lenray

Well-known Member
Looking for info. on the Ford 3600 utility tractor.Wanting to use it on a 5 ft. finish mower. Have the 5000 flat deck and the Oliver 550. What are the pro and cons on the 3600--looking for the gas model.
 
Why in the world would you want a gas? A Diesel will burn 5 gal a day and a gas 25 gal a day. Cons to me. Holley Carb. A fuel lift pump that you don't need and a vacuum advance distributor that is not needed and very few of them work. The resale value of a gas is about 50 % of a diesel in my area. I'll shut now, as you can see I hate a Ford 3 cylinder gas, give me a Red Tiger any day.
 
True, in comparison to a 4600. I have both, and wouldn't part with either. If you already have a 5000, a 3600 should be quite handy. I am just finishing up converting mine from a good running gas engine to a 201 diesel.
 
(quoted from post at 21:46:24 04/08/22) True, in comparison to a 4600. I have both, and wouldn't part with either. If you already have a 5000, a 3600 should be quite handy. I am just finishing up converting mine from a good running gas engine to a 201 diesel.

Strum, that'll be quite a powerful 3600 with a 201 diesel in it. You'll have to weight it up to apply all that torque to the ground.
 
They're good, small tractors. Easy to get on and off of.
They are simple, nimble, powerful for their size, very reliable and easy to get parts for. Mine runs a 7' finish mower or a 6' bush hog very well.
Nothing wrong with the gassers except for the Holley carburators they put on them. If you junk the Holley and put Real $500 Zenith carb on it you will be happy. Don't buy the $200 china clone Zenith for it. Bite the bullet and get the good one.
They are a pain in the a-- to put points in.
I had electronic ignition in mine and never had to touch the distributer again.
There is a fuel pump up front behind the radiator that needs to be replaced every 40 or so years.
The gassers are Much more pleasant to operate than a stinky, noisy diesel.
Ford's dry/drum brakes were adequate but for sure, nothing to brag about.
Bern, why don't you like the steering on them? I would much prefer the 3600 style PS than the early 5000 style which wandered around like a drunken buffalo.
Welding Man,
Yes the diesel does significantly more work per gallon of fuel than a gasser but not nearly as great a difference as you suggest.
Hit the link for the facts as per the Nebraska Test.
And your preference for the Red Tigers is cool but the 3 bangers were a Much more rugged, long lived engine. 3 main bearings in a 4 cyl vs 4 mains in a 3 cyl? It ain't even close...
Tractor data
 
You need to learn how to service the power steering and brakes. Mine work fine, I can slide either rear wheel or both if I really need to stop quick and it steers great.
 
I considered putting a set of pie weights
on it, but that is where I would start to
realize the limitations of the brakes.
This one will be used for the 6' tiller
and brush hog, 7' sickle bar, and the Kuhn
Speed Rake. If brush hogging on really
rough ground or hills, I would opt for the
4600.

The gas engine performed all of the above
tasks well, but I think the 201 diesel
will be a lot more fun!
 
You'll be much happier with a 6' mower behind that tractor. My 8n handles a 6' no problem.
cvphoto122569.jpg
 
The dry drum brakes can't hold a candle to the wet disc brakes in the 4000 class tho.
Again, they are adequate but if you were to compare the # of pounds of leg pressure it takes I'll bet it takes 3 times as much pressure to lock em up on a 3000 as it does to do that a 4000.
 
If you have operated a 5000 that steered like a drunken buffalo, then obviously it had some major slop in the various steering linkage parts, and/or it was not adjusted correctly. IMHO, the early 5000 PS system was the closest thing Ford ever produced that could make a Ford steer like a Deere.
 
(quoted from post at 13:54:37 04/08/22) Looking for info. on the Ford 3600 utility tractor.Wanting to use it on a 5 ft. finish mower. Have the 5000 flat deck and the Oliver 550. What are the pro and cons on the 3600--looking for the gas model.

3600 is comparable to the 550 Oliver you have, it would easily handle a 5 ft finish mower but would be better suited with a 6 footer
The dry drum brakes are adequate but no comparison to the wet disc your 5000 has
Ive driven a few 3000/4000 gas models a although the engines are more robust they didnt have the governor response or ease of throttle control the 850 I grew up on had

If a compact utility is what you need I recommend you look for a 4000/4600SU model, same compact size as the 3600 but it has the larger 201 engine, wet disc brakes and independent pto like your 5000 has
Personally Id go with a diesel model, easier to maintain with better governor and throttle response, the 201 diesel on my 4000s have more lugging power than the 233 4 cylinder on our early 5000

Photo of my 4000SU

mvphoto90490.jpg
 
That extra effort to press the brake pedals is what keeps my stomach from falling over my belt.
 
I know the little Ns are guitsy but running a 6', belt driven, finish mower on your lawn and running a 6' rotary single blade in rough stuff are night and day...my 2000 would not handle it all that well when the going got rough but the 3000 does fine.
 

SU stands for special utility
Tractor has a 4000 engine, trans and rear axle with wet disc brakes and independent pto, but it uses the sweep back front axle and steering from a 3000 model along with its smaller fuel tank and lower hood profile, also has smaller 28 inch rear tires and shell style fenders

You have the hp, brakes and pto of the larger 4000 in a smaller 3000 sized tractor

Mine comes in real handy working in our poultry barns and the wife likes it better when she tedding or raking hay for me
 

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