Ford 3000: two threaded holes in castings, for what?

kgracey

New User
Hey there, going over this new -to me- tractor and came across two threaded holes in the lower casting, under the engine and to the right of the oil filter. You can see them in this photo.

What are they for? Should they be plugged or should I put a machine bolt in them?

Thanks, Ken
mvphoto15516.jpg
 
Those holes were attaching points for whatever.
A couple of things that come to mind are stabilizer bars for some loaders and the front mounted snow plow attached to the lower ones.
They usually just get left open.
Continuing the conversation about dating your tractor I can see in your photo that you have the early style connection on your hydraulic pump.
Three bolts connected both the pressure and return lines to your pump. That was discontinued by 69 or so.
Also, I see you have the early style front bolster which was used only on the very early 3000s - probably discontinued by 66 or 67 on the 3000s and by 69 or so on the 2000s.

Here is the style you have.

100_1731.jpg


Here is the later style which was quite a bit heavier.

100_0428.jpg
 
This shows how the Ferguson patent still prevented Ford from using the radius rods
attached to the moveable part of the front
axle. If it was patented in 1940, it should
have run out in about 1960. Henry Ford hated patents, so maybe Harry Ferguson did the patenting after Ford's death in 1947.
 
Thanks for the answers! The guy who sold me the tractor said it was a '75, but I think it's actually mid-60s. Doesn't really matter, but I wish I had researched the serial number scheme and shown him it was older to help get the price down. But I paid $3000 and I'm happy with it. In California everything costs more, from speeding tickets to fuel and tomatoes and housing.

So, I'll leave those holes as they are - open.

- Ken
 
Another thing pointing to it being from the mid to late 60's is the canister style oil filter, as they switched to the spin-on style in November of 1969.
 

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