the lift, even if it will become a backup seems a poor strategy. Also separating bucket/loaders from their tractors is generally a bad idea and greatly reduces value of the tractor, especially if old. I would pass on the trade.
Yip. The deal was only proposed for one reason, to get rid of a problem.
A well reasoned answer.... and do you really need a machine that has been a thorn in your side even as you were getting paid to fix it?
Wes, How often do you find yourself needing a backhoe? Rarely is my guess. And if you needed one, couldn't you just borrow or rent one? Time is your most valuable commodity. Spending time fixing an old piece of equipment you really don't need is wasteful. There are only so many minutes in a persons life. Fix the man's backhoe and get paid for your labor. If you want to sell the other stuff, do that and keep the money to buy something you or your wife would really enjoy, like a vacation. Oh and Wes, thank you for the videos. Your comments are instructive, humorous and yet, somehow, calming. Thanks and best wishes.
That manual was "reprinted" by photocopier set to text mode which essentially tries to make grey scale into black and white.
"We're home free", we just need a cutting torch.
Trade it for stuff you want to get rid of anyway, finish it and sell it to buy parts for the other backhoe. You get a "finish this" video, and "2-post lift tear out" video", a "loader removal" video and "new post lift" video, and a whole series of "fix the other backhoe" videos.
Yeppers! Read my comment above re: a ham radio manual from back in the day....
I second this
There is no doubt the one thing above all others about yourself that I most admire is that you will work on almost anything. Of course I realize because of You working on so much that your experience and knowledge base is logrythmitly increasing upwards. My dad made me repair anything on my first car and started me on a mechanical journey. Its not my vocation but I turn my own wrenches on all my own equipment. which includes a diesel tractor and a diesel truck. So I love this content. Plus your dialogue is amusingly entertaining. Thanks!
It’s not what it’s worth in the “market”. It’s what it’s worth to YOU that determines it’s value. Great job as always Wes!
Wes, stop calling it a 50 year old machine. It's now a 2 year old machine! Enjoy your content.
I wish that were true!
The ship of Theseus!
At todays used equipment prices, I’d say it’s a fair trade, especially if you were already planning to remove the loader off the Oliver and replace the lift with a newer one. I saw a 70’s JD backhoe sale this past Friday at auction for $9200, non running!
I’m LOLing at the username.
@@Rorschach1024 I've often thought that it was a good thing that the ship of Theseus didn't have a VIN. That would've been a real hassle at the DMV.
What a nightmare. I can't even imagine trying to put that thing back together. Could you possible use cap screws instead of hex heads? You are fearless and gifted. Good combination.
Love the video Wes. The thing is I can't blame the owner for wanting to keep the old girl running. He's lucky to have you doing the work for him. Replacing a piece of equipment like that is almost impossible. Used ones are totally crapped out by the time they're ready to hit the used market. Nobody is selling a good used backhoe. And if they do you're going to pay new prices for it.
I'm not real sure but I think he was the owner?
@@trueheart1372 No, watch all the way to the end
@@12345NoNamesLeft your right
I think you're probably right on the 'worth basically nothing' portion. 2WD backhoes are a bit cheaper than 4wd, as I'm sure you know. That loader and two post lift is worth more than the backhoe in its condition, IMO.
Love your sense of humour Wes, I always get a chuckle. I admire the scope of jobs you take on, especially on your own!
Just needs some new friction and steel disks a d she should be working again nice to see its not a catastrophic failure like the torque converter or bearing issues good video @Watch Wes Work
When I made my apprenticeship on farm equipment in the 80’s we had an angle iron frame with two dollies that go under the tractor to split them. It seemed to work pretty good. I did many clutches with that setup.
On the trade it comes down to how much money you could get for the backhoe after it’s fixed. Compare that to your loader, lift and labor.
The weak point on those is the clutch pack.
They are built undersize.
Go ahead with the deal!!!
At least on your channel we do learn something! Your channel has value!!
Hello Wes greetings from the UK, great content again and being a retired truck mechanic I love tractors and heavy machinery. My Dad was a farmer so I grew up messing around with all sorts of stuff back in the 70s & 80s. I still love tinkering with anything from lawnmowers to trucks but I don’t do the heavy lifting anymore. Someone beat me to suggest using Allen cap bolts especially if you are going to keep the machine for yourself. I guess the other thing to look at is once you have repaired the Massey Backhoe is it worth a fair bit more money than the trade for the front loader and lift. If so you could always sell the Backhoe once it’s fixed. Keep up the great content and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
Wow! I looked at replacing the a drive belt on my Toro walk behind mower and gave up without a fight. Took it to my favorite lawn repair guy. I thought I worked way over 50 years so now it’s time to read a book and help out a younger man by paying him to fix my problem. At my age (and four time cancer survivor) who knows how many books I can get read. 😊👍
Wes I feel you pain , worked as a tech at a municipality that liked to keep equipment way beyond its prime, repairs were often a exercise in futility, getting parts was always fun as well.
Wes,
Your undertaking of very complex and dangerous projects make great content. Your personality , knowledge and humor brings me back for every new video.
Thanks,
John
As an owner of multiple pieces of junky farm and construction equipment, with three different pieces currently broken and waiting for my knee to heal up enough to crawl around repairing them, I would think your "razor blades" suggestion was the most viable solution. (In response to your request for input.)
But you are hurt see and I am too and it turns out a hurt man dont need nuthin to work on!!! Broke my kneecap in half on my motorcycle. I will be out of commission for a while.
Sell them
First off, thanks, Wes, despite spending a couple of formative decades around MF tractors, this is the first time I've seen one split. IH, FarmAll, NH--seen all of those split, but never an MF.
Secondly, bravo on carrying off that split, as it's clearly a task.
Thirdly, serious chops for making it into a good video despite the clear need for extra sailor language while at the task.
Sounds like a good deal to me. Backhoes, at least here on the West Coast, even in horrible condition are bringing in the neighborhood of $15k-$20k. Don't know about your area. It eliminates the hassle of selling the lift and loader and you can always sell the other backhoe for parts to someone. Add to that, you have gone through the offered Backhoe and know exactly what you are getting and it is already torn down to complete the repairs. Sounds like a no brainer to me. But that is just me. Thanks for sharing.
Your mechanic skills and never wavering sarcasm makes me a fan/subscriber from day #1, keep it up Wes! ... it's a pleasure to watch you work ( and comment ) ... again greetings from The Netherlands ( Holland 😉 )
taking out those shafts with out loosing the needle bearings is like disarming a bomb. Love all the different stuff you work on. learning stuff ill never directly use but am fascinated with.
Loosing needle bearings a Nightmare ! Been down that road to many times ! L o L
We have identical senses of humor - which is why I look forward to every video!
The deciding factor for me is how long do you expect the swing motor to last with the worn splines. Of coarse at home and work we keep everything well past the projected end of life. Thanks again for a another great video
Regarding the trade, do what makes the most buisness sense! Part of what makes your channel so great is that its an unpretentious look into a working shop, not just a guy having fun with the money printing machine
Love the content Wes! Even though I'm out of Ag machinery business now (car wreck) I remember all too well the frustration doing that. I admire your work ethic
Thanks Wes. Your dry humor and comments have me laughing out loud. 30 minutes with you is the best material I've seen all week thanks again! Thanks for taking us along. Keep them coming.
You, mustie1 and Matt has the 3 best channels on RUclips in my opinion.
Legitstreetcars comes in as a fourth.
Wow, you have pure guts to tackle that. That bright red cherrybomb just makes it so much gooder. Take the deal, you know once finished it is all good. The Ford isn't. And, you are out only your labor and clutch plates.
IDK man.. It doesnt look like a bad machine, but its not enclosed and not 4wD. If you can use it great, but if you don't need it I'd pass. They are great to have with a bunch of land as you are always doing something, but not needing one is even better... Sometimes it cheaper to rent for that one project, than maintaining for the next.
I have a JCB Sitemaster 1800, and it is a great machine, but its so big and a pain to move... it almost makes it worthless in my situation. the 9k excavator has now taking almost all its work. You have a class a, so you got a huge leg up on that.
Anyway, great video.. anything you do is a enjoyment to watch.
Wes, only you are in a position to know the value of the machine for trade purposes . Also how you can budget the available time you have and what that time is worth to you (and your family).I applaud you for taking on the transmission repair of this unit - not many without prior experience on such a unit would even attempt it. So Talley Ho , lets go!
Floor jack, transmission jack, two bottle jacks, gantry crane, jack stands. What a clusterfuck... Nice work!
Thanks for the video, Over the years I've seen some rough Masseys and other basically scrap machines like Kleemans Ford he's "fighting the battle with". I'd say this ones very straight with some wear and age related problems, it doesn't have 2 ton of extra plates / pigeon weld all over it either . If you can do alright on the swap without dealing with 100 clowns off craigs list/market place first for your stuff.Then repair and keep it or sell it later for profit somewhere, or do the same with the ford and keep one if you choose I'd do it.
My buddy has that same Massey machine but with a cab and it's way rougher than this with the welding and extra plates. He says it pushes snow real good and actually bought it to dig a basement for his house/yard expansion . He has 10K in his with repairs like I do with my JCB to get them right, to be honest we both have machines that were cheap to buy at 5K each. They both might sit months without moving, then get used for all kinds of stuff round the yards/farm five times the next month. They are both worth way more than we have in them to sell, but it would cost 20K plus now to do it and you might not find a better machine to replace them in the end . Take care
First your a brave man Charlie Brown for doing this by yourself. Great job.
Happy Sunday! Thank you for bringing us along.
Wes one of the things I like the most with your channel is the variety. A truck one day, a car the next then a backhoe. Thanks for showing us. I am glad to see the channel growing.
Massey held the patent and sold the reverser to just about everyone except maybe Deere. As an old MF service rep, my heart is singing:) Keep'em coming!
"this isn't Diesel Creek ", and the evil laugh after popping out the clutch pack retaining ring made my day! It's your decision, but you are good at this stuff and know the history of the machines.
Great work Wes. Brings back good memories and challenges of changing the clutch on my fathers IH tractor.
You honestly are the best judge of that piece of equipment do you know what inside and out. Change the bell housing bolts to Alan headed bolts. It’ll make it easier going back together
It's practically new since you've been replacing everything on it. It runs so the trade might be worthwhile. You can always sell it!
A trade that you don't initiate is actually theft in disguise! Great video Wes!👍
Maybe find hex socket head or torx head bolts for the transmission case, so next time you need to take it apart you can use power tools
In America today, Millennials and Gen-z's (who don't go to college) don't want to enter the trades to become plumbers, mechanics, electricians, etc. Thus, there's a tremendous shortage of those workers. Mechanics in particular have been in short supply for at least the last two + decades. Pick an industry that uses mechanics and they are all desperately trying to hire for those positions. I know several kids in their early to mid-20's who didn't go to college. They work as servers in restaurants for low wages and struggle through life living paycheck to paycheck.
I hope some of these kids watch channels like this to see both the challenges and rewards of being a mechanic. Then realize that it's a good career and can pay great wages. I know mechanics in the equipment rental industry making 6 figures with overtime. Glad to see channels like this that show the trade so well.
Hello Wes I live on a island in the caribbean i have the same struggle over here your a verry talented mechacnical keep up the good work i love your video's best regards Peter from Curacao
The difference is that you don't have to wait for the winter to pass to start working on it. You do it all year long!
I loved your comment about pics of the loch ness monster! You are either a brave man taking on this project or not the sharpest tool in the shed…. I always enjoy your content. Thanks.
Any tractor driveline work is usually pretty evasive. Add in the difficulty of the loader and backhoe frames it is more than most people are equipped to deal with. It is probably still worth fixing and selling or using yourself. The Perkins diesel engines I have been around were not great cold weather starters. Thanks for the videos, Wes. Hopefully the Mrs doesn’t notice her baking pan missing.
yer ability to fix over such a large variety and age of vehicles is awesome!
From one Wes to another thanks for the great videos as always. You’ve already done most of the repair work yourself. If the fixed rig in your area will fetch more than the loader and the lift I’d say put the work into it. Keep it and scrap or part out the other one. Or sell it after you fix it then use the money to fix your other one.
Was just thinking haven't heard Wes say " well there's your problem lady ." Not 5 seconds later , there is was . Thanks Wes , made my Monday.
Wes, I think that is a solid deal. Thinking that 2 post lift is worth ~2500-3000$ That front loader is probably close to the same give or take. But pretty much all of the major work on that backhoe has been completed. Sell it, likely worth 10k+. Love the channel! Don't blame you for putting this off.
That lift is a give away item around here. I've seen two go for free in the last few months. Old lifts from shops just don't bring much money and are hard to get rid of. I live a couple hours south of Wes so I can't imagine it's much different there. New lifts just aren't very expensive but they are a lot of work to install. I've sold three new lifts in the last few months. The old ones two went for free and the last was a labor trade to help install the new one. The heavy equipment and tractor I don't know squat about. It's been 30 years since I worked for a township.
21 minutes of total fascination!
Excellent stuff Wes 👍🏼👍🏼
Wes, it would be great if you could break down the time it took you to complete this project at the end. Basically how much time for each part of the process took. Even a guesstimate would be helpful/interesting.
Honestly Wes you know the machine. You know what’s been done so it might not be a bad trade
Thanks for this video - looking forward to part 2. IMHO, I would make the trade - why? - because a functioning backhoe with this documented repair/maintenance history will always sell easily and for a good price in the future - it has a far higher value than the post-lift and the loader, both of which you were thinking of shedding anyway. Good luck with whatever you decide and thanks again for the great content.
First off, I love your videos and extremely dry sense of humor. Since you already have a backhoe in need of your talent, and this one keeps showing up like a bad penny, I'd say no and look for a halfway decent mini-excavator. Love the content and your humor, brother. I'll watch whatever you decide.
Sure would be nice to have a mechanic around here with as much knowledge and ability as you. Sure you don't wanna move to Pa? Great videos
Heh. How about Hawaii?
@@cm-hw5ww I live in North Georgia and we "almost never" here dueling banjos from the woods.
@@WatchWesWork How about Australia? We could do with a decent mechanic here. Our "rusty $#!+boxes" contain less rust than cars you describe as "rust free".
The coldest temperature ever recorded where I live is -3°C (~26°F) 🥶. It even snowed here once. And I do mean ONCE. 90-something years ago.
@@dfross87 & @ Watch Wes Work I second that! You;d have a great time here in Australia. Nice people and you can pick any climate you like!
@@altonbarbee8864 I have family on my late father's side that live up in the hills and have been there too. Spent one whole summer with the cousins and Aunts/Uncles in 1982.
"People are afraid to do this work" yeah because its rocket science to 99% of the population. Great work, keep it up. Don't sell yourself short.
The trade sounds like a great deal …… for the backhoe owner.
Wes being a retired engineer equipment mechanic my hat is off to you, I have worked on crap that came off battle fields of Iraq and Afghanistan that were in better shape. I expect someone to present you with a fleet of AMC Pacers any day now. Yes it might be easier. Hahaha
Wes, I remodeled a house years ago, that at one point had the water pipes had frozen. I had to make a swaging tool to expand the existing pipes so I could add new to it. I made it from a piece of strut rod. This saved me a lot of hours and money for new pipe and fittings.
This video put my anxiety into overdrive. My goodness what a job this is going to be. I hope you can test the transmission before reinstall.
For me it would really only come down to one question, is the saleable value of the repaired MF equal to or more then the loader and two post lift. You said yourself that you have no real need for it, so what can you flip it for considering all the recent parts/repairs???
As for the procrastinating, if it makes you feel any better I have a loader that needs the seals replaced on both lift cylinders and I've been looking at it for about six months now. I hate hydraulic oil!
I really admire you and the guys that work on these heavy pieces. Adds a whole other element of difficulty.
Wes, if you do the trade as proposed, will the "MF" [it has been, literally] then be your only front loader/back hoe? Do you need a fl/bh? Alternately, what would the MF be worth when repaired? In other words, I would prefer to end up with as few pieces of running, functional equipment as possible, versus several pieces in various states functionality. Hope this helps you decide.
Wes, you are the best mechanic I have encountered and I love your content however you have young family and I would highly recommend leaving crape such as the backhoe out of your shop and furthermore 200 miles away from your property. Working on that piece of junk is very dangerous..
Please be blessed
Really enjoy your videos, especially your presentation and sense of humor. Regarding the offer to trade the backhoe I suggest you ask yourself these questions; Am I in the used equupment business or am I a mechanic? What use do I have for a backhoe? If I trade for the backhoe and simply sell it will it return to haunt me? How do I get hold of Diesel Creek? Keep on keepin' on!
Whenever I hear Massey Ferguson I run in the other direction. I enjoy your videos!
As you might know, both ends of that tube collapsed because of the metal MF used for it. Inferior metal does that, Wes. Knowing about how much pressure a hydraulic system is able to produce, it's no wonder that those ends did fail before they did. So, yes, you were partly correct about why that tube collapsed. I could only imagine how much oil spewed out from between that collapsed tube and thst seal.
Thanks for tge heart, Wes.
It's quite possible that they opted for mild steel instead of some special stuff to save like $1 per tube
Like your humor. The "I've seen better pictures of the Loch Ness monster" comment, and the "no need for two backhoes...we aren't Diesel Creek" comment. Good ones.
Thanks for bringing us along Wes! Is it worth flipping?
Hi Wes, I love your videos. Hello from the west coast of Vancouver Island BC.....
Considering it’s already half done and you where gonna replace the lift anyway, it seems like a good deal. Especially knowing all the work that’s already been done. That’s assuming the clutch sets are insanely expensive.
Diesel Creek Matt would be proud if you took the trade.
Who pays for the work that gets the job half done? He still owes Wes for that labor. Keep in mind if Wes says no, the machine owner will have to pay wes for this work or Wes will get the machine in lieu of payment.
I hope you will replace the hex bolts with Allen or torx style bolts that will accept a socket for easy installation. I enjoy your show. Keep up the good work.
I'm a retired aircraft mechanic and have run into similar situations with difficult repair scenarios with turbine engines and many airframe issues so I assure you this looks like a time and money trap for sure. I would not do it!! It's your call Wes.
Isn't it the Citation 500 or somesuch jets that sell cheaply 'cause you can't get the engines, or engine parts anymore? A friend of mine owns one... I don't have the stomach for such things.
So long as his deal with the owner is time and materials, with progress payments, then he's golden. I wouldn't work any other way
But everything is fixed on the machine now,the owner has to have at least 15 grand into it by now mabey closer to 25
Well, Wes do you come from a long line of horse traders? Pro: You know what's been done to it already and your clearly not scared, clearly "apprehensive" but not scared to "do the work". Your half way there already. You were going to change the lift out any way, and the other fixings are just sitting there. So carry on, make the deal, and then you have a serviceable backhoe you can sell with confidence that it will make it past the white line. The other bonus is you might coin out on a resale to cover any costs you have had to ingest along the way. So remember in the immortal words of Nickolas Cage "she's a peach"... Good luck Laddy, you got this.. Thanks for the share!
The best examples of sunken cost fallacy are "Renewables" and "Electric cars". My uncle has a Mercedes tractor called a MB1500............to do a minor repair, he had to split the tractor into 3 parts. Some machines have a really steep learning curve........... Wes you have epic patience. When machines get to a certain point, if they dont get a full and proper rebuild,rewire etc.........they become an endless series of patch up jobs mixed in with break downs. Ive seen this is in the trucking industry.......everyone thinks they are getting older cheap truck, and then wonder it breaks down so often.........when its simply lack of attention to deal with common,predictable issues.
I like your style of presentation. Therefore, you are one of my favorite channels. More content please!
Could you imagine how much free time Matt from Diesel Creek would have if he had all the mechanic's skills and sensibilities of Wes?
I'm just kidding, he'd just use that free time to drag even more old machines to his lair :)
He's got the bug for sure.
i would go for the trade only if he adds half the cost of the repair to the deal, great video Wes,thanks for sharing 👏👏👏👍👍👍
Seems like a no brainer, getting a working MF (once your done) for spare parts. Could always move it on afterwards if you ever fix the other 👍🏼
Thanks for taking one for the team Wes. Your efforts have not been in vain. Just think of how much better the world is now that you suffered so much to fix this! Too bad the owner doesn’t want to pay you for all you’ve done here though. That’s a bummer.
Lockness monster 😂😂
@@IGDZILLA whatever tf
Wes, I have to admit, when you mentioned the trade offer, my 1st response was "say WHAT???". After checking just a few of the other comments, I have to say I'm voting w/the group that says give him a hard NO, but I'm sure whatever you decide will be the best for you. I'm just astonished at how much detailed info that you have learned about such intricate products & your willingness to tackle such jobs.