Ford 4100 year question

bob4100

New User
I bought a Ford 4100 tractor and was told that it was a 1980 model, but I have my doubts. The tractor is decaled 4100 on the sides of the hood.
I found the following numbers on the boss near the starter:
The Model number is SD3055. The production code is 0F2B and the Serial number is A201335. The tractor has 36" rear wheels, a 3 cylinder diesel engine and has a generator instead of alternator. From what I can find on the internet, it appears to be a 1970 model Orchard tractor manufactured in Antwerp Belgium. Can anyone confirm what I have?
 
SD3055 is not a valid model number as far as I know. The only model number that I can find in my references that starts with SD is the Super Dexta, but that should start with SDX, not SD3.

A true 1980 4100 model number should start with KA1 or KA2.

A 1970 Orchard version of the 4000 should begin with D34.

A 1970 Narrow Orchard version should start with D33.

A 1970 Vineyard version should start with D30.

0F2B could be June 2 of either 1970 or 1980.

The serial number beginning with an A indicates that it was built at the Antwerp Belgium factory, but the A serial numbers are not well documented, so it could be a 1970 or a 1980 tractor.

Post some pictures and we could probably tell more. Is the tach cable driven off of the rear of the generator, or off of a spot on the engine block next to the oil filter? Does the tach read zero rpms when it's pointing to the right or to the left?
 

Sean,
I tried uploading photos here but the site will not allow me to due to being a new member.
I thought all Fords built after 1975 had alternators. The tach cable connects to the tach drive on the rear of the generator. The tach reads zero on the right side and the instrument panel and the instrument cluster has only 2 idiot lights instead of 4 like the later models.
I can send you photos via email of closeups of the engine, serial number boss, etc., if you can send me an email address.
Thanks! Bob
 

Trying the photos again...
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Interesting pictures. The grill and nose cone look like the later 4100/4600 grill. The fenders also look like the later 4100/4600 fenders. The roll bar and canopy look like the later 4100/4600 models as well.

From everything I see, it looks like a later 4100, as it has the double sided steering and radius rod front axle, whereas the 4600 would have had the single sided steering like the earlier ag chassis 4000. Why is only one side of the steering actually hooked up?

It's odd that it has a generator instead of an alternator though, plus the generator driven tach with the zero rpms on the right that the earlier '65-'75 tractors had.

I'm thinking that it might have started life as a later 4100, but maybe had an electrical fire and had to have the electrics replaced, and they had an earlier tractor available as a donor tractor, so the generator and gauge cluster is from the earlier model tractors.

Is there still a foil sticker on the under side of the right hood panel? If so, what are the numbers on the sticker?
 
I just checked the New Holland parts web site, and a 1970 Orchard (and vineyard) version of the 4000 would have the single sided steering and non-radius rod front axle that the regular 1965-1975 4000 and the later 4600 had.

That's a screwy looking power steering cylinder setup on yours too. I can't find anything that looks quite like it in the New Holland parts web site, so maybe it's aftermarket.
 

Sean,
It appears as if the steering arm could be connected on either side although the hydraulic power steering arm is on the left side only.
The electrical system has the old mechanical voltage regulator that goes with the generator. The temp gauge is not connected to anything. The foil sticker is not there. I have the engine numbers if that might help...
The production code embossed on the engine block is AE27B and the Serial number is A70E08. I am attaching a couple more pics. This is becoming a real mystery. The dealer I bought it from swears it is a 1980 model and he said in that year, the tractors made in Great Britain still had generators on them, but mine appears to be made in Belgium.
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Bob, as far as I know, all front axles that had radius rods like yours does had double sided steering and both sides were used for steering, and there was no linkage between the2 sides that would allow you to steer both front wheels with only a single steering arm connected like that.

As I said, it looks like it started out life as a later 4100, but some parts were swapped out over time, including the strange steering modification.
 
I'd wager that you've got a 3055... That was the euro early build of what became the 4100. That is to say it was the first mating of the 3000 engine in the 4000 chassis. Clearly you have a 4000 chassis given the fact it has double reduction axles and also the 4000 style hydraulic flow cotrol as opposed to the 4100's autoflow from the x600 series chassis.
Also appears to be an older engine.
I'd say it's a 1970 by the look of it, the serial number and the unit code. Mabey it's an early build 3055...

Rod
 
Thanks for your help... it does have the link between the two front wheels as I had to re-adjust it in the middle when we moved the front wheels out further apart on the axle.
 
thanks Rod... I have never been able to find a model number of SD3055...if you take the S off you have a D3055, a 4000, Orchard with independant pto 540-1000 and no telling what the last 5 is for?
I am wanting to get a service manual for it and just trying to decide which manual to buy, the prior to 1975 model or the 75 and later models.
 
3055, never heard of that one before. I just looked it up on the New Holland parts web site. It's listed as the "3055 3 cyl ag tractor French Super (1/65-12/74). The steering still doesn't look right, but everything else makes sense now. So you've got yourself a super rare 1970 Ford 3055 French Super tractor with some sort of aftermarket power steering setup..
 

Thanks for all the help... I searched on google and found several pics of a 3055 and mine looks just like them except mine has the 4100 stickers on it which may have come from another tractor. Now I know what manual to buy!
 
Buy the thousand series manuals. Follow the info/specs for the 4000 proper on the rear half of the tractor and the 3000's engine schedule as you have a 175 engine by it's appearance.
The steering arrangement looks like a hodge podge of the 3000's sector box and the 4000's power assist for the earlier models.

Rod
 
Actually... I think your got a 4100's tin. The grill looks more like an x600 series than anything else. I'd be willing to bet the information on the underhood tag doesn't match the info stamped on the bellhousing....

Rod
 

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