Ford 3000

[Don Taylor]

I bought this tractor a year ago and have tried to find the serial number and year of manufacture. I just found a site that shows where the numbers are and the yearly list. The numbers I have found still leaves me with questions. There are three sets of numbers located on the frame in front of the stering arms behind the engine. According to a spread sheet I located the first set is the model number; 5L23C. This refers to a 65 manufactured 11/23/05 on the afternoon shift. another set is the production code, M305. The third should be the serial number, and start with a C. My numbers are 4124-030.

Second question is about the location of the headlights and the grill. All pictures I have seen show the lights mounted on each side of the radiator hood. My lights are mounted inside the lower homemade grill without a means of using the lights.

 

[Bob Jarvis]

Looking at the service manual (I believe I got it from this web site) it appears that if you found 3 numbers together then you've found the right numbers. Sometimes these things aren't stamped in too well, and forty+ years of paint don't help. I had to take some sandpaper to mine to wear down the paint to where I could make it out. Even then sometimes they're hard to see. Your serial number should start with A, B, or C, which I believe tells where the tractor was made, but I don't know what each letter means.

I've seen pictures of 3000's with external and internal lights. My understanding is that they were manufactured in multiple locations, and the light mounting point differed depending on where it was made. Ditto for the wiring - A and B series machines have one wiring diagram - C's have another. I've got a 3000 that was probably manufactured about the same time as yours, late '65, and mine has external lights. You can probably get factory-similar replacement parts at any New Holland dealer, or online at a number of places.

 

[3000OH]

Check out the New Holland parts web pages and I think you"ll find the different early grille/light combos. Some units (for UK sale, I believe) had lights interior to the grille. HTH

 

[Don Taylor]

Thanks fellows. It looks like I have a British made tractor as I read this morning in the "relocating headlights" and your comments. A stiff brush allows the numbers to be readily seen and I am now looking for the numbers for the British made tractor. FYI, the tractor does everything I need it to do and I am happy with it just the same.