6000 SOS input

Dieseltech · Oct 20, 2019

I have three of my four parts 6000 engines out to see the input splines, two are shot, one looks to have about 2/3 spline life left. Reading some archive posts one mentioned using a 1 inch 6 point socket in the hub and machining the shaft to fit. I wonder if an eight point socket would work better? And, is the input shaft available from New Holland anymore? Thanks..

Bern · Oct 20, 2019

I doubt any kind of an exhaustive study has been done on the benefit of an 8-point over a 6-point socket for that type of repair. I've done a 6-point socket repair several years ago, and it is still holding up just fine as far as I know. That said, I don't know what kind of use it gets.

Another option is to weld up the shaft and cut new splines - I've had that done before also. If you go that route, make sure you weld up the ball in the center of the shaft, or else it will leak when it goes back together. Don't ask me how I know that.

Al Baker(pumpman) · Oct 21, 2019

I have done a few 13/16 six points and have found that under much use the 13/16 will crack because of how thin the shaft is after machining off. Because the shaft is hollow and under pressure a crack means a leak. I have had good luck by welding up the shaft with tool and die rod and turning to 1 inch. I have heard of machining the shaft to a square, but it takes more material off than turning to a 6 point. This might work on a low hp tractor, but I have done 3 shafts for 6000s. Last one I machined my self. It has held up for 14 years now so I feel I got this one right. Al

Al Baker(pumpman) · Oct 21, 2019

If you have access to a Bridgeport, and a small lathe I can easily explain How I did my last one. I am no machinist so I needed to invent a simple method to index a six sided hex. I spent the best part of an afternoon on it. I think wire welding might work also. The weld is important because the shaft is so hard that under use it will wear out the impact socket pretty fast. My first one only made less than two years. Seems like the welded shaft was about the same hardness as the socket on the third one and is still running. Might go out the next time I use it, but for now still working. Al

Dieseltech · Oct 21, 2019

I do have access to welders, mill and lathe. Not sure what tensile strength of wire welding is, maybe 6xxx or 7xxx stick is stronger. Did not count the splines of the best shaft, but looks to me a more course spline count would last longer.

Bern · Oct 21, 2019

A coarse spline is in fact stronger - I recall reading a service bulletin on the subject when Ford went to a coarse spline on the later SOS transmissions. They did the same on the input shaft of the later 8-speed crashboxes.

That said, lubrication makes a big difference. Notice how the splines are the same size on the other end of the shaft, and you never see any wear there. I always use a heavy duty spline lube on the torque limiting clutch splines and mating input shaft when putting a SOS trans back together.

Dieseltech · Oct 21, 2019

Did the later SOS input shafts have a larger diameter too? Looking at the three I have apart now, they sure look smaller than I'd like to see when compared to other tractor input shaft sizes.

Bern · Oct 21, 2019

They didn't change the diameter, only the spline count and angle. I remember reading a service bulletin about it. I thought maybe Fordfarmer could look it up for us with the stack of bulletins he just bought, but according to the parts book it's a 1968 bulletin.

6000 SOS input

Dieseltech

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Bern

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Al Baker(pumpman)

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Al Baker(pumpman)

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Dieseltech

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Bern

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Dieseltech

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Bern

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