Ford 3000

[Eric123]

I'm going to look at a Ford 3000 this evening and wondered if anyone had any advice for me. It's a 1968 with the select o shift tranny and power steering but the guy says it doesn't have a hydraulic remote. So 2 questions I have are
1. Is the pump for the hydraulics there and I just need to add a valve to make a remote or is adding a remote a bigger deal requiring another pump or something
2. Anything I should check for when I look at this thing other than the usual and make sure it shifts good with the select o speed?
Thanks

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

If it has a 3-point hitch (very few don't) it's easy to add remotes. Just be wary of the SOS. Other than that, the usual caveats.

 

[Billy NY]

Focus on the select-o-speed operation, make sure it shifts well in all gears when at operating temperature. The hydraulic remote should be no issue to add, works off the tractor hydraulics, someone will likely post a photo of what you need for that. You install it, under seat, to the right. Had one on our 3600, should be the same part or equivalent aftermarket part. Then just add the lines/fittings.

 

[Eric123]

I just looked at it and passed on it but I could buy it tomorrow still. It runs good and drives good but the select onshift seems to be missing some speeds. It goes in all the speeds but it feels like it has 1,2,3, 4th is the same as 3rd, 5th, 6ths is the same as 3rd, 7th is a big jump, 8th is a big jump, etc. I didn't get it warmed up because when it was shifting funny I said not the tractor for me. Also reverse 1 works and reverse 2 is the same speed as reverse 1 but with more whine from the hydraulics / transmission. I didn't warm it up though so if none of that is a problem when it's warm I'll buy it. Just seemed like a bees nest of problems and if something doesn't work just right it bothers me until I fix it which gets expensive. Also the brakes seem weak and the "clutch" pedal doesn't stop the transmission from moving the tractor even with the brakes pressed.

 

[Mathias NY]

Are you near Rochester NY? If so, I'm planning to list my 1966 Ford 3000 for sale in a couple weeks. It's an 8spd, with a loader and a 4600 diesel engine.

 

[Eric123]

(quoted from post at 04:15:32 03/24/18) Are you near Rochester NY? If so, I'm planning to list my 1966 Ford 3000 for sale in a couple weeks. It's an 8spd, with a loader and a 4600 diesel engine.

No I'm in west MI.

 

[Texasmark1]

If everything works well, check the length of the 3 band adjuster screws on the side of the tranny housing about half way up; very large screw....maybe ⅝" with 15/16 nut I think; been a very long time. One screw is on one side of the housing and two just like it are on the other. The longer the threads showing on the screw (threaded stud actually with a slit in it for a screwdriver (again as I recall) the better the condition of the "band pads" that do your shifting and driving.

The SOS uses a planetary gear system (again as I recall) and you have 3 shafts with bands around them.....braking clamps actually. To change gears and drive the tractor, as the selected gear changes the shaft grabbed by the band is what determines the speed. If the pads (like brake shoes that stop the vehicle) wear out/off you loose your ability to do hard work.

 

[Eric123]

(quoted from post at 17:16:54 03/24/18) If everything works well, check the length of the 3 band adjuster screws on the side of the tranny housing about half way up; very large screw....maybe ?" with 15/16 nut I think; been a very long time. One screw is on one side of the housing and two just like it are on the other. The longer the threads showing on the screw (threaded stud actually with a slit in it for a screwdriver (again as I recall) the better the condition of the "band pads" that do your shifting and driving.

The SOS uses a planetary gear system (again as I recall) and you have 3 shafts with bands around them.....braking clamps actually. To change gears and drive the tractor, as the selected gear changes the shaft grabbed by the band is what determines the speed. If the pads (like brake shoes that stop the vehicle) wear out/off you loose your ability to do hard work.

Thanks for the advice. I actually bought the tractor today. I told the seller yesterday that I wasn't interested because of the odd shifting and he called today and said after adjusting the linkage from the shifter to the transmission it shifts fine. So I went back and sure enough it's good now. He did adjust the bands last year and apparently they were never adjusted before but still weren't far out of spec. Hopefully that's a good sign as I really like this tractor's stance and multiple speeds on the fly for doing hay work. Tomorrow I plan to look into the brakes, they are weak and may need new shoes or hopefully just an adjustment. The tractor has 2,700 hours on it so I am hoping to get some decent life from her still.