4000SU / 3400 front axle conversion

Hey folks!

Second post.

I have a 1973 4000SU with a Woods loader on it. I know, not ideal, but it's what I have, so I'm rolling with it.

I'm interested in putting a 3400 front end under it. Is this possible? Looking and reading about it, I'd pretty much need everything. Axle, spindles, steering links, PS related.

A google search showed a forum member (Ultradog MN) here had/has one.

Are there yards around the Midwest that I could call to find a junked 3400?

Thanks!

Wondering if it's really worth the trouble. I know everyone says the standard AG front end isn't up to the task for a loader but what does that relate to in the real world. Are they saying that because that is what they heard someplace or...

I have a 3000 with a loader that has been worked hard most of it's life and nothing has broke so far. It's probably harder on the bushing and pin but replacing that isn't too terribly bad.

Putting a 3400 axle under your SU is a
simple, direct, bolt on swap.
You will need the axle, bolster, radius
rods, drag links and the rear steering arms
that go on your steering box.
And you will need to change the tie rod ends
on the front of your steering cylinders.
Reuse your wheels and tires.
3400s originally came with a cast iron pan
which connected the bolster to the engine to
the transmission and dramatically
strengthened the tractor.
You just reminded me I should renew my ad.
It has everything listed above except for
the ps tie rod ends.
Click here

If you have a 3000 with a loader and all original tie rod ends, drag link ends, spindles, thrust bearings ad steering cylinders, it hasn't been worked hard. Period.

(quoted from post at 02:46:32 05/27/17) If you have a 3000 with a loader and all original tie rod ends, drag link ends, spindles, thrust bearings ad steering cylinders, it hasn't been worked hard. Period.

Click to expand...

Didn't say it was all original, wear parts have been replaced as needed, just said nothing has broke.

The front end on my new to me 3600 is is worse shape than the 3000 mainly due to neglect. It has never had a loader on it, PO was a city that used it for mowing.

Never paid much attention to the 3400 axle until I looked at the one in your ad, looks like the axle curves forward centering the spindles with the pivot pin. This would move the front tires forward for better balance and relieve a lot of the stress on the radius rods.
Loaders put a tremendous amounts of stress on the radius rods on these models with sweep back ag axles, the radius rods on my 4000SU had been straightened and reinforced with addition steel welded full length to the bottom of both arms, I let the PO keep the loader.
No plans of putting a loader back on the SU buy if I did a 3400 axle would be on my list of needed parts, currently have a 4500 converted to a much lighter quick attach ag loader for my needs.

Wish you where closer, I'd buy that cast pan to put on my 4000SU, I have a couple of hill side pastures with stumps in them where the large trees had been cut rather than dozed out.
The tin oil pan hangs below the axle on these tractors, hitting a stump while mowing tall grass will crush that little tin oil pan, caving the pan in on the left side will break the oil pump off.
A cast pan would take some of the worry out crushing the oil pan.

Had a 3000 with a ford 730 loader on it.. I worked it hard.. was on my third front bolster when I finally sold it..It would wallow out the housing where the pin went through. I even welded the pin a couple of times. Later bolsters had a slightly bigger pin than the earlier models that helped reduce wear.

I broke land, cleared land, worked out creek bottoms, planted, even ran square baler and mow-co with it for years, even a small round baler with that tractor. Broke a couple of spindles off on it.. It was round baling that forced me to go bigger. Was a great tractor although I had to replace the bolster twice.

DS,
I assume you have a heavy 3000 style bolster
on your SU - first photo.
If so you can't use a ci pan with it as the
pan/bolster interfere. Ford used this style
on 3000s from maybe 67? onward. The very
early 3000s and all 2000s through 68 that I
know of used a much lighter bolster - second
photo. This is the style I put on my 3000
and yes it does work with the ci pan - which
I have - for the reasons you mention.
The 3400 axle is not swept back like the
3000s are. It is basically straight
Makes the wheel base 80.3" versus 75.8 on a
3000.