Identifying old Ford tractor?

[West_Fork]

I picked this up off a friend who passed. I don't know much about it. It says Ford 4000, but nothing jives. I am pretty sure the center casting was produced in January of 1969, but the serial and model numbers do not jive with anything I can find, in addition they are stamped on the opposite side from what would be expected (left). It has the heavy front end, runs great and everything works, but I want to know more.

 

[Foggy47]

Sure looks like a great old tractor to me. Ford 4000 Diesel's are one of the best tractors they ever made. Lots of power in a small package. You got turf tires.....which are OK unless you do lots of plowing or heavy disking. There is a site to check on the serial numbers, but I do not recall what it is. Maybe google will get you a result. Or go to "tractor by net" and look in the section about fords. Lots of good info you can learn on that site, by some helpful folks.

I see your's is a gear shift.....which is far better than the selecto-speeds for the long term. You likely have a two stage clutch too (IIRC) which you need to understand. They are nice.....in that you can depress the clutch part way which will stop the tractors forward motion.....but let the PTO continue to run as the implement (mover) clears itself. When you push the clutch all the way down...it stops the forward motion AND the PTO.

If you have the HD front axel....all the better. We put lots of loaders on that model....and the front axel could withstand heavy weights. Too bad you dont have a loader with it.....tho you likely could locate a decent one with some search.

If I remember right....you will find the serial number on the left side.....just ahead of the gear shift. There are lots of numbers cast into the parts....and some of them are the part numbers for those castings. Not sure of the hours on your tractor....but it sure looks like a good one.....likely made in the early 70's. ??

 

[Foggy47]

go here for serial number info...

Ford Tractor Serial Number and Model Identification

myfordtractors.com

 

[Foggy47]

https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/003/7/7/3771-ford-4000.html

 

[West_Fork]

Sure looks like a great old tractor to me. Ford 4000 Diesel's are one of the best tractors they ever made. Lots of power in a small package. You got turf tires.....which are OK unless you do lots of plowing or heavy disking. There is a site to check on the serial numbers, but I do not recall what it is. Maybe google will get you a result. Or go to "tractor by net" and look in the section about fords. Lots of good info you can learn on that site, by some helpful folks.

I see your's is a gear shift.....which is far better than the selecto-speeds for the long term. You likely have a two stage clutch too (IIRC) which you need to understand. They are nice.....in that you can depress the clutch part way which will stop the tractors forward motion.....but let the PTO continue to run as the implement (mover) clears itself. When you push the clutch all the way down...it stops the forward motion AND the PTO.

If you have the HD front axel....all the better. We put lots of loaders on that model....and the front axel could withstand heavy weights. Too bad you dont have a loader with it.....tho you likely could locate a decent one with some search.

If I remember right....you will find the serial number on the left side.....just ahead of the gear shift. There are lots of numbers cast into the parts....and some of them are the part numbers for those castings. Not sure of the hours on your tractor....but it sure looks like a good one.....likely made in the early 70's. ??

Thank you, I think it's a 69, but could be a 1970. It does seem to be a heavier duty unit compared to the standard 4000. Unfortunately my front axle has hit a few too many poles. I was amazed to find I can get new parts to replace it for about $1500, but it is simply enough I can fab my own.
I found the stamping on the left side which I assume is model and serial, but I guess I need to look in a few more spots.
I am super tickled with this thing. AI just love running old tractors. I used to have a 1950s Farmall and it was just a pleasure to blade roads, but a bit dangerous....

 

[West_Fork]

Well, been through all the different pages and no luck on the model number. I checked the right side mounting boss where they say it is located and there is nothing, but the left side has a number that does not jive with any databases. I will have to dig in later and see if I can find something else.

Foggy, do you know if the hydro and diff are sharing oil? Seems most do not, but I think mine does.

 

[Dogshooter]

Seeing that yellow paint under the blue, and you said it has a heavy duty front axle, makes me think it may be one of the industrial models. There were some very similar to the 4000, but were painted yellow and built heavier duty. I don’t recall the model numbers but maybe do some searching on the industrial fords for that era.

Nice, heavy duty unit regardless! I’ve got an older ford, ‘54 and love old iron as well.

 

[Foggy47]

Seeing that yellow paint under the blue, and you said it has a heavy duty front axle, makes me think it may be one of the industrial models. There were some very similar to the 4000, but were painted yellow and built heavier duty. I don’t recall the model numbers but maybe do some searching on the industrial fords for that era.

Nice, heavy duty unit regardless! I’ve got an older ford, ‘54 and love old iron as well.

Yep....they did make a 4000 Industrial Model that had a HD front axel and was painted yellow. I believe the main feature was that HD front axel....and many people put loaders on that tractor. We sold several to sand and gravel operations and cement companies.

When doing a quick search on the model and serial numbers.....someone said the data was near the gear shift....on top of the tranny. Dunno for certain.

I do beleive the transmission rear axel and hydraulics are all one cavity for oil.....but I cannot swear to it. Best to find the manual for that tractor or ask a good tractor mechanic.

 

[Foggy47]

They did make two Ford 4000 tractors. The earlier ones looked more like an 860 Ford tractor and the sheet metal was styled differently from yours. They were the Grey and Blue model tractors at that time.....then they changed the tractor quite a bit and went to a 3 cylinder diesel engine....which is what I think you have. The newer models were likely one of the best tractors they made. If I could pick any two wheel drive tractor it would likely be a 4000 Super Utility model (which has that HD front axel) . We sold a shit ton of those tractors and put loaders on 90% of them. Most of them got used pretty hard every day....loading manure or worked in a gravel pit (which was tough duty on tractors).

Yours has those turf tires....so I gotta assume it was used to do allot of mowing. I remember we sold a unit like that (or three) to the golf course, the airport and the city or county for mowing. Lots were used for hay baling and general purpose farming. Seems to me they were about 50 HP which is pretty good for a tractor that size.

 

[West_Fork]

There are three sets of digits, left tranny hard point, center front, and left hard point. I have not found the center one yet, its cold and dark. I was able to decode part of the number. The serial number was on the right side all along, I just didn't rub it hard enough. I was able to confirm it is a 4000 built in the US on March 21, 1970 during the day shift. The weather is nice that time of year and people are generally happier, so that's good.

The center one is one I want, that's the one that tells me all things that are obvious simply by looking at the tractor.

I could not find out anything about the number on the left side, which is maybe the engine number? It looks like it has some meaning to it, so the curiosity will keep me looking. But in the meantime got all the fluids changed and getting used to operating it. It's mainly going to be used for road work. A bucket would make it ideal, but the box scraper with rippers, a blade, and skidder setup are going to keep it plenty busy.

 

[Foggy47]

There are three sets of digits, left tranny hard point, center front, and left hard point. I have not found the center one yet, its cold and dark. I was able to decode part of the number. The serial number was on the right side all along, I just didn't rub it hard enough. I was able to confirm it is a 4000 built in the US on March 21, 1970 during the day shift. The weather is nice that time of year and people are generally happier, so that's good.

The center one is one I want, that's the one that tells me all things that are obvious simply by looking at the tractor.

I could not find out anything about the number on the left side, which is maybe the engine number? It looks like it has some meaning to it, so the curiosity will keep me looking. But in the meantime got all the fluids changed and getting used to operating it. It's mainly going to be used for road work. A bucket would make it ideal, but the box scraper with rippers, a blade, and skidder setup are going to keep it plenty busy.

If you do buy a loader for it....make sure it's a HD loader. You got allot of power there and a cheap loader could be torn up. Those are good tractors. Ford did make an industrial loader.....and I would search for one of those. The internet is your friend.