4000 4 speed

[RBnSC]

My brother bought a really nice 4cyl 4000 a couple of weeks ago. We have owned two others in high crop configuration, and still have one, all 4 speeds. In fact all 2000s and 4000s I have ever seen were 4 speeds or SOS's. I was just wondering if Ford was just using up what they had on the shelves as they were at the end of the production run on that style of tractor?
Ron

 

[Larry NCKS]

My uncle has a 5 speed.

 

[Dean]

My neighbor has a 64 4000 with 5 speed.

Interesting story here. My neighbor bought it from a church about three years ago. The church bought it new and used it to mow their grounds for decades.

When showing it to me, my neighbor complained to me that it had only two gears, forward and reverse. When I showed him how the vertical gate five speed transmission worked, he told me that the original owner had told him that it had only two speeds.

The lower two transmission gates were/are very tight, indicating that it was likely used for four decades in third and reverse only.

Dean

 

[Fordfarmer]

Of the ones I've seen, 4-cyl. 2000's seem to most often have the 4-speed, and 4-cyl. 4000's usually have either the 5-speed or SOS. Other than a couple that I've seen pictures of (ebay or photo ads here), I can't think of any 5-speed or SOS 2000's or 4-speed 4000's. Probably had more to do with price and intended use than what Ford had 'on the shelf'.

 

[Bobrh]

I think price was a big factor, $100 price difference was a very big deal in 1959-60. Back then price was big driver as well as fuel consumption- fuel is why we had a 671 instead of the 871 in 1959. I have an old ad that was in 2005 post from Steve that someone wrote some prices on. 641-$2516, 651-$2683, 671 SOS-$3083. Power Steering $160 and $410 more for Diesel.
841-$2893,851-$3010,871 SOS-$3471, and $495 for Diesel. No prices on the 661 or 861 person was probably not interested or could be a time when the 5 speed live power was in short supply because Ford wanted everyone in SOS.

Another thing that we hated on the 5 Speed (Uncle"s 960)was it was the slowest in road gear.
In my manuals the ratios listed for a 4 speed fourth was 2.98 to 1, 5 speed 5th was 3.38 to 1 , and SOS in tenth was 2.47 to 1
Rear end ratios were 6.67 to 1 for all 600 series and 7.17 to 1 for all 800 series. My manual for 701-901 shows 7.18 for rear axle.

If you didn"t need live power and were on the road between farms and price was very important the 4 speed was the way to go plus dealers in our area were more willing to deal on 4 speeds back. For me at age 14 road speed was important for the 5 to 6 miles we drove on the road- loved the 960 on the baler, combine, 3 bottom plow, 4 row cultivator, and especially the power steering, but on the road it was painfully slow. The 671 SOS was a fantastic tractor for a kid to operate and fast.

Gary