I'm looking at a Ford 3000 for sale with a brush hog for $1000. From what I can tell it's a 1969. I'm puzzled by the transmission. It's only got one shifter and there is another boot (about the size of the shifter boot but with a 90 degree angle) on top of the transmission cover that has electrical wires coming from it and going into the engine compartment. Before I buy this, I want to make sure This isn't some oddball tractor that I should avoid. The tractor needs some work and front tires but it's got front and rear weights and I figure for $1000 I can't really go wrong...can I?

I've scoured the net for some information on the transmission but all I find are dual shifters and SOS.

Any help would be very appreciated.

Thanks

Thanks for the clarification. I'm learning more and more about this thing every time I log on here and I really appreciate it.

That muffler is certainly custom. I think it was a limited production from Ford. :x
Must've been a drag racer in its former life...

Tractordata has quite a bit of bad information on it. The 3000 was available with both live and non-live, as well as independent PTO, depending on the transmission it had. The 4 speed was only avaialable with non-live PTO. The 6 and 8 speed had both live and non-live PTO options. The Select-O-Speed transmission had independent PTO.

The 2A at the end of the model number tell you which transmission and PTO is has. The 2 in the second-to-last position says it has non-live PTO (1 is no PTO at all, 3 is live PTO and 4 & higher are variations of independent PTO). The A at the very end says it is a 4 speed.

I haven't tried to pump the tires up yet, doubt they will hold air. I've got a lead on some aircraft tires mounted on rims for 200.00. Since I'll be mowing with it, I might spring for them since they are 16 ply. They said if the wheels arent offset properly, they will build some for me. Wont be able to use the weights but I cant imagine I'll need them for the mower.

I've been looking for something for a long time and stumbled on this, plan on getting it home next week, then I can really get into it.
Tractor data says it has live PTO but I'm guessing you guys know what you're talking about. That's a drag but I'll live with it.

It's a bit rough but it's got potential.






First order of business is new front tires/wheels. I'd like to do something cheap to get it home and worry about getting it running before I drop cash into new tires.

Power steering.
Nice!
It would be a real tough call if I had to choose between PS and live pto.
I might opt for the PS as you use it every time you're on the tractor.
The live pto only when mowing.
Have you tried airing up the front tires? Tractor tires aren't like an automobile where you have to worry about speed. If they will air up and hold for a day or two I wouldn't worry about them for now and focus on things more pressing.
Not a bad old tractor.

Looks like it has the aerodynamic muffler option, along with the non glare hood paint.

I've got a extra 8 spd trans with live pto for a 3000 but I used the flywheel and clutch on another project.

I dont like the 4 speeds but....... at that price, its a give away, will pull a mower just fine and do some chores.... its as good any day of the week as the 53 to 64 models in many respects and better in some.
and a new starter off ebay is around 100 bucks,,, so it would be mine in a heartbeat.

Tractor and shredder would sell for 4500 around here.

Might consider a overrunning PTO clutch if it don't have one, or that bush hog will be pushing you around.

Just a standard 4 speed...dang...oh well.

As far as I can tell, it needs the starter rebuilt and some new fronts. Then I can really assess it. The guy said it may need brakes too but I can't afford to buy one that doesn't need work. However, I can afford a fixer upper like this. The brush hog is a 5 ft and seems to be in decent order.
I've tried to do some research to determine things I should look for specifically that would steer me away from it. I value the advice from the forum and anything you throw my way is always welcome.
It should be a good mower and maybe something I could use a backboard on shouldn't it?

I know I'm in the minority here but having had 2 of those 4 speeds still say it will do fine and the price is cheap - again, if it will run and mow as is or with just a little work.
No, it's not an 8 speed with live power.
But it is a good, reliable old machine that will do a lot of useful work yet. It will always be worth at least what you paid for it even without the weights and mower.
Heck, a lot of guys would be happy to pay that much for an 8N on a package deal like that. That is much better than an N.
How about some photos of the rest of the tractor?

Once you've driven an 8-speed, I don't know how you could tolerate a 4. It would drive me nuts.

Here are some pics of the shifter and electrical boot. Is this just a standard 4 speed? I'm only going to use it for mowing.

Yes, 4-speed and the boot is for the neutral safety switch.

Wires from the neutral switch?? So you can't start it in gear.

4 speed transmissions are not uncommon on the 2000 and 3000 tractors. Especially on the earliest ones.
But I don't get this right angle shifter deal. Ford did offer an auxiliary transmission like the old Sherman Combos but those had a separate shifter on the Left side of the bell housing.
They also offered a 4 speed shuttle shift on some of the industrial models built on that platform but I don't think they could have a pto and the shifter was on the dash.
A photo of the shifter would help a lot.
Assuming it runs and mows as is I would say the price is dirt cheap, especially with the weights and the mower. Those 3 bangers are some great, reliable old machines.

One shift lever would make it a 4-speed transmission. That would be quite rare on a 3000 I would think.

• 4 speed

it's a "C10" so it's a 3000, and you can see the "A" at the far end of the model code A – 4x1 speed manual, I bet it was a state or county bid tractor

Rare and not very desirable or usable or valuable in my opinion.

Not so rare, at least in these parts.
And not so unuseable imo. My first 3 cyl Ford was a plain Jane 2000 gasser w/4 speed.
I owned it for about 4 years and did a lot of work with it - plowing, discing, finish mowing, brush hogging - the usual stuff with it.
Yes, 1st gear is very fast and no way would I trade my 8 speed w/live power for one. But I liked the tractor a lot more than the N Series and a 641 I'd had before that. And if given the choice between that 4 speed and an SOS I'd take the... Well I'd better not say that here.
;)

You must really hate the SOS with a passion to prefer a 4 speed over it.

Bern, The 4 speeds aren't the best transmission but they were simple and reliable.
This guy's plight is just one reason to not want one. If it was a failed clutch on a crash box it is a big job to do the split/replace but new parts are readily available for $150 or so.
To do this job on his SOS is a bigger job with a double split and he's forced to find used parts for a lot more money.
And then there's the issue of their complexity. Add to that their lack of precision for tight manuvering and their very unpleasant hard shifting I really don't know why anybody would want one.
Mark,
Lol,
I was a little hard in them in that ad wasn't I.

You should have read his craigslist ad for the SOS after he pulled it out of his 4200! 😄