Got pictures of the tractor in the weeds

lastcowboy32

Well-known Member
I stopped in. I was able to get a look at it, but I'll have to wait to talk to "Grandpa" or someone else that knows more about it to get information.

It turns out that its a 671. Also, the tires aren't that bad. From the road, it looked like it had a flat. That's not the case. Somebody took the "web" (for lack of a better word) out of one rear tire. It was laying there next to it. The rim and hub didn't look that bad.

It is rusty, though.

I'm also not sure if I would want to take on a Select-O-Speed. If it's not working....oy! What do I do then?

Either way, I know that the guys here like pictures and something to talk about. See below:

35441.jpg
35442.jpg
35443.jpg
35444.jpg
 
You might want to check the serial number on that tractor. From some parts in the photos like the can pump,push
rod cover, oil cap and hood I see some gold there. It might be a gold demo. A closer inspection may be needed.
Should you decide to pass on it at least make it available to others in your area.

Kirk
100_4010_zps8w4lqjuu.jpg
 
I was thinking that too, couldn't tell in the shade of the picture if it was gold or had been painted yellow like a state mowing tractor at one time. Many state and municipal tractors were selectospeed, government isn't as afraid of spending extra on new technology like farmers can be especially back then! If it is gold demonstrator then that would definitely change things as a collection piece
 
Oh well...
I did have my hopes up for ya.
A few random thoughts:
The tin doesn't look too bad from here.
There is some parts that would sell.
Hydraulic pump, rims and tires maybe.
Steering, seat, 3 point parts, radiator.
Did you get the model and serial numbers off
of it? So you know it's a 671 and not 681
with deluxe SOS?
Maybe scrape some paint off of it and see if
there was any Gold paint underneath. There's
a remote chance it is a Gold Demo model
which would be somewhat rare.
Engine free? Engine would have some value -
block, head, crank, etc.
I would at least talk to "Grandpa" or
whoever it is. Find out why it was parked.
You just never know.
I don't know what your situation is, whether
you have room to store dead tractors.
I would give $400 for it as is. That's a
little over scrap price. An 8N center would
fit to get it rolling and onto your trailer.
Sell off the parts or keep it around for the
next one you find. They are great tractors.
A good running 601 will eat an N's lunch.
Scheming and dreaming about these old
junkers is still fun. I'm glad you posted
about it.
 
Yes could be yellow that's why I said a closer inspection. Here's what my gold demo looked like when I first got it. It would be a shame to see a gold demo head to the scrap yard.

Kirk
for%20sale%2012%2020%2013%20047%202_zps7e0upaeb.jpg
 
Every now and then the guy here that parts out tractors sells the transmission and all parts needed to change out from a SOS to a 4/5 speed.
He usually get around $500 for it. I'd figure that into the buy price. Good chance it will need changed.
 
Is there record of what serial numbers were gold demonstrator or just have to go by paint remains?
 
No record as far as I know.
If you ask on the Ford board there is a range of serial numbers they would be in.
Fairly narrow as I think they only built the GDs for a few months when the SOS first came out.
 
First gold was serial # 60949 Last was around 70,000. January, February, March would be the build time. Every dealer got one, some two so at the time of the dealers in the USA would put the number at about 2500/3000 tractors. Serial number plus date code numbers and gold paint should verify a gold demo. I have also see them with trannys that have been switch out during the exchange program in the mid 60's.

Kirk
 
Glad to see it was a conversation starter.

I read down through and see a couple of questions:

1. Is it a gold demo? Not sure. The overall paint was kind of a dull red that was weathered to almost brown. Looking back at my pictures, though, there is something yellow/gold showing through here and there. I even think I see it on the block and components around the distributor. (No way that distributor cap would be original though. That would be a miracle, woudn't it?) I saw the range of serial numbers posted. I'll see if I can find out.

2. It's definitely a 671. I saw the model number stamped on the casting. The serial number was harder to make out. I would have needed to scrape a little.

If it turns out to be something that I don't want to take on, but if it's of interest, due to it being a demo or something; I will definitely post something here or find a collector and hook them up with the owner, if it turns out that they want to sell.

It's hard to sync up with the person that I need to meet, so it could be a while. Good thing is, I don't think it's going anywhere.
 
The rear tire 'web' would be the center.. and I'd really question why a center was pulled and then just left there.

As others said.. look for the SN.. if that is a GD, it will be worth something as a collector piece... if not.. it's just a piece. :)
 

Tire "center"? Got it. I've heard the term before, but I thought that it possibly applied to the hub.

As the picture shows, the center was out of the right rear tire, but there were a couple of centers laying nearby. Maybe they broke one and were trying to replace it? I have no idea.
 

The "exchange program" that you're talking about is "back in the day" or is that still possible at certain dealers???
 
No, I don't even know of any dealer who will even touch an SOS. A lot of the parts are no longer available.

Kirk
 
The gold demos were supposed to be repainted by the dealers red and grey, a few weren't. It might be hard to see
gold unless the red was worn thru. Powerwashing will uncover some of the gold. But in the field I would unscrew
the side air vent and pop the hood and look around the top of the air cleaner and in any hard to paint areas for
gold. Some dealers did better jobs than other. In what state is the tractor located?

Kirk
100_3008_zpsfa76ad14.jpg
 

I figured the SOS would be SOL.

Tractor is in NY. Definitely keep you informed if there's any hint of it being a demo.

I want a tractor to restore for work. It wouldn't be right to put some collectible to work spreading manure....ya know?
 
If only it was still that cheap nowadays! I had one with a bad over running clutch in it and just the parts, still available, were going to be almost 900, so it's now parked outback as parts support for my other Ford's
 
if thy broke a center, then the rest of the tractor is junk.

centers are usually the last useable piece off a tractor. :)

the center bolts to the rim, the tire installs on the rim.

tire/rim/center bolts to the hub ( brake drum, associated pieces, etc.. for rears... for fronts, just center to hub.. most fronts are a single piece center and rim.. SOME tractors have front rims that have separate centers, etc.)
 
Or it was run with a loose wheel and cracked around the lugs, I have seen that happen. Or the bolt holes on the outside crack, often same reason run loose. I have even seen centers corroded so thin at the bolt holes they broke away
 
(quoted from post at 19:15:29 04/26/16) Thanks for posting the pictures,makes me want to bring her home.

You're welcome. Old machinery laying around by itself in the weeds like that kicks off a whole thought process for me. The act of getting a tractor usually brought a wave of optimism to a farm family. When I was a little kid and dad bought the 856 International, what we called "The BIG tractor", we thought that we were going to conquer the world.

I think about someone buying that old tractor and bringing it home.

I wonder what plans they had, what crops or livestock they wanted to grow.

I wonder if they gave their kids rides on it.

I wonder what went south and why it had to be abandoned.

If they could talk, you know?
 

That is an original, over-running, troublesome SOS. The owner probably got the price of replacement and parked it.
 

Kirk-NJ. Sadly, the person that I really need to talk to about this tractor wants nothing to do with selling it.

I can't get any more information.
 
(quoted from post at 16:06:43 05/18/16)
Kirk-NJ. Sadly, the person that I really need to talk to about this tractor wants nothing to do with selling it.

I can't get any more information.

10 -15 years ago I bought all of the N's and parts from the local tractor mechanic / salvage yard . He said he could not make any money fixing them because people get upset spending $200 repairing a $1500 hobby tractor but a $2k repair bill on a $60K working tractor was just business . Some of the tractors had already been sitting for decades .

I am tearing into some of those tractors and finding that years of inactivity and high humidity have pretty much ruined all of the bearings and races , gaskets , hoses , etc . Fuel tanks and radiators are weak and lots of parts are frozen tight .

I see a few scrappers on ebay parting out N's . I see a few transmission gear sections that have water level rust marks on them . Water settles in the axle bearings since they are lower than the axle tube .

It is a fun hobby but if you need a tractor it is probably better to pass on most fence row tractors unless you have lots of extra money and time to spend .
 
10 -15 years ago I bought all of the N's and parts from the local tractor mechanic / salvage yard . He said he could not make any money fixing them because people get upset spending $200 repairing a $1500 hobby tractor but a $2k repair bill on a $60K working tractor was just business . Some of the tractors had already been sitting for decades .

I am tearing into some of those tractors and finding that years of inactivity and high humidity have pretty much ruined all of the bearings and races , gaskets , hoses , etc . Fuel tanks and radiators are weak and lots of parts are frozen tight .

I see a few scrappers on ebay parting out N's . I see a few transmission gear sections that have water level rust marks on them . Water settles in the axle bearings since they are lower than the axle tube .

It is a fun hobby but if you need a tractor it is probably better to pass on most fence row tractors unless you have lots of extra money and time to spend .[/quote]

I agree. After looking at it up close and reading the responses here, I really wasn't looking to fix it up as a tractor for myself, but I thought that maybe, if it actually had the right serial numbers to possibly be a "gold demo", I could have hooked the owner up with somebody that was interested in it.

No matter what, it just seems like a shame to see them rot away in sombody's front yard....I mean...if you're going to leave it there forever, take the head off, fill the cylinders with potting soil and use it as a flower planter or something....
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top