Possible Ford 6000 project, looking for input

[Macrobius]

New to the forum here, looking for some guidance.
I have been offered a Ford 6000 project, was an in use tractor a couple three years ago, owner passed away. Sat unused.
6400 hrs on the clock, turns over doesn't run, new battery decent seat.
Engine oil is black no AF in it, fuel system needs bleeding, I see some things in the fuel line that are possible air leaks.
When cranking can tell by sound there is one low compression cylinder.
Both fenders are straight, is missing a battery side cover and one screen air inlet radiator cover one side.
Will need a rewire (easy job for me I do electrical work)
Shows some evidence of some repairs over the years.
Needs rears, appear to be loaded with calcium, rims are rusting but no perforations or holes.
The big unknown is the trans or hydraulics.(that's the scary $$ part). Could not find a serial or trans hyd dipstick to see level or condition.
The current owner is asking $1500 cash firm and that includes the rollback to have it delivered to my shop.
Prior tractors I have owned are mostly utility size 35 hp and under an mix of Workmasters (New Hollands), H's, a WD45, several 9N, 8N, MF35, Cubs etc.
Nothing this big.
Presently have 2 8N's and a new Kioti CK2620 std trans not hydro with loader, with the usual 3 point toys, brush hog finish mower, back blade and a just acquired 11' JD KBA pull disc.
The 6000 would handle the disc nicely to level out my field of 4 acres that got rutted up. Either of the 8Ns will pull the disc as long as it doesn't bite in too deep, then I suspect I will run out of tractor. I don't really want to use the the new Kioti for the discing unless no other reasonable choice.

So, what to do?

Buy and fix?
Buy and part out?
Pass on it?
Thoughts?

 

[Macrobius]

Ford 6000 possible project more pics...

 

[TractorTech]

Without it running, transmission is a big, scary unknown as it is a Select-O-Speed. Parts are hetting tough to find. It might be a PROJECT you would want to take on if you could see the engine and transmission perform, but.....

Engine alone sounds like it may need to berebuult.

Pass unless it can be started and run through the gears.

Alternately, convince the owners to allow you to tinker to get running. If you can, drain at least some oil on the transmission to check for water and color

 

[rustred]

1500.00 don’t buy much. You probably have 1K worth of tires on it. Looks like it was taken care of and as said was used. So I would tell them pending if I can start it. Then of course you know what happens next. Ooh it runs its worth more ! I don’t know much about these fords but they I have heard they are ok. So if it runs and drives I would take a chance. Most tractors I buy are none runners. U just have to know what to look for. And it’s the perfect thing for small acres.

 

[Dieseltech]

I have three running 6000 diesels, none have trans oil OR rear end oil dipsticks, but use plugs for oil level. If the SOS trans needs work good luck finding parts.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Honestly you can't go wrong. If it was in use up until the owner died, it's most likely okay in the transmission. It was running, it will run again. You can get it running and see what works, and go from there.

Don't know why you wouldn't want to use your new Kioti to disc, though. Unless it's smaller than the 8Ns. First thing I'd do with a new tractor is put it to work! No sense in babying it when it's under warranty.

 

[Destroked 450]

Until you hear the engine run it’s a parts tractor and not worth $1500 in my opinion, rear tires look to have decent thread but also have a good bit of dry rot so I don’t put much value in them
I wouldn’t want to have more than $1000 in it without hearing it run

 

[rrlund]

It's been the dream of my life to find one of those. Only issue might be the Selecto Speed transmission, but I wouldn't worry about that right now.

 

[shaun wallace]

The trans is not the only thing to be concerned about is the hyd system as the accumulator looses its charge the hyd pump cycles constantly witch knocks out the coupling.

 

[Duner Wi]

My thinking is if you just want a project tractor I would pass. However if you want a Ford 6000 then I would grab it.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I'm a Ford man.
Have owned a dozen 3 cylinder Fords.
Have two 4000s now.
A few years ago I bought a 4000 with the Select O Speed transmission. It operated as it should.
I hated that transmission and got rid of the tractor.
Will never own another SOS.

 

[560Dennis]

What’s your budget ?
Where I suggest starting .
Your not going to get out of it what put in it.

 

[NY 986]

The rear tires showing the cracks that they have makes 1500 dollars look iffy if the rest of the tractor does not pan out.

 

[38 Sears Roebuck]

I wouldn't walk away from that one, I'd run as fast as I could.

 

[Macrobius]

Thank you all for the input.

I am leaning towards passing on it, as my shop already has too many unfinished projects, some have been waiting for almost 30 years.. (like the 1976 rust free Volvo wagon sitting on jack stands in there that would like me to finish it up, for example).

The 2 8N 's I have would like fresh paint and general go over.
Have rewired and converted both to 12 v.

One bought not running for $1700 delivered from the Kioti/New Holland dealer, I picked it out of the 4 to chose from as the front end steering, bushings, tie rods etc were all very tight, had not been used hard, had been well cared for, indoor kept. Just needed some TLC, the usual carb overhaul, tuneup with a new coil and I had it running nicely. Good rims and rubber on it too.

The most recent one was bought last year running driving for $1200. It has had a harder life, paint fading, surface rust starting to show through, good rubber & rims though, It ran with a steady miss, listening to it crank you could hear one weak cylinder, a little compressed air applied in each of the spark plugs back at the shop showed #4 exhaust leaking, pulled the head, replaced the burnt exhaust valve took care of that.
I would love to do an engine overhaul on both them, someday.

Anyone ever converted a Ford 8N engine to full flow spin on oil filter?

Would take some re plumbing of lube passages but I would think it could seriously reduce cylinder, ring and bearing wear.
Ford engineers did research on that in the late 1940's from what I have heard, and that's when they started putting full flow lube filters on their engines.

The Kioti is a typical modern utility tractor, about same power as the 8N, its a nice machine, well made, no Tier IV emissions, 25hp, the 5 yr 0 percent loan was hard to pass up. Free money.
Seems a little light weight even with a loader on the front, for pulling an 11' disc around even in 4WD I would think though?

I have had it 3 years now, 56 hours on the clock, use it very gently, Fluid film coated all seams and hydraulic fittings at new, stored under a roof always, so no fading corrosion or rust.
I use it in fall for mostly moving bucket loads of firewood from my log splitter area up to side porch, and rest of the year some light brush hogging of grass.
I have it paired with a NH Workmaster 35's (oversize) fast hitch bucket on it, have to be careful if moving something heavy, easy to get too much weight forward, but carefully stacked I can carry over a face cord of cut split dry wood safely.
This is my 2nd Kioti now, traded the first one same size & hp, in at 250 hours, had that about 5 years, it came typical utility tractor set up - R4's with hydro.
Learned real quick R4's around here are about useless in wet mud and snow. Hydro in the cold you had to wait for the oil to warm a bit before pushing snow.
Because I had taken very good care of it and gently used it, (it looked like new at time of trade) got real good money back on trade.
This new CK2620 I ordered special at the dealer open house.
Wanted no bucket (had the 35's which I kept, they put the new bucket from the new one on the trade in).
For tires, unloaded R1's, and the best part, it has a standard gear transmission. 3 ranges H M L & 3 forward 1 reverse gears. LIve hydrraulics and clutched not electric PTO. Double clutch is nice if you want to gently start a PTO implement, not slam it on.
Happy to say it drinks less than half the fuel the same tractor with a hydro used, and doesn't get stuck in the wet like the first one did.
Got tired of pulling the first one out (happened twice-- that was enough) with a long chain hooked to one of my 8N's.... The R1's are a little rougher on the lawn than R4's, but grass always grows back.

Anyway thanks again fro the input on the 6000.

If someone really wants the 6000, I would be happy to assist.
Just direct message me your contact info I can put you in touch with the owner, he lives near here, we are in upstate Western NY.