History of Ford 6000/Commander 6000

Art From Moorhead · Jul 2, 2013

I have always found these two models interesting, and what I would like to know, is, what upgrades and improvements were performed on the red and gray models after they were recalled, and before they were returned to the market as the blue and gray ones.

Were the Commander 6000 tractors the new name for the Ford 6000, or were they a new, improved model, released after the blue and gray tractors had been in the field for a couple of years?

A gentleman, who posts on the combine forum, but is now on a 'competing' forum, posted a picture of a Ford 6100, which seems to be a Ford 6000 with a MANUAL transmission, instead of the 10 speed Select-O-Shift.

Thanks for any information that you care to share.

Fordfarmer · Jul 2, 2013

As far as I know, Ford never sold, or even developed a manual-shift transmission for the 6000. That must have been one someone modified. I've never heard of any 6000 referred to as a 6100, either.
The Commander was mostly a new name, but there were cosmetic and at least some mechanical changes to go with the name. Commanders didn't show up until '65, I think.
What forum is that? I'd like to take a look. Email is open, if it's something that can't be typed out here.

Sean in PA · Jul 2, 2013

I can't find any reference to a 6100 in any of my reference material either, but if they did ever make one, my guess is that it would probably have been made at the same time as the 6600, just like they made the 4100 at the same time as the 4600, and it probably would have been available with the same transmissions that were available on the 6600 as well. It wouldn't look like the earlier 6000 sheet metal though, but more like the later 4600/5600/6600 type of sheet metal.

Bern · Jul 2, 2013

Early models were so problematic that Ford recalled almost all of them and did major work to almost every mechanical system on the tractor. Hard to imagine, I know, but it's true.

I bet if Ford did not come out with that debacle of a machine, that their market share would have been much closer to Deere throughout the 60s - 70s and on.

steve wi · Jul 2, 2013

according to a century of ford and new Holland farm equipment the first blue and gray from 1963-1965 were 6100's, as for the transmissions they were all select-o-speeds. although I saw a couple at an auction that they had installed truck 4 speeds but this was a while ago.

Sean in PA · Jul 3, 2013

(quoted from post at 23:10:35 07/02/13) according to a century of ford and new Holland farm equipment the first blue and gray from 1963-1965 were 6100's, as for the transmissions they were all select-o-speeds. although I saw a couple at an auction that they had installed truck 4 speeds but this was a while ago.

I think that's the same as calling a 1965-1975 general purpose ag chassis 4000 a 4100, as it was referred to as a 4100 in some of the parts documentation and the first 3 digits of the stamped model number was "410" from 1965 to 1968 (changed to D10 in late '68), but it was always marketed as the 4000, and to confuse matters more they later made a model from 1976-1981 that was marketed with the 4100 name, at the same time that they marketed another model with the 4600 name. So is my 1973 general purpose ag chassis 4000 series tractor a 4000 or a 4100? I think that's the same with the 6000's, as the stamped model number started with 610 for the general purpose ag chassis models (and later 611), and 620 for the row crops.

steve wi · Jul 3, 2013

I beg to differ farm equipment guide also list's it as a 6100. I have all 3 models of the 6000's the red & grey #'s are 60105-5D and the blue& gray's #'s are 61107-5D the commander isn't home now so I can't get those numbers. They were all 6000's but the 6100 model was the middle series.

Sean in PA · Jul 3, 2013

(quoted from post at 09:41:50 07/03/13) I beg to differ farm equipment guide also list's it as a 6100. I have all 3 models of the 6000's the red & grey #'s are 60105-5D and the blue& gray's #'s are 61107-5D the commander isn't home now so I can't get those numbers. [b:d94e276113]They were all 6000's but the 6100 model was the middle series[/b:d94e276113].

That last bit is what confuses the issue. If they were all 6000's, then how could some of them be 6100's? Were they ever actually marketed as a 6100 model, or was there ever an Owner's manual or Service Manual with the 6100 model number in the name of the manual? Or how about a sales brochure? I'm not saying anyone's right or wrong here, I'm just trying to get the correct information.

Interesting that your earliest one starts with 601, as my documentation says that they started with 610, but that documentation has been incorrect on other things so I don't doubt you at all. Please do post back the numbers on the Commander if you get a chance. I'm trying to correct everything I can with the documentation that I have. I'm guessing that in 65 they might have switched to the 6 character model stampings just like the 3 cylinders and the 5000's that started production that year.

steve wi · Jul 3, 2013

Sean the numbers on the commander are 5 F 29 , 62015E . They were all marketed as 6000's I think the 6100 was just a model break because the blue & grays had the power cut back to make them easier on the select-o-speed transmissions.There was never any badged as 6100's that I know of in any of the books or lit. that I have.

Sean in PA · Jul 3, 2013

Steve, thanks for the information.

I have another question for the collective - Were all 6000's row crops? I''ve seen pictures of narrow and wide front end 6000's, but the wide front ends don't look like most of the other row crops of the time, neither the '55-'65 4 cylinder row crops nor the '65-'75 3 cylinder row crops, but they don't look exactly like any of the other general purpose ag chassis front axles either. All of the narrow front 6000's look like the pedestal is back several inches under the front bolster, but the wide front axle models seem to have an adjustable front axle similar to the one on a 3 cylinder 4000 ag chassis, but the axle pivot pin is way out front of the bolster.

steve wi · Jul 3, 2013

There was an all-purpose model with shorter wheelbase,wide-swing drawbar and larger rear tires that was the wheatland version.As for the wide front it does mount forward compared to the narrow front.

History of Ford 6000/Commander 6000

Art From Moorhead

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