Ford 641

TinMan87 · Oct 7, 2017

Hey folks! Just bought a '57 641 for plowing driveway and working 5 acres. It starts n runs great, tranny, pto, and 3ph work good. I paid $2000 for it, seems like i got a good deal. I was wondering what actions i should take to prepare it for cold winter starting?

I was thinking of getting an oil pan heater on a timer so its warm when i get up at 3am to plow before work, any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any and all replies!

WayneIA · Oct 7, 2017

If it is as described you are ready for winter. 10W-30 engine oil or such, and keep the clutch pedal down when cranking

michford · Oct 7, 2017

Shouldn't have any problems starting in the cold with the gas engine. Just make sure to test your anti-freeze so you are ready for the cold, make sure battery and starting circuit connections are clean, tight, and bright, and let your tractor warm up to let the hydraulic oil flow nice and smooth. For plowing snow, do you have wheel weights or tire chains?

TinMan87 · Oct 7, 2017

Good point, i didnt think about testing antifreeze. Is regular car antifreeze ok to use?

Im looking into tire chains and i think the tires are loaded but no wheel weights. I still have to find a plow for it as well.

RufusMons · Oct 7, 2017

You will get much better results if you put on tire chains. Rubber tires don't grip on compacted snow or ice at all well, especially when trying to push snow around.

michford · Oct 7, 2017

Regular green anti freeze is good. If your tires are loaded, you should be good. Just make sure if you see any leaking from your loaded tires, get your tubes replaced soon as possible. If the tires are leaking calcium chloride, the rims can rust. If you do not have a snow plow yet, look for a Ford model 19-80. The Ford 19-80 is a plow that mounts on the front of your tractor. Look for one with springs behind the blade for snowplowing. Do a google search of images of Ford 19-80 snowplow to see what they look like. There is a version of the 19-80 that uses hydraulics to raise and lower the blade, and a version that uses a cable and bars off the three point hitch to raise and lower the blade. Some folks get by using a backblade for snowplowing, so that is an option as well. A 641 is a nice tractor, I have a 59 641 with a 19-80 front plow that I used for a couple of years after using a plow truck. The tractor is much more manuverable than the truck.

Dean · Oct 7, 2017

Make sure the ignition is in spot on shape.

Make sure that the battery is in GOOD condition and properly charged. Verify that it has GOOD, properly sized battery cables and that the connections are clean and tight.

Make sure that it has good oil of the proper viscosity for your climate and expected starting temperature.

Most importantly, make SURE it has fresh, winter formula gasoline in the tank and carburetor. Attempting to start a vintage Ford tractor in cold ambient with old or summer formula gasoline in the tank is an exercise in futility.

Don't flood it.

Dean

showcrop · Oct 7, 2017

crack the drain for each of the housings to make sure that there is no water. humid air and short run time will result in plenty of moisture in the oil.

TinMan87 · Oct 7, 2017

Thanks for all the tips! Im hoping i can get a trailer lined up to pick the tractor up monday so i can start looking into all these things.

TinMan87 · Oct 7, 2017

Now this tractor has a full time transmission pto right? So ill need an over run clutch if i plan on borrowing my dads brush hog for the back 4 acres?

CTPhil · Oct 8, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:40:20 10/07/17)
Now this tractor has a full time transmission pto right? So ill need an over run clutch if i plan on borrowing my dads brush hog for the back 4 acres?

Yes.

showcrop · Oct 8, 2017

In checking your betray connections beside that both ends of each cable are not just clean and tight but shiny clean and tight. The difference has cost many people many hours introubile shooting and many dollars in un-needed new parts.

NoNewParts · Oct 9, 2017

in addition to the other excellent suggestions....
On my tractors that see winter duty, I play close attention to them in summer/fall. It's easy to get complacent when it's nice out. Starting...running..etc, 'good enough' won't cut it a few months. If it doesn't start [i:be77928617]instantly[/i:be77928617], and run [i:be77928617]perfectly[/i:be77928617] today....find out why...now.
Even the tiniest 'not quite right' in warm months, will be a frozen, painful, nightmare in a January blizzard.......

lastcowboy32 · Oct 9, 2017

I wanted to gently redirect on the comment about loaded tires being good without chains.

That really, really depends.

Especially depends on whether there are any slopes that you plan on going on during the winter.

A tractor tire, loaded or not, on hard packed snow or ice, will not stop you without tire chains.

If your driveway slopes towards the house, you may find yourself sliding into your garage door. If your driveway slopes towards the road, you may find yourself sliding into the road.

Alternatively, if you don't want to get chains, just realize that you should park the tractor in icy conditions. Or start your plowing when you have some snow on the ground for traction and add some grit to the bare surfaces that you clean off to get traction to plow more area...

lastcowboy32 · Oct 9, 2017

I've also had a 641 myself that was still a 6V system. Starting when it's under 20 (F) is an adventure.

You can either heat the engine, as you plan; or you can put a little battery maintainer on the battery. The little bit of trickle charge keeps the battery warm and helps it to kick the starter over the way it should.

If it's been converted to 12V, and it's in good tune; you can expect it to start down to below zero (F) without much fuss.

TinMan87 · Oct 9, 2017

Ok so im picking the tractor up tmrw, i have a back blade on the way and a guy looking into tire chains. So its been suggested i use 10w30 in the engine and green antifreeze in coolant system. What should i be grabbing for the tranny, hydraulics, and differential for lubrication?

Sean in PA · Oct 9, 2017

(quoted from post at 21:16:37 10/09/17)
Ok so im picking the tractor up tmrw, i have a back blade on the way and a guy looking into tire chains. So its been suggested i use 10w30 in the engine and green antifreeze in coolant system. What should i be grabbing for the tranny, hydraulics, and differential for lubrication?

Any Universal Tractor Trans/Hydraulic Fluid (UTF) that says on the label that it meets or exceeds the Ford/New Holland M2C134D specification.

showcrop · Oct 10, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:43:31 10/09/17)

(quoted from post at 21:16:37 10/09/17)
Ok so im picking the tractor up tmrw, i have a back blade on the way and a guy looking into tire chains. So its been suggested i use 10w30 in the engine and green antifreeze in coolant system. What should i be grabbing for the tranny, hydraulics, and differential for lubrication?

Click to expand...

Any Universal Tractor Trans/Hydraulic Fluid (UTF) that says on the label that it meets or exceeds the Ford/New Holland M2C134D specification.

And yes, what Sean is meaning to say is that yours the same oil in all three cases.

TinMan87 · Oct 10, 2017

Its official! Im the proud owner of '57 ford 641! Couple things ill need right off the bat is a new boot for the shifter as its pretty dry rotted and theres a little condensation in the tranny, and stabilizer bars for my back blade. Im also gunna need some 6v lights for it so i dont havta plow in the dark this winter.

showcrop · Oct 11, 2017

(quoted from post at 16:53:15 10/10/17)
Its official! Im the proud owner of '57 ford 641! Couple things ill need right off the bat is a new boot for the shifter as its pretty dry rotted and theres a little condensation in the tranny, and stabilizer bars for my back blade. Im also gunna need some 6v lights for it so i dont havta plow in the dark this winter.

Tinman, go ahead and get that new shifter boot and put it on, but don't think for a second that it will keep the condensation out!

TinMan87 · Oct 11, 2017

Ok so after snooping around in my old mans garage i found tire chains to his 70 somthing ford backhoe. He said i can have them to modify for my tractor since he sold the backhoe years ago. Anybody have a clue as to what length and width they need to be for the 11.2 x 28s?

TinMan87 · Oct 15, 2017

(reply to post at 09:24:51 10/811/17)

Im looking into replacing the lights on the tractor. Alll the wires have been cut and the housings are either missing or are in rough shape. Would any lights labeled as 6v work? Could i buy new housings n put 6v led bulbs in?

Ford 641

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