New to tractors, grandpa is selling his and trying to determine value - any help appreciated!

[Ultradog MN]

What area of Missouri are you in?? The 3000 was one of Fords worst tractors but better then an 8N but still not all that much better

Are you kidding??
I had Ford Ns for 4 or 5 years and I had 3000s for most of 20 years. Comparing a 3000 to an N is like comparing a Harley to a Moped.

 

[LukeTSherman]

I have had Ford 3000s for decades. I like diesels because they are just less trouble. I started with gassers until I could afford a diesel. 2700 hours on that tractor, with any kind of reasonable upkeep is fine. Power Steering is a BIG plus. Good rubber is a BIG plus. Looking at the overall condition says it was cared for. If the instrument panel doesn't work ebay has them at a good price.....surely YT sells them also but I do a lot of shopping with ebay and I just go to them first without another thought. The tractor has an 8 speed transmission which is the better tranny for this tractor. It probably has a Live transmission/clutch arrangement:

The clutch has 2 discs, one controlling the ground speed and the other the PTO. With the clutch all the way down both are disengaged. When you let the clutch out (let the pedal rise) about 1/4 the total distance, the PTO (if the lever is in the active region...lever is on the left side behind your foot...) is activated and starts spinning. As you let the clutch out more, about 3/4 the way all the way up the ground speed is engaged. This transmission is perfect for digging post holes in a straight line.

A service manual is your best friend. I and T makes one that dealers used to stock...maybe still do, and places like ebay sells used OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Ford manuals. Usually the first thing you do is change all the fluids and check the air filter (the big black circle on the left side of the cowling) for cleanliness. I use the Motorcraft FL-1A engine oil filter and 15w-40 HD oil...both reasonably priced at Walmart. The tranny and differential use THD (tranny, hydraulic, differential) fluid. Radiator gets 50-50 mix and full is the top of the coils when the engine is cold....it will expand and fill the tank as the fluid heats up. Don't forget to get a grease gun and red grease and go over the whole tractor hitting the grease zerks , especially on the front king pins....pump grease into the zerk until you see it coming out the top of the vertical portion (kingpin) of the front end.....its adjacent to the top of the front tires where it oozes out when the pin area is full, zerk is in the middle rear of the pin.

On safety, be careful on hills if driving parallel to the hill....you don't want a tip over. Any thing you pull needs to be below the rear axle which forces the front tires down.....above the rear axle is inviting a rear up.....front tires off the ground.....unsafe!

Good luck

That's some really fantastic info and tips, thanks for the detailed information!

 

[buickanddeere]

3000 for certain