Lee's Ford 4400 Thread

[Lee_]

Howdy again everyone. Starting a thread on this ole feller as kind of a progress log and place to ask questions when stuff breaks down, heh.

1969-Aug-25 Day-Shift, Gasser 3cyl, Independent 540 PTO, 8-speed. Foot throttle. Dual remotes, possibly aftermarket, not sure. I assume the loader is a 730 but I haven't actually looked. Came with a grader blade and a set of chains.

Just got it home this evening. More pics later. Paint looks worse up close.

Pretty exciting. Basically exactly the tractor I wanted except for the cab. We always had IH stuff before the family farm broke up and everything got weird, but my buddy has basically exactly the same tractor (diesel and older), and I really like it, so I figured I'd get one of my own. Gas is better for me. Getting ready to move mostly full time off grid up on top the mountain and I don't have enough solar to run a block heater.

Hour meter says 2400-something. I was assuming that was actually 12400-something, but my buddy pointed out that there is hardly any wear on the loader pins, so maybe it really is 2400 and it was just kept outside. I can't decide what I think. My buddy has a 574 with legitimate 2600 hours that is in a lot worse shape, so I just can't decide what to believe.

Cab is pretty rough, rust, missing glass. Rear rims have some fixes where the fluid ate out around the valve stems. Probably have to get some rims. Seat is pretty bad, but I have a new one to put on. Rest of the tractor is real nice. Bucket is real good. Tires seem brand new. Not sure I want the flotation tires on the front for my purposes, may switch them to some high-ply pickup tires.

I am going to take the cab off and trade it for a 6-pack of Yuengling to the first person that wants to come get it. Fort Seybert, WV. The cab is way worse than it looks in the above pic. Better pics tomorrow. I'm going to keep most of the lights off the cab though.

It seems pretty cold-blooded. Starts real good, but sputters some until it gets good and warm. Can't decide if I should go ahead and check the valve lash and time it, or just run it some in case the carburetor just needs to clean itself out from sitting. Thoughts?

 

[showcrop]

Howdy again everyone. Starting a thread on this ole feller as kind of a progress log and place to ask questions when stuff breaks down, heh.

View attachment 105951

1969-Aug-25 Day-Shift, Gasser 3cyl, Independent 540 PTO, 8-speed. Foot throttle. Dual remotes, possibly aftermarket, not sure. I assume the loader is a 730 but I haven't actually looked. Came with a grader blade and a set of chains.

Just got it home this evening. More pics later. Paint looks worse up close.

Pretty exciting. Basically exactly the tractor I wanted except for the cab. We always had IH stuff before the family farm broke up and everything got weird, but my buddy has basically exactly the same tractor (diesel and older), and I really like it, so I figured I'd get one of my own. Gas is better for me. Getting ready to move mostly full time off grid up on top the mountain and I don't have enough solar to run a block heater.

Hour meter says 2400-something. I was assuming that was actually 12400-something, but my buddy pointed out that there is hardly any wear on the loader pins, so maybe it really is 2400 and it was just kept outside. I can't decide what I think. My buddy has a 574 with legitimate 2600 hours that is in a lot worse shape, so I just can't decide what to believe.

Cab is pretty rough, rust, missing glass. Rear rims have some fixes where the fluid ate out around the valve stems. Probably have to get some rims. Seat is pretty bad, but I have a new one to put on. Rest of the tractor is real nice. Bucket is real good. Tires seem brand new. Not sure I want the flotation tires on the front for my purposes, may switch them to some high-ply pickup tires.

I am going to take the cab off and trade it for a 6-pack of Yuengling to the first person that wants to come get it. Fort Seybert, WV. The cab is way worse than it looks in the above pic. Better pics tomorrow. I'm going to keep most of the lights off the cab though.

It seems pretty cold-blooded. Starts real good, but sputters some until it gets good and warm. Can't decide if I should go ahead and check the valve lash and time it, or just run it some in case the carburetor just needs to clean itself out from sitting. Thoughts?

I would start off by checking the carb adjustments according to the manual. The low speed could be a little lean.

 

[Destroked 450]

I would take you up on that cab trade if you were 100 miles or less away, but 500 miles is a bit to far

 

[Lee_]

I would take you up on that cab trade if you were 100 miles or less away, but 500 miles is a bit to far

You don't want that thing, man. It's full of rust holes.

 

[Lee_]

Here's some more pics. The cab really is awful, but the rest of it seems pretty good. Runs good and doesn't seem to have too much wear, anyway. I guess I'll find out, but I am feeling more confident that I didn't make a bad decision buying it.

I mean it certainly needs going through and tidied up, but everything seems pretty minor that I've found so far. I have a new seat for it. Didn't have time to fool with it today though.

Cab still up for trade for beer if anyone wants to come get it. Fort Seybert WV. I'm gonna keep most/all the lights off of it though. I hate to throw it on the junk pile to rot away, but I don't want it.

 

[Lee_]

A couple that wouldn't fit in the last message.

 

[Lee_]

Is that a Ford cab, or aftermarket?

 

[Ultradog MN]

I don't think it's a 730 loader.
Those were built to fit the 3000, 3400s and bolted up underneath the radiator.
Yours is a 740 or some such. Heavier.
One thing you'll like is how the cab protected the steering wheel. My pal Kenny parted out a 4400 w/SOS with a rust bucket cab that the steering wheel was excellent.
I have it on my 4450 now.

 

[Lee_]

Much better.

 

[Lee_]

Question:

There is a bolt and a nut that hold the seat frame on. The bolt goes in front, and then the nut is on a stud in the back.

When I changed out the seat, that whole stud came out. It's like 3 or 4 inches long and smooth except for some threads near the top.

I cleaned up the area good so as to be sure to not drop any dirt down in there, then tightened the stud back in there when I put the new seat on.

Did I screw something up? The new seat frame is a little thinner than the old one, so that stud is down in there a little farther than it was.

 

[Lee_]

This thing right here.

 

[Sean in PA]

That stud is also the post that holds the front end of the draft plunger for the 3 point lift in place. Hopefully nothing moved while it was out so that when you reinstalled it it went back into the hole in the plunger. Pull on the piece at the rear end of the plunger spring to see if it will move. If it does, then the pin is not seated properly and you will probably have to open up the top cover to get it reinstalled properly.

 

[Hacke]

It sits in a slot in the plunger, preventing the plunger from turning when you adjust the spring tension.

 

[Sean in PA]

It sits in a slot in the plunger, preventing the plunger from turning when you adjust the spring tension.
View attachment 106462

Thanks for that info. I had thought that it was a hole that prevented forward-rearward motion as well as rotation.

 

[sotxbill]

Howdy again everyone. Starting a thread on this ole feller as kind of a progress log and place to ask questions when stuff breaks down, heh.

View attachment 105951

1969-Aug-25 Day-Shift, Gasser 3cyl, Independent 540 PTO, 8-speed. Foot throttle. Dual remotes, possibly aftermarket, not sure. I assume the loader is a 730 but I haven't actually looked. Came with a grader blade and a set of chains.

Just got it home this evening. More pics later. Paint looks worse up close.

Pretty exciting. Basically exactly the tractor I wanted except for the cab. We always had IH stuff before the family farm broke up and everything got weird, but my buddy has basically exactly the same tractor (diesel and older), and I really like it, so I figured I'd get one of my own. Gas is better for me. Getting ready to move mostly full time off grid up on top the mountain and I don't have enough solar to run a block heater.

Hour meter says 2400-something. I was assuming that was actually 12400-something, but my buddy pointed out that there is hardly any wear on the loader pins, so maybe it really is 2400 and it was just kept outside. I can't decide what I think. My buddy has a 574 with legitimate 2600 hours that is in a lot worse shape, so I just can't decide what to believe.

Cab is pretty rough, rust, missing glass. Rear rims have some fixes where the fluid ate out around the valve stems. Probably have to get some rims. Seat is pretty bad, but I have a new one to put on. Rest of the tractor is real nice. Bucket is real good. Tires seem brand new. Not sure I want the flotation tires on the front for my purposes, may switch them to some high-ply pickup tires.

I am going to take the cab off and trade it for a 6-pack of Yuengling to the first person that wants to come get it. Fort Seybert, WV. The cab is way worse than it looks in the above pic. Better pics tomorrow. I'm going to keep most of the lights off the cab though.

It seems pretty cold-blooded. Starts real good, but sputters some until it gets good and warm. Can't decide if I should go ahead and check the valve lash and time it, or just run it some in case the carburetor just needs to clean itself out from sitting. Thoughts?

Couple comments... The front axle makes me think that the tractor is a 4500, not a 4400. As it is... the heavier Industrial axle. And the after market cab.. are horrible loud.... and you will soon be deaf... and too hot in the summer with out a/c but great in the winter with a heater... as to loader work, fill rear tires with ballast, add weights, and attach the heaviest thing you have to the rear, and then it will work well. Remove the bucket and it becomes a serious plow tractor as the loader frame helps it. Otherwise the front end it too FRONT heavy and makes it rough in the fields... As you noted, you may need wide front tires for serious loader work as the narrow tires will sink in lighter soil areas. Should be a great tractor.. Bad part,, its difficult to service with a dang loader in the way, and fan belts are horrible to change. Enjoy it.

 

[Destroked 450]

Couple comments... The front axle makes me think that the tractor is a 4500, not a 4400. As it is... the heavier Industrial axle. And the after market cab.. are horrible loud.... and you will soon be deaf... and too hot in the summer with out a/c but great in the winter with a heater... as to loader work, fill rear tires with ballast, add weights, and attach the heaviest thing you have to the rear, and then it will work well. Remove the bucket and it becomes a serious plow tractor as the loader frame helps it. Otherwise the front end it too FRONT heavy and makes it rough in the fields... As you noted, you may need wide front tires for serious loader work as the narrow tires will sink in lighter soil areas. Should be a great tractor.. Bad part,, its difficult to service with a dang loader in the way, and fan belts are horrible to change. Enjoy it.

It's not a 4500, wrong loader, 4500 has a hard nose with built in oil tank, 4500 axle is more boxier and swept back some

 

[Sean in PA]

Definitely a 4400 front axle. It as the same "upside down U" profile as the 4000 Ag Chassis model, but it is not adjustable. The 4500 front axle is much heavier, with a rectangular cross-sectional profile and each side has a triangular profile when seen from above.

 

[Tire Tracks]

It's a 735 loader. I have the same tractor. The 3400 used the 730 loader which had the "cradle" that curved downward in front of the tractor and attached underneath, while the 735 has the brackets you have that attach to the sides of the front frame.

 

[Lee_]

Well, the generator has quit charging (I suspect the regulator rather than the generator, actually), so I have an alternator conversion to put on it when I have time. For the moment it's up on the mountain where I was cutting trees with a solar trickle charger on it, but I think I will make a youtoob vijeroo about it when the time comes.