971 FORDS

ARE ALL 971 FORDS SELECTO SPEEDS THERE IS ONE FOR SALE NEAR ME NEVER OWNED A SELECTO SPEED SHOULD I STAY AWAY FROM IT.

A 971 should be selectospeed unless someone has changed the transmission at some point. You will get different opinions on the SOS. I have an early 4000 with the SOS and like the transmission. 10 forward speeds, 2 reverse, and full powershift so shift on the go as well as park. SOS transmissions are more complex and may cost more to repair if needed. Some feel the any SOS still surviving must've been a good transmission and not likely to fail. They do still develop internal oil leaks that keep the transmission from shifting correctly and other issues. A 4 or 5 speed transmission may be less likely to develop problems but with a 60 year old tractor I would be more concerned about the care it's had over it's lifetime. Paying someone to install a 2-stage clutch on a 961 isn't cheap either and the 5 speeds can start jumping out of gear if parts are worn. Make certain the transmission works in all gears. I would definitely purchase another tractor with SOS. Same engineer that developed the very desirable John Deere 8 speed power shift that came out in 1964 also developed the SOS. It was the most modern transmission of it's time when it came out in 1959.

SOS trannys are a lot like Mother in laws. Some guys Hate them, Other just love them to death. I own three of them on our farm. Each works for a living, and does its job well. Anyone who tries to say they were not built very well doesnt look how old they are. If they were junk, how could so many survive with low hours and never get used. Most are 50 plus years old, countless hours of use and still going. Mine were not beat hard, but never babied either. Best tractors for their money in the hay field. I have put uncountable hours on my 6000 commander with the SOS with the pump jacked up. It was my heavy tractor in the early 80s when I first was getting started. Those trannys just have their own personalities. Learn how they operate, and how they like to be operated. They will treat you fine. I have a 4000 row crop SOS diesel. My best guess is it is a 971 painted blue. I like this tractor, but also have a soft spot for old Fords. Al

A major factor is whether it is an original or second generation SOS. The original gave it a bad name, but they came out with the 2nd gen around 1964 and that cured most of the problems but most people don't know about that. They know only the reputation of the original so they condemn them all. Very few of the originals were not swapped out when the 2nd gen came along.

I looked at that 971 today the clutch or whatever you call the pedal on the left-hand side he has a bungee cord holding that up says he thinks there's a sprain or something broke that would normally hold that up I drove it it went through all the gears real smoothly nicely what do you think about that spring should I walk away from it or is that a problem to fix and where is the spring outfits came off

(quoted from post at 15:07:04 09/19/20) I looked at that 971 today the clutch or whatever you call the pedal on the left-hand side he has a bungee cord holding that up says he thinks there's a sprain or something broke that would normally hold that up I drove it it went through all the gears real smoothly nicely what do you think about that spring should I walk away from it or is that a problem to fix and where is the spring outfits came off

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The main thing is how it shifts. The pedal is called the "inching pedal" It doesn't operate a clutch. It operates only an hydraulic valve to start or stop the drive engagement. I agree that it is probably just a broken return spring which could be tough to replace but is otherwise not very significant.

A better criteria for deciding whether to walk away would be the number on the left side of the transmission. If it's 312259, I'd be more inclined to walk than if it's C0NN or C3NN -7006-b

If that spring broke inside the transmission could that get in something to hurt it or just lay in the bottom?