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Blue Ford opinion wanted

L

Lynn Patrick

Well-known Member
Didn't know how else to title this! I am selling my 2 960's due to my knees getting too old & looking to replace them w/a newer utility. I see many of the Shibaura (spelling??) tractors & a few 3 cylinder 1000 series. My question: how dependable are the Shib's? Are parts available? Right now I'm leaning toward the 2000 8 speeds.
Looking for opinions on any/all the above!
Thanks!
Lynn[/quote]
 
Agreed.
Parts for the 1000's are readily available, and they are a much more substantial tractor. Might be hard to find a 2000 with an 8-speed. Look at 3000's too. Essentially the same tractor with a few more h.p. and more apt to have the 8-speed. Better replacement for a 9xx than a 2000, anyway.
 
I have a 1500 4WD that I bought new. It has led a rough life and has been a very dependable
tractor.Easy on fuel and a gear for almost everything. Downside- parts are hard to come by
and expensive-No power steering-no 2 stage clutch. The engines are tough as pine knots. New
Holland used them in Skid Steers for many years.
 
I have a 3-cyl 2000. Std PTO and 6-speed in real good condition. I pulled a 1207 MoCo with it for ten years and used it on a 7 foot snow blower a little. Could use a little more HP and weight but all in all a good tractor. Neighbor has a 1900 with loader and loves it. Also uses a Woods backhoe on it.
 
If the h.p. is suitable to you, at least go look. The x600's were much like the 1000's they replaced, with some improvements. Very
hard to beat them.
 
Cannot advise you on the shibs, but I quit on the older
tractors for similar reasons. Getting on/off,
clutching, shifting and sitting was taking its toll.
Currently have a kubota with hydrostatic drive, front
wheel assist and an fel. Work is easier.
 
A couple of months back I traded my Ford 1700
(Shibura) for a 1958 JD 420W, was glad to get rid of
mine, it ran well but was always wondering when
something was going to come apart in it and worried
about parts availability , other than that it was an
okay little tractor
 
Grandpa Love, I had one advertised here & several other places & it sold in 2 days. I have a little work to do (clean it up a little, maybe keep the ROPS, etc.) on the other one before I sell it. It will be on the Photo Ads page here when ready.
 

I agree on looking at a SU model, I have a 4000SU but a 4600SU has paper air filter and higher mounted parking brake handle along with a few other improvements, reaching down to the foot board to applying the parking brake can be a pain on the older models like mine, cleaning the oil bath air cleaner is another pain in the.
SU is low profile like 2-3000's but has much better wet brakes and independent pto (less pedal effort, easier on the knees) along with plenty of hp. The larger planetary rear axle makes it a more stable platform on rough ground, not as bouncy.
I know your thinking about your knee's but look for one with power steering, your arms will thank you later, not many 2000's came with power steering.
 
I had 2 4000 but not the SU model but with 38" rear wheels and they DID have the paper air filter and not an oil bath air filter, took same filter as 5000. 65 & 68 4000 and 68 5000, Never saw a blue one with oil bath air cleaner. And we made extra steps to get on them, only can get on them from left side and dot any easier than those 960 would be. I would advise him to just have extra steeps made and keep those tractors.
 

Apparently all of yours where gas powered, diesel models have a oil bath air cleaner mounted inside the grill shell, you have to remove the grill to gain access to the air cleaner, on smaller chassis with a front bumper it is a little tight getting the oil can in and out.
Gas models used a paper filter through the side of the hood.
Standard 4000's with 30 or 38 inch wheels set high an need the extra step, 2-3000 an 4000SU models have 28 inch tire and set no higher than a 800-801.

I'll measure the step height on my 801, 4000SU and 4000 and post the measurements later.
 
Thanks to everyone for your input. I have an extra step on my remaining 960, but am looking for power steering, better hydraulics, & better fuel efficiency as well as easier access. All I use a tractor for is some mowing w/a 5' finish mower, moving snow, & occasionally lifting w/my boom pole. My hope is to find a front blade so I can put my snow blower on the back & REALLY move snow!
Hope to look at a 3000 privately & a 4000 at a dealer in a couple days.
 

Ok I got chance to measure all three tractors

801 foot board is 20 1/2 inches from the ground, 6.00-16 front tires, 14.9-28 rear, tires are new, not sure how much lower it would set with 13.6-28's.
4000SU foot board is 22 inches from the ground, 7.5L-15 front, 14.9-28 rear, 80% thread, so the SU is 1 1/2" taller at the foot board. A 2-3000 with smaller tires would be slightly lower.
4000 foot board is 26 1/2 from the ground, 7.50-16 front, 16.9-30 rears, 75% thread.
The lower step is bent on my 4000 but roughly measures 6-7 inches lower which would put the first step at 19-20"
The lower steps are hard to find but will fit on any of the 3 cylinder models, one mounted on a 3000 would put the first step at around 15" from the ground, about the same height as a 5 gallon bucket.
That would be nice for getting on and off the tractor but I wouldn't want to go brush hogging around any stumps with a step that low.
 
The suggestion of an SU model is a good
one. They are only slightly larger than a
3000 but have quite a bit more grunt. The
wet brakes on them are way better than the
dry drum brakes on a 900 or 3000.
I would buy any of the 2/3/4000 or SU
models before I bought a Shibura built
Ford.
 
Leroy,
Destroked is correct on the diesels having an oil bath air cleaner. From 65-75 all 2/3/4/5000 diesels had an oil bath while the gassers (except maybe the 5000) had paper filters.
In 76 they all went to paper on everything.
 
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