1958 ford 971 selecto

[tim in alaska]

Goodmorning I have found a tractor on craigs list which I wonder if you good folk could provide information on..1958 971 select trans with wide front wheels, spose to have 5000 hours on it and sat for 4 years.. barely runs and owner lists needs complete overhaul. I am familiar with the n series but not these.

do they split and are easy to work on like ns
parts cost and availability
what the heck is the sos trans and anything special to look for in it.
looks like most of these had close wheels in front both this has wide any problem there.

anything else

thanks in advance and appreciate the input

tim in alaska

 

[Texas!]

The Select-O-Speed transmission was the first "shift on the go" or powershift transmission. It is a hydraulically operated, planetary gear transmission. The early ones were trouble prone and were recalled by Ford. The reason the tractor has sat for 4 years may be due to the transmission. I wouldn't buy a SOS tractor unless I could operate it first to see if the trans is OK.
As far as parts and ease of maintenance a 901 series is just like an N series.

 

[twiggy]

so does that mean the n parts can be used on the sos trans. because what i have found out since i have bought mine, a few weeks ago, is they dont make the parts for the sos any more.

 

[tim in alaska]

Texas thanks for this when you speak of early how early I believe these came out in 1957 could you advise when the fault was corrected and when they started to paint em blue thanks again tim

 

[Texas!]

There may be an o-ring or a bolt inside an SOS that was also used on an N. Other than that there are no common parts between the two. And as you have learned Ford/NH has pretty well abandoned parts support for the SOS.

 

[Texas!]

The 971 cannot be a 1958 model because the SOS transmission was introduced in January, 1959. The recall occurred in September, 1959. All SOS's manufactured after Sep received the updates at the factory. Those manufactured between Jan and Sep received a new transmission provided by the factory and installed at the dealership. Regardless of updates that may or may have not been done to the SOS the transmission will fail if it is not maintained and adjusted at regular intervals. Unlike a standard gear transmission an SOS cannot be ignored.
Ford tractors were not painted blue at the factory until 1962. Many of the older tractors were painted blue by the dealerships and owners to make them appear to be a newer tractor.

 

[tim in alaska]

thanks for taking the time on this texas... with your good input I believe I will pass on this best to you tim

 

[showcrop]

(reply to post at 10:57:59 05/31/13)

Check the casting number on the left side of the gear case. C3NN means 2nd generation C0NN means original. I have a 1959 971D that went back to the factory to have the tranny changed out to new generation. It works just fine.

 

[Larry NCKS]

(quoted from post at 20:24:17 05/31/13)

(reply to post at 10:57:59 05/31/13)

Check the casting number on the left side of the gear case. C3NN means 2nd generation C0NN means original. I have a 1959 971D that went back to the factory to have the tranny changed out to new generation. It works just fine.

Incorrect. The original casting number on a 1959 SOS was 312259. C0NN-7006-B was the very first "blue" or DDC transmission. C3NN-7006-B was the first revision of the blue DDC transmission.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 04:06:26 06/01/13)

(quoted from post at 20:24:17 05/31/13)

(reply to post at 10:57:59 05/31/13)

Check the casting number on the left side of the gear case. C3NN means 2nd generation C0NN means original. I have a 1959 971D that went back to the factory to have the tranny changed out to new generation. It works just fine.

Incorrect. The original casting number on a 1959 SOS was 312259. C0NN-7006-B was the very first "blue" or DDC transmission. C3NN-7006-B was the first revision of the blue DDC transmission.

Well anyway C3NN is still the one you want and is the special thing that Tim wanted to know about!

 

[Sean in PA]

This thread is 13 years old and that person you are responding to, Texas!, hasn't been back here since 2015, so he (she?) is not likely to respond to your post. You should create a new thread about your problem/question. There are lots of folks here that should be able to answer you.

 

[Ultradog MN]

This thread is 13 years old and that person you are responding to, Texas!, hasn't been back here since 2015, so he (she?) is not likely to respond to your post. You should create a new thread about your problem/question. There are lots of folks here that should be able to answer you.

I'm still in touch with Alan (Texas - formerly AWHTX).
Spoke to him about a month ago.
He went through some health troubles and lost his job as a private jet pilot about 15 years ago and sometime later got divorced.
Retired now but doing okay. He's a good man!