(quoted from post at 13:09:57 08/16/17) I disagree with your comments about life expectancy on the Dual Power. In a 5600, it will last about as long as any DP could - it certainly
is not being stretched to the limits of capacity like say on a 9700.
You're right on the PTO input shaft splines if the unit has high hours and lots of PTO time. A double split would be required to replace the
shaft and drive hub.
Minor rattling in the clutch/transmission area at idle is once again somewhat normal due to 4-cylinder engine harmonics. However, excessive
rattle could be clutch disc damper springs going out.
Good comments..
I see dual power problems a lot more than I would like. On tractors from 3000 hours to 6000 hours, and for most folks the ability to fix it on a cab tractor does not exist for the average user. And as said earlier, its not unique to the x600 series..
Most folks want a tractor that will run 10000 hours and no major problems.. well that is unrealistic but how bout 3000 hours or 5000 hours. But certain features are deal breakers for a lot of buyers. As in some models, TA is a deal breaker, sos transmissions make a tractor very difficult to sell.. Yes I have lot of experience with sos tractors sitting right beside identical tractors for sale. The manual tranny tractors sell in 2 to 6 weeks average in season. The sos tractors sell in 1 to 3 years, and at a lower price, and ALWAYS to a newbie. 4 speed trannys take much longer to sell, and at a lower price(1965 and newer).
When I am out at the auctions looking for new inventory, dual power failure is the number one problem of "whats for sale out there" that is on a other wise "running" tractor. Every 8000 series has a bad 3/7 gear. I dont advocate for or against, just my observations of the inventory that works it way down to us from up north. Probably 30 percent of dual power tractors have been converted and removed. That actually makes them a better seller.
And one could say, it does not go to market if its good, only when its bad. So that probably taints what I see. With that being said... Good ford tractors being coming more and more hard to find going forward... where does one go..
The high quality first, that then produced the high quantity of fords, that then produce the high quantity of aftermarket parts....... is unique to the 1965-1996 series of fords. That does not exist elsewhere.
With all the new stuff being hydro drive,, do you expect to see 6000 hour to 10000 hour tractors out there with out major repairs every 3 years. Who can afford to shell out 5k for a tranny repair every couple of years. Every tc- series nh tractor out there has a hydro problem that I see. I finally quit looking at them. Most are from rental companies and yes they were abused. Cant even count the kubotas and other hydros at auction and all have hydro tranny problems at low hours and even a surprising amount of engine problem and all are at 2000 hours or less. Most are 1200 to 1700 hours. Now thats pretty scary.
As to the rattle at an idle.. is it pilot shaft/bearing, pto shaft/ spline wear, pressure plate springs/arms, throwout bearing or even release arm? I know if you push the clutch pedal down, it goes away. It does not feel like the throwout bearing as you can still hear it rattle when you just push it up into the pressure plate... iirc.