1959 Ford SelectoSpeed

[Nancy W]

Hi everybody, We"re thinking about buying a 1959 Ford SelectoSpeed 1801 Industrial tractor (comes with bucket and backhoe); the guy says that the transmission only seems to work in reverse, other than that hydraulics good and everything consistent with age of machine; would appreciate any help with determining what would be wrong with the transmission and if is would be worth fixing. Determining GTW/GVW and other specs helpful also.
Thanks!

 

[Fordfarmer]

I'm no expert on Select-o-speeds, but I've driven them. Can be good trannies. You may be lucky and all it needs is a new filter, fresh oil, and to have it's bands adjusted. Or, it may need a couple thousand dollars worth of work... if you can find someone to work on it, and all the parts you need. Some mechanics won't touch them, and some parts are no longer available new. If you get a good manual and decide to work on it yourself, it needs to be kept CLEAN. There are other guys who post here who know them better than I do. I guess I wouldn't recomend one that isn't working correctly to someone who isn't already familiar with them.

 

[souNdguy]

Ditto what FF said.

Can either be a 60$ fix.. or a 2500$ fix.. if you can find a competent mechanic ( or do it yourself ).

At very least you'll need a pressure gauge to be checking servo's.. etc.. and plan on good clean fluid and a new fitler.. the SOS is picky about clean fluid.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Larry NCKS]

[color=red:69a08e075c]Reverse only is very probably a serious issue with an SOS. Broken mainshaft sticks in my mind. Don't have my brain (repair manual) available right now. Likely major repairs or transmission replacement. Would not think the tractor is worth more than the loader and hoe are worth.[/color:69a08e075c]

 

[Nancy W]

Thanks for the comments so far guys; the other half insists that this would still be a good deal; I"ve asked the seller about GVW, engine hp, etc., but he"s selling it for someone else and doesn"t know much about it. He did say that the serial # was 1404-D and mod. # was 1884-1 as far as he could tell. Anyone know where I can get specs for this?

 

[Nancy W]

Thanks for the comments so far guys; the other half insists that this would still be a good deal; I"ve asked the seller about GVW, engine hp, etc., but he"s selling it for someone else and doesn"t know much about it. He did say that the serial # was 1404-D and mod. # was 1884-1 as far as he could tell. Anyone know where I can get specs for this?

 

[Larry NCKS]

[color=red:8ff95a425e]Nancy, those numbers are not anything I recognize for that vintage tractor. The model could be like an 1881 but the -1 indicates single front wheel which would not fit with that model tractor. The SN should be 5 digits without any letters.[/color:8ff95a425e]

 

[john_Bud]

Nancy, it's a FOrd Heavy duty industrial tractor with loader and hoe.

There is another post close by with pictures of mine.

The tractor is NOT an 1801. The ebay seller is confused as the SERIAL number is close to the older model number. The model for that one is a 4140 - D for diesel and it is a 62 if the SN is 1881. 1962 started with SN 1001. 1963 started with SN 11948. 1964 started with SN 38931. Those numbers also included the early 2000 and 4000 farm and light industrial tractors.

The hoe is worth about 1000 and the FEL is worth about 500. More or less depending on condition. If the SOS is trashed, you can get a 4 speed to replace it. Don't swap in a 5 speed as they aren't as strong, especially the live PTO dual stage 9" clutch. You have to get a trans from xx1 or early 2000/4000. The older transmissions have the clutch and brake rods different and won't work.

jb

 

[Nancy W]

I have a couple of pics, don't know if they will come through or not here, have posted one to the "help identify" section; it looks to me (obviously no expert) that the plate is from one of the attachments, and not the tractor itself, as it looks like it has the #'s 19-362 on the top, and Ib78 on the bottom??
help identify Ford 1801?

 

[Nancy W]

Sorry that top # s/b 19-332

 

[Anonymous-0]

.

 

[Nancy W]

Thanks jb, the seller says that those #'s were the only ones he could find and that he might be looking in the wrong place.....where should the serial/mod #'s be located? I'm thinking somewhere on the engine block by the starter??

 

[Nancy W]

Thanks Larry, can you check out my reply to jb this morning and let me know what you think?

 

[Larry NCKS]

The numbers you are looking for are on a flat spot on the bell housing behind the starter and under the left end of the battery box on a diesel. This is part of the transmission and not the engine. Some diesels dripped battery acid there and destroyed the numbers. I have two however, on which the numbers are pristine.

Try La john's site : http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=297418&ck=

 

[Nancy W]

Thanks again Larry, I'll forward your info. to the seller and see what pans out.

 

[Nancy W]

Well guys, the seller came back with another set of #'s, I think off of the transmission:

312259 FZ & CWC L289

Now what? Is he still not getting it?

 

[Larry NCKS]

[b:6ba8e9616e]Nope . . . he isn't![/b:6ba8e9616e]

 

[Nancy W]

I didn't think so, I even sent him La John's link...figured out from the forums (even though I knew before even typing in the # ) that the 312259 was the transmission, and that L289 is probably Dec. 28, 1959, but what do the letters FZ and for the second set, CWC mean?

 

[Steven Gadd]

I ended up buying this tractor. As far as I can tell the 4 is just missing at the front of the model number. I believe it is a 1964 41404-D Industrial Tractor. The transmission just needed a fluid change and is working fine in all gears forward and reverse. The tractor is still pink though.

 

[Larry NCKS]

Surely can't have a '64 w a 312259 transmission in it.