Opinions please Basildon tractors and Highland Park tractors

Tom in Mo. · Jun 8, 2018

Since the service manuals are identical in content, I would assume the tractors from either factory should be equal quality. I do see differences in sheet metal.
Are they both excellent tractors or is one preferred over the other?
Specifically, the thousand series, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000.

Majorman · Jun 8, 2018

As Fords were shipping parts all over the world to build their tractors at
that time, parts for US built tractors were coming from the same factories
as Basildon and Antwerp built ones.

If I remember rightly, engines and hydraulics - Basildon, Transmissions
and rear axle - Antwerp or Highland Park. All parts then arrived at the
different plants to be assembled into tractors. Basildon - Thw whole world
except Europe and the US, Antwerp - European tractors, Highland Park - US
tractors.

Deutz Lover · Jun 8, 2018

I have a 1973 Basilidon 4000.

The major differences I have seen are as follows:

The fenders are flat top and larger than the curved U.S. fenders.

The headlights are fitted into the lower front grill rather than being outboard, but the P.O. put top mounted bug eye lights on it.

The footrests are longer and I think wider. There may be a lot of variation here. Mine have no lower step.

The rear wheel disc has 6 studs rather than 8.
I wish they had stuck to 8 studs. They can be converted, but it takes replacing the outer final drive shafts etc. in addition to getting 8 stud discs. My tractor has 13.6 x 36 tires. I think the same wheel disc will also take 38 inch rims. The rims have to have 8 loops, but I think that is the same as on the U.S. 8 stud rims.

I think that 36 inch tires are less common here and more expensive.
Unknown.

That is all I have found so far.

sotxbill · Jun 9, 2018

emergency brake and maybe a horn????

Deutz Lover · Jun 9, 2018

sotxbill,

Yes, I had forgotten. It has the older large handle car type emergency/parking brake with a push button release on the right side. I think it is handier than the "T" type pull up handle.
There is also a guessing game as to where the rear axle fluid level check plug is. This may just be a miss-information problem in that my plug was not a square head, but a hex head with a seal washer.

Mine does not have a horn/horn. I guess it was polled earlier or it is an Aberdeen Angus. lol

Opinions please Basildon tractors and Highland Park tractors

Tom in Mo.

Well-known Member

Majorman

Well-known Member

Deutz Lover

Member

sotxbill

Well-known Member

Deutz Lover

Member

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