5600 4wd what is it?

sotxbill · Jul 1, 2015

Found a 5600 with a early 4wd set up.. Can someone tell me something about this tractor? turning radius sucked big time. What is it? Does it hold up? Any demand for a tractor that does not turn (much)?

RodinNS · Jul 1, 2015

Best I remember they were a ZF unit... A pic of the hubs would be more helpful tho... Is there not axle stops that could be turned in to make it steer tighter? In terms of durability I don't think they were too bad.... but any problem with an older ZF unit can send you into a tail spin today. Parts are all through the aftermarket today for major stuff and not always easy to track down. Fawcett Tractor seems to be about the most reliable supplier I've found for APL parts.

Rod

jimont · Jul 1, 2015

That would be a 5600 Blue Power Special. Youngest son has had one, with a loader, for nearly 10 yrs. No problems at all. As Rod says, a ZF axle and have been told that repairs to that axle should be no particular problem. Our local Case/IH head mechanic has told us that parts are readily available (IH used that axle for years). Just make sure to keep an eye on the oil level in the hubs and change yearly. Nice tractor,a little heavy on fuel usage and not quite as nimble as others but has served us well.

Bern · Jul 1, 2015

That is most definitely NOT a Blue Power Special, and it is NOT a factory axle either. I honestly don't know what it is, but it aint factory.

RodinNS · Jul 1, 2015

Check out the link... it's got some info and linked pics with an axle that looks like yours... somewhat. Same big punkin anyway. These guys say it's a Selene which was bought out by Schindler... and I have no idea if it's supported at all today..

Rod
Selene axle discussion...

Low Flyer · Jul 1, 2015

Blue Power Specials were only made in 1981. I have a 5600 Blue Power Special. It is my understanding that 1982 was going to be the first year of the 10 series and 1981 was going to be the last year of the 00 series. But the Ford factory had depleted the supply of 00 series engines but already had 10 series engines in inventory. Therefore they started putting the 10 series engines in the 00 series tractors and then decided to differentiate them by badging them as Blue Power Special with a decal on the side of the radiator sheet metal. So, any Blue Power Special can only be a 1981 model and it will have the slightly bigger 10 series engine.

I've been wrong many times before, but that is how I understand it to be, but I could be wrong.

Gil

Bern · Jul 1, 2015

Sure is a weak looking axle. No planetaries on the end even.

Bern · Jul 1, 2015

Blue Power Special units started in October 1980 (NH parts catalog will confirm this). This is also when the ZF front wheel drive became an option.

Majorman · Jul 2, 2015

Think it is a County axle similar to the one on the County 4000-Four. it was used on some 5600 tractors.

Majorman · Jul 2, 2015

This may help, They were not a bad axle but were replaced by ZF and Carraro on Fords as OEM. County offered it as an option to convert your existing tractor to 4WD for a short while.

RodinNS · Jul 2, 2015

Yeah... I dunno. Looks like about 20:1 reduction in that crown wheel tho. LOL No planetaries is one less thing to break...
I agree it is rather light looking knowing what one of those tractors could be subjected to tho.

Rod

5600 4wd what is it?

sotxbill

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jimont

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Bern

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Low Flyer

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