Ford 260C

Ultradog MN · Dec 7, 2013

I'm actually thinking about buying this tractor.
I'd have to sell off both my 3000 and 4000 plus some other stuff to get it but might be willing to do that if this one will do the job for me.
But I'm finding pretty much ZERO information on it.
Have talked to the seller twice now and got him talked down a couple grand.
Posted these questions on a couple of other boards but nothing.
What I really need to know is how suitable for heavy draft work would this transmission be?
How suitable for pto work - bush hogging - would it be?
I assume it would be similar to a Ford 445, 540 or 545. Anyone know what the differences are?
Any of you guys use one of those for heavy draft/pto work?
I assume the pto is true independent?
How do they do that with a torque converter?
How reliable is the FWA on these things?
How reliable is the torque converter and shuttle shift?
Could a guy drop an old 8 sp crash box into one of these if he puked the TC?
As I mentioned the other day, I'd like to find a later model Ford with FWA, about 50 hp.
Prefer the industrial type because they are lower than an all purpose model of comparable HP.

Come on guys. Any thoughts or opinions?
You've never failed me before...
Thanks
260C

leej · Dec 7, 2013

(quoted from post at 14:43:47 12/07/13) I'm actually thinking about buying this tractor.
I'd have to sell off both my 3000 and 4000 plus some other stuff to get it but might be willing to do that if this one will do the job for me.
But I'm finding pretty much ZERO information on it.
Have talked to the seller twice now and got him talked down a couple grand.
Posted these questions on a couple of other boards but nothing.
What I really need to know is how suitable for heavy draft work would this transmission be?
How suitable for pto work - bush hogging - would it be?
I assume it would be similar to a Ford 445, 540 or 545. Anyone know what the differences are?
Any of you guys use one of those for heavy draft/pto work?
I assume the pto is true independent?
How do they do that with a torque converter?
How reliable is the FWA on these things?
How reliable is the torque converter and shuttle shift?
Could a guy drop an old 8 sp crash box into one of these if he puked the TC?
As I mentioned the other day, I'd like to find a later model Ford with FWA, about 50 hp.
Prefer the industrial type because they are lower than an all purpose model of comparable HP.

Come on guys. Any thoughts or opinions?
You've never failed me before...
Thanks
260C

ell, if I were you, my over-riding consideration would be EI....if it doesn't have EI, I would pass on it, whether gas, propane, or diesel!!! he he he !

mhb@ufe · Dec 7, 2013

The independent PTO is driven the same as any other with a separate shaft that is driven off the flywheel. For heavy draft work the torque converter has an electric lock up function built into the electric control for forward and reverse. That controller has been somewhat problematic. The front axle is very strong as it was designed to carry a 4500 lb capacity front end loader. The 8x2 transmission was an option for that tractor so it could be changed over as long as you got a complete setup from the flywheel back. The 260C is a lighter duty version of the 545 and was considered a utility tractor instead of an industrial tractor.

Mark
260C

Bern · Dec 7, 2013

I myself would shy away from it. Ford had a lot of problems with the early ones in the area of the transfer case idler gear where the PTO shaft goes through it. As I recall, most of these problems were undocumented.

The TC trans is NOT designed for high draft loads, and overheats easily if it does pull hard. Shift solenoids and wiring were problematic on these as well.

Maybe Rick B can chime in on this.

mhb@ufe · Dec 7, 2013

I haven't heard of the transfer case idler problems but have seen problems with the electric shift controller and the control box for the electronic shift. When used for heavy draft work the torque converter lockup function must be used to avoid overheating.

Mark

Big Marv · Dec 7, 2013

I have no personal useage of these tractors, so no real input there. On the other hand I had a friend working here last winter logging my woods. He has the next size smaller 250C model. It is a little rough to look at but it started every winter morning, ran every day, and lifted some HUGE logs up and onto his trailer. I watched him & his hired help drive it, and they didn't seem to nurse it or baby it along. It went where they pointed it, worked it hard for the month he was here, and the only time I saw them working on it was to repair a broken PS cylinder hydraulic line that got tangled in a pile of woods trash. I doubt FORD intended for it to be a logger's choice but it sure has held up to that type of useage.

RickB · Dec 7, 2013

2 biggest issues that come to mind with these tractors:
1) A chronic failure to bend over and grease the front axle pivot trunnions, especially the rear, which leads to seal failure & loss of oil from the front axle center section. Good news, the industrial models use a bushing-on-bushing rather than bushing-on trunnion found in ag models.
2) most TX control issues I see are within the F/R controller on the steering column. Spendy to replace, but the new style seems durable enough.

A TC transmission has plusses & minuses, the lockup version addresses some of the minuses if it is still functional. Heat buildup can be a concern, but really, Jerry, how often will you actually be running this tractor balls to the wall for more than say 3 hours at a time?

Biggest problem I see with the unit listed for sale is the price. I'd be somewhere around 2/3's of the asking price max.

cdmn · Dec 7, 2013

Wished I knew that you were looking. I bid $10,750 on a 5640 MFD with DuAll loader. Had 6800 hrs and worn-out tires. Kind of shabby overall, but seemed to start and run okay. 8 speed. I let the other guy have it.

Ultradog MN · Dec 8, 2013

Thank you all!!
I'm going to make him an offer of 9K.
Will let you know what happens.

mhb@ufe · Dec 8, 2013

Have you had a chance to test drive it and make sure all the functions are working?

Mark

Ultradog MN · Dec 8, 2013

It's 5 hours away...
I talked to an old timer at one of our local NH dealers (31 years selling Ford/NH - mostly construction, not ag) Picked his brain for a while. He explained how to put it in low gear and put the blade against a tree and see if you can get it to stall out as a test for the TC.
Said it wasn't ideal for heavy draft work but would suit my purposes of plowing 3-4 acres at a time and would do fine on a 6' bush hog.
Seller doesn't have any pto equipment to test that out. How would a guy test the lock up feature?
If you know these models and could give me some advice maybe you would call me?
I'd sure apreciate it.

Jerry

Ultradog MN · Dec 8, 2013

Thank you Mark.
It was nice talking with you.

mhb@ufe · Dec 8, 2013

I will look up the stall speed test and post it tomorrow as it is an easy way to check the condition of the engine and transmission. The test is done as I told you but I will check the RPM readings you are looking for.
It was nice talking with you also and hopefully I was helpful.

Good luck

Mark

tom@themeadowlarkfarm.com · Dec 11, 2018

Hello, my Ford 260C has been a perfect tractor for my small orchard. Seems now to have a bad torque convertor. I see from this discussion that I can replace that entire transmission with a standard 8x2 transmission. Is this possible? Can I find a salvage transmission from a ford 4610? Is it the entire back part of the tractor that gets replaced?

THanks!

Ford 260C

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