select-o-speed Question

[Jerry Ward]

I have had a 2N for several years and now am looking to move up to a live pto & live hydraulics. I've tried to read up on the select-o-speed, but I'm not really sure what it does for you. I will be fixing this tractor when needed, and this does look more complex. Do the benifits make the risk worth it? Especially with me not being albe to recognize a select-o-speed with problems.

 

[souNdguy]

The sos was a 10spd automatic with independent pto. The early ones were plauged by failures. All of them are picky about regular maintenance, clean oil and filters.

If you find one that works correctly in all ranges , etc.. then it will likely stay that way if you maintain it well.

If you merely want live pto and live hyds You can also look at the various 660/661 and 86/861 tractors that have a dual clutch and 5 speed tranny. Also, some of the 8spd later trannies offered independent pto.. etc.

What size tractor were you looking for / what duties would you need it for?

Soundguy

 

[Jerry Ward]

I'm looking for mowing mostly, but would love to get one with a loader on it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Jerry,
You will most likely want to stay away from the Select-O-Speeds. They were good trannys when first built as long as they were properly maintained. As none have been built for over 30 years, finding one in good condition will be difficult, and any you do find would be questionable. Reapirs are more costly than the tractors are worth, if you have problems, and experienced people to work on them are few and far between. Your best bet is the 800/900 (4 Cyl) series or the 2000-4000 series (3 Cyl). The 800/900 were 5 speeds with live power and independent hydraulics. The 2000/3000 have llive power and independent hydraulics and the 4000 had indendent pto and hydraulics. All of these had 8 speed trannys. For loader work, you want to have power steering. Not all of these had it, but most of the 4000's do.

 

[RICKWI]

The SOS is not an automatic. It is a fully direct mechanical connection from engine to differential, spring/hydraulic actuated planetery transmission. Sort of like a Model T with power assist for the pedals. It is not just live PTO, it is fully independant, just pull out the knob and the pto starts, no mater what the tractor is doing. (Yes it has to be running.) Ideal for mowing, keep the tractor reved up and adjust ground speed with the 10 speeds available at shifter. Loader work, set the pins in the shifter detent and use it as a shuttle transmission.
Like the challenge of working on your own mechanics and willing to dig deep in? There is nothing mysterious in there just quite a bit of stuff. Get all the manuals and dig in.

 

[souNdguy]

Automatic was perhaps overly vauge... I was trying to convey that it was not a convention stick and gear shift model, compaired to all other ford tractors at the time. Perhaps it is closer to a shuttle shift if we are looking for political correctness?

Soundguy

 

[john_Bud]

Hey hey hey hey now!

Don't start with PC talk on a tractor site!

jb

 

[JK-NY]

It is not an automatic, but a manually shifted hydraulic- actuated planetary transmission. Thats quite a mouthful so I would call it a power shift. BTW,The engineer who developed the SOS later went to John Deere and designed their power shift transmission.

 

[730 virgil]

i've heard he told ford sos needed some work before ford put it in 6000. ford didn't like that idea so they fired him and he went to deere.

 

[souNdguy]

The reason 'automatic' comes up is due to the lack of a real clutch and the factt hat you don't need the inching pedals between gears.. Like I said.. overly vauge.. but not completely out of the ballpark.. though powershift does some it up much better.

Soundguy

 

[souNdguy]

Yep.. this site isn't so B&D like some others..

Soundguy

 

[JK-NY]

I have heard a similar story. The Selecto speed was developed ffor the 4 cyl tractors of the late 50's early 60's which made 45-48 pto hp max. Ford wanted to use it in the 6000 , the enginner who developed it felt it needed more modifications so it would hold up in a 60-65 hp tractor ,but Ford management wanted the 6000 for sale sooner rather than later to try to keep up with IH, John Deere,AC, Oliver etc who had all brought out higher hp tractors in the early 60's. Turns out the enginner was right . Shortly after that is when he went to John Deere and developed their very successfull powershift transmission.

 

[JK-NY]

The early selecto speeds had their issues, they underwent some improvements and were a good transmission by the mid 1960's when the 3 cyl tractors came out. It is a powershift(shift on the go with no clutching).Read my reply below. There are 3 "ranges" with 10 forward gears total.Biggest advantage is the ability to easily shift up or down on the go, and independant pto. To try one out, try all gears when trans. is well warmed up.1-2-3-4 are close ratio then you jump up quite a bit for 5-6-7-8 then another jump for 9-10. It helps to throttle down for the shifts between ranges.There is a pedal which replaces the clutch called an inching pedal which is used like a clutch for changing direction, starting, stopping etc. It is normal for the pto on SOS tractor to turn a bit when the tractor is running. They are a nice transmission to run, but as others mention can be more costly/involved to repair. I personally dont feel a properly maintained later model one is any more trouble- prone than a regular transmission, but many of them were run hard and not maintained well. The early ones and the 6000 did have more issues.

 

[Larry NCKS]

[color=blue:ded7dce0d6][b:ded7dce0d6]not true, MB!!!![/b:ded7dce0d6] I have 4 SOS powershift tractors now. Three of them run like tops. The fourth one was bought without a running engine. I'm still looking for a good fuel tank for that one, so I can see what shape the SOS is in.

They are not always pricey to fix either. I've fixed four speeds in these with a ten cent pin.

The SOS would be as good a choice for mower and especially loader as anything else if not better.

I won't even look at a 4,5,6 or 8 speed in a tractor which can be equipped with an SOS. [/color:ded7dce0d6]

 

[tumblebug]

I have a 3000 with sos trans, I can.t figure out how to engage the pto. Where is the lever or knob or whatever?

 

[Joe(TX)]

I have to agree with Larry. If a SOS works when you buy it, it will serve you well if you take care of it. I have had one for 20 years now.
Most people that bad mouth the have never owned oe or even seen a problem first hand. Kind of like repeating old wives tales.

 

[Larry NCKS]

[color=blue:6117f7adac]Not all that familiar with tractors built after '64, but should be a T handle on a pull cable on the right side of dash. Where's your operator's manual?[/color:6117f7adac]

 

[PhilC]

Jerry - I won't dispute anything others have told you as I'm a new, first time tractor owner and have only a couple months experience with mine. I bought my 871 without ever having taken it for a ride until it was delivered to my place. I know the seller well, we attend church together, and we've known them for over 16 years. Matter of fact, I just painted the roof on his machine shed two weeks ago, what a job that was! Anyway, If I couldn't trust him, there's nobody in this world I can trust.

My SOS works perfectly, and just yeterday I took it on its first road trip - 2 1/2 miles to town for the annual Harvest Festival Parade where I drove it down main street tossing candy to the kids lining the curbs. Check it out...

In the second picture, if you look just to the right of the rear fender work light you'll see a fellow on the bottom row of bleachers wearing a hat and dark sunglasses. The lady to right of him in denim pants and blue overshirt with a white blouse is his wife. They are the couple we bought the tractor from. He had a big smile on his face too! 8)

Love my SOS!