Thinking about a select-o-speed

Price seems reasonable. It has PS which is great.
I think you've been around here long enough to know what you are getting into and have enough skills you could keep it running.
Worst case is you'd have to drop a different transmission into it. Even then you wouldn't have SO much into it.
Tires, tin and paint all look good.
 
Did not look at the ad but the only way to check out the SOS is to taker it for a drive and shift it into all the gears. Even better if you can put a load on it at the same time to check it even better
 
Drive it and make sure that it runs in all gears. If it does, then it should be fine for a long time with proper maintenance. With that being said there are a few things that could go bad on an S-O-S at any time without much in the way of advance warning, like the splines on the input shaft, or the pump, so keep that in mind. In looking at the ad the first thing that jumped out at me was the gray paint is too dark, which is not a problem in itself, but you can tell that it was not a good paint job as it is coming off in a lot of spots and you can see the lighter gray/buff color underneath, so I would wonder if the seller was trying to hide something, like rust or bondo given that they either used cheap paint or didn't prep properly or both.
 
Tractor looks like an 871, single 540 pto speed. Looks to be in descent condition. Might want to consider
rerouting the ps lines a little tighter. As stated make sure it runs,shifts,drives smoothly in All gears.
Probably the early trans so will have some freewheeling gears. Check pto to see if it operates as it should. It
will spin if it's on or off but when off you can stop in with a 2x4 or your foot. if it doesn't stop when off
there may be a problem with the cable engaging or might be something else. Some of the parts a NLA for the SOS
and parts are not cheap for them. Just something to keep in mind. You can do a search for the SOS and some good
info will come up. The correct manual is a must. Good luck and post back your findings.

Kirk
 

If it is the early overrunning type I would pass because those were the ones that had all the problems. Most of those were changed out for the second generation SOS. You can tell best by whether or not they free wheel in the gears that the selector shows cross hatching. The early version has no drain plug on the bottom, the second gen did.
 
(quoted from post at 06:13:18 05/19/15)
The early version has no drain plug on the bottom, the second gen did.

The 2nd generation had [b:78ca4fd7ca]no[/b:78ca4fd7ca] drain plug! That came about with the 3rd generation.
 
(quoted from post at 05:04:42 05/19/15)
(quoted from post at 06:13:18 05/19/15)
The early version has no drain plug on the bottom, the second gen did.

The 2nd generation had [b:fbcf70712d]no[/b:fbcf70712d] drain plug! That came about with the 3rd generation.

Larry, please elaborate. I have a 59 with drain plug, and indications are that the tranny was changed out soon after manufacture.
 
(quoted from post at 05:57:34 05/20/15)
Larry, please elaborate. I have a 59 with drain plug, and indications are that the tranny was changed out soon after manufacture.

The 1st generation was 312259, the red tranny.

The 2nd generation, first blue tranny, was C0NN-7006-B. I have one of these in a prior 4000. It has no drain plug.

The 3rd generation, which came about in 1963, was C3NN-7006-B. I have a couple of these. They have drain plugs.

Unless this was a running change in C0NN production, it occurred with the C3NN tranny. This tranny also has an updated input shaft.

Check your transmission and see which casting number it has.
 
(quoted from post at 07:45:58 05/20/15)
(quoted from post at 05:57:34 05/20/15)
Larry, please elaborate. I have a 59 with drain plug, and indications are that the tranny was changed out soon after manufacture.

The 1st generation was 312259, the red tranny.

The 2nd generation, first blue tranny, was C0NN-7006-B. I have one of these in a prior 4000. It has no drain plug.

The 3rd generation, which came about in 1963, was C3NN-7006-B. I have a couple of these. They have drain plugs.

Unless this was a running change in C0NN production, it occurred with the C3NN tranny. This tranny also has an updated input shaft.

Check your transmission and see which casting number it has.


Larry where would these casting numbers be located?

and the early ones free wheel in 3 gears correct? and the later do not free wheel?
 
(quoted from post at 07:13:32 05/20/15)

Larry where would these casting numbers be located?

and the early ones free wheel in 3 gears correct? and the later do not free wheel?

The casting numbers are on the left side of the tranny case, behind and above where your left heel would be on the footrest. They are raised letters.

The 312259 (red) transmission had 3 ratios (5, 6 & 9)with red hash marks on the shifter. In reality R1, 1, 2, 5, 6 & 9 could freewheel. I'm guessing Ford thought it wasn't important to note that on R1, 1 & 2 because of their speeds. This was because they used an over-running clutch to facilitate all the direct drive ratios.

The C0NN and later (blue) transmissions used a direct drive clutch that hydraulically locked in. Therefore no chance for freewheeling.
 
well headed down tomorrow morning to check this thing out finally.

I haven't been able to get too much info, both times I've called its been a nice older lady who answered the phone. She said there are no issues with the tractor but couldn't really give any specifics either.

As long as it drives in all the gears I plan to hopefully bring it home with me. We shall see!
 
Well brought it home with me! It wasn't as clean paint wise as I hoped, but the trans seems solid. Test drive didn't show any issues.

7C71804B-6F8A-48D5-8474-1F46152A5E07_zps6jazytzv.jpg
 
UPDATE:

well I operated my new select-o-speed for about 2 hours before I learned how to use the traction disconnect. :D

It ended up being the wire running from the solenoid to the ammeter had chaffed and shorted out, but I parked the tractor outside and it was late and did not have time to diagnose, so I had to push it in the garage.

As far as the trans, the only issue is the PTO cable is broken. well, the actual cable isn't broken- the "shifter" housing is broken behind the dash. its cast aluminum and the threaded part broke off. I first tried JB weld and it of course didn't hold. I may try tig welding it.

I've also ordered a new filter for the trans and will replace it and the fluid this week. any recommendations on trans fluid or is the universal hydraulic fluid like I put in my 860 good enough?
 

I'd think welding would just burn that pot metal up . . . but then I've never tried it.

Valvoline 813 universal tractor fluid meets or exceeds the original Ford M2C-41 spec. There are others. I personally use Archer Uni-Fluid XP, however it is a regional product so is not apt to be available where you are.
 

Larry, I did some searching and found a quote from you last year say that's the old spec, new is now 134D. So my Travelers brand UTF fluid which "meets ford specs" would be fine to put in the SOS?

Also, I have the I&T manual, which has a small section on the SOS trans, should I buy a manual specific for just the SOS? I found one on ebay that says its for the 2000 and 4000 SOS, not sure if there is much difference in the later direct drives vs the early ones?
 
(quoted from post at 12:12:32 06/01/15)
Larry, I did some searching and found a quote from you last year say that's the old spec, new is now 134D. So my Travelers brand UTF fluid which "meets ford specs" would be fine to put in the SOS?

A reliable source says 134D does not meet that M2C-41 spec, however, I have not checked that out personally. "meets Ford specs" is too generic for me. There are a number of Ford specs and not all of them are SOS compatible.

Also, I have the I&T manual, which has a small section on the SOS trans, should I buy a manual specific for just the SOS? I found one on ebay that says its for the 2000 and 4000 SOS, not sure if there is much difference in the later direct drives vs the early ones?

If your tractor has the original 312259 [color=red:14796987b0]red[/color:14796987b0] transmission, the SOS supplement manual would be incorrect. You'd need the Ford tractor shop manual, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Tracto...pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cfb1d27c7
 
Yup its got the original red trans. gonna bid on that manual you posted a link for.

and as far as fluid, I definitely don't want to chance it with the wrong fluid in the SOS. I'm going to try to find that Valvoline locally. do you know any other fluids meet the specs for the SOS in case I cant find that?


edit- looks like my local napa carries 813. $125 for 5 gallons ouch!
 

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