ford 3600 test drive results

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
Hello,
Test drove a Ford 3600 gas, had cab. Blower motor worked. Heat worked. Air Conditioning switch made a click sound like a solenoid when I turned it on and off, but no cold air. The brakes worked, pto worked, 3 pt arms raised. Started great. The brakes however are very weak. On gravel they will skid the tires. So I drove it on the grass on a slight slope and I have to stand on the brakes to keep the tractor from rolling. Model number CA223C.
Just don't know what the 'A' in the model number stands for. Had the hi-low 4 speed. Which was 1 2 3 R hi-low. Is that right? Or was a confused when jamming gears. My only concern is the brakes, as they feel they are in need of attention and the Air Conditioner. It clicked and I heard something off and on under the hood, but no cold air. Lights worked, wipers worked. windows all open close. no broken glass. Overall, good shape. But bald tires that skidded in the wet grass. I asked if he had weights as I felt the tractor was a little light. He told me the tractor was fine weight wise. I intend to pull a Mower Conditioner, hay rake, and square baler with it. What are your thoughts on the Air Conditioner making that click sound? Also, are the brakes easy enough to repair? Lastly, unless I have a horrible memory I 'think' the tranny was 1 2 3 R ?
 
CA223C or CA123C? My reference material doesn't list a CA223C, but a CA123C is a 3600, gas, 8-speed, live PTO model. And that tranny should be 1 2 3 4 R in low, and 5 6 7 8 R in high. Brakes may just need adjusting, or they may need new shoes. A/C probably has a leak, and needs a new charge of refrigerant.
 
Right - CA is 3600.
OK, I looked in a different book and found CA223C. Decodes as 3600, gas, 8-speed, transmission PTO. BUT... this book doesn't list a 8-speed/live PTO, which I know was offered...maybe BOTH books have misprints? Did you check to see if it has a 2-stage clutch?
 
Definitely CA223C. So what does the A stand for?
CA might mean a 3600 series?

You must be looking at the Springfield Oaktree site, which only covers the 1965-1975 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 series. The 3600 was one of the later x600 series.

CA1 and CA2 are both 3600 models. The 3600 was made form 1975 through 1981, and they changed the model designator from CA1 to CA2 around October of 1976, so only 1975 and 1976 models would have the the CA1 model designator, and late 1976 through the end of the model run in 1981 would have the CA2 model designator, CA3 was a 3610, which was made from 1981-1983. CA4 was a 3910, which was made form 1983-1990 and CA5 was a 3930, which was made from 1990-1999.
 
Had the hi-low 4 speed. Which was 1 2 3 R hi-low. Is that right?

The C at the end of the model number says that it should have an 8 speed transmission, which is 1-2-3-4-r with high/low, for 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds.

Where did you find the CA223C model number, on the foil sticker under the hood, or stamped into the flat spot on the transmission bell housing, or both? The model number on the sticker tells you what the tractor was when it left the factory. The model number stamped into the flat spot tells you about the tractor that the transmission was in when the transmission left the factory. If the sticker under the hood says it has an 8 speed, and it only has a 6 speed, the transmission may have been swapped at some point.
 
The brakes on all of the smaller Fords were adequate. But not great by any means. If you want better brakes you will need to go to a bigger or newer tractor with the double reduction rear end and wet disc type brakes.
The tractor could have leaking axle seals which would allow oil to saturate the shoes and make them nearly useless.
If I remember correctly the 3600s had an improved outer bearing retainer so a guy can replace those seals at home without having to manufacture special tools to remove the bearings.
I looked at a 3600 with cab once that was for sale locally. Cab seemed like an awfully big saddle on a small horse but would have kept a guy cool, warm or dry as the weather dictated.
Don't know what to tell you about the AC. Never worked on one.
I can tell you that a 3600 is a Very good tractor and the gassers aren't so foul smelling and noisy as a diesel is.
New tires will cost you $1200 by the time you get them mounted and fluid pumped back in so consider that in your equation.
How many hours is on it and what is the asking price of the tractor?
Tell us that and we'll help you not make a bad deal if we can.
 
Don't know where you are, but that would be cheap here in WI. Condition of the tires may partially account for the lower price. It would be hard to go wrong at that price.
 
now sure about 2 stage clutch. I can pull up the PTO and it engages, then clutch and put in hi or lo and select a gear and go, and all the while the PTO is spinning.
 
If the PTO has power with the clutch pedal -most- of the way down, and you can shift without grinding the gears at that point, it's a two stage clutch. Pedal -all- the way down should stop the PTO as well.
 

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