larry@stinescorner
Well-known Member
has anyone ever had a ford with selecto speed? I have heard all bad,just curious if anyone had good luck
- Thread starter larry@stinescorner
- Start date
We had a former NYS thruway, '64 4000 s-o-s, many years, did all the work for years on the farm. Spreader, pushing snow as it had a front blade, 535 mower conditioner, M-F side delivery pto rake, 532 ford baler with a thrower and a lamco hay wagon, also had a side mid mount sickle mower on it, we took it off later. Lots of rotary cutter work, with a ford model mower, was square, even had a 2 bottom plow, 7' wide disc, ford post hole digger, that were used at times. I spent a lot of time as a kid on that particular tractor, the trans was in excellent shape when we got it, never had any trouble, right quick down the road in 10th! Power steering, 1 set of remotes, rest-o-ride seat and independent PTO were nice features I miss on my current 850.
Obviously you need a factory service manual, some or many repair parts being obsolete, no aftermarket or new unless N.O.S., salvage or manufactured by someone capable.
I had a high opinion of that 4000, all the hours mowing along the highway, then private use after auctioned off, NYS TA was good on fleet service or was known to be then. That helped, it was a reliable, lower center of gravity which helped a lot here, enough HP/torque to do the above and easy to operate, I'd have another if I knew the trans was in good condition.
Obviously you need a factory service manual, some or many repair parts being obsolete, no aftermarket or new unless N.O.S., salvage or manufactured by someone capable.
I had a high opinion of that 4000, all the hours mowing along the highway, then private use after auctioned off, NYS TA was good on fleet service or was known to be then. That helped, it was a reliable, lower center of gravity which helped a lot here, enough HP/torque to do the above and easy to operate, I'd have another if I knew the trans was in good condition.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Had one for a few years. It was a 5000 diesel. I think a 1970 model. Used it mostly for haying, hauling manure, and a little disking. They do jump a bit when shifting but never gave me any trouble. Heard the later ones like mine had the bugs worked out by then but their reputation was tarnished and were not popular. Only sold it because the original owners nephew wanted it. He still uses it.
Hal/ Eastern WA
Member
I have never owned one, but a neighbor had one that only worked in about half the speeds. Another couple I know has had an SOS Ford for many years and just love it.
I have HEARD that the SOS can work just great, but if it doesn"t, it is hard to find people that know how to work on them and it is also hard and expensive to get replacement parts.
Would I ever buy an SOS equipped tractor? Maybe, if the SOS appears to be working OK. But I would probably only want to pay about half of what a similar tractor with a conventional transmission would bring. If the SOS is not working, I wouldn"t pay much at all--maybe to part it out or change it over to a conventional trans and rear end.
One problem I have noted with the older Fords is that it is hard to get them to go slow enough for some jobs. An SOS tractor might be just right for that kind of job, like snow blowing or roto tilling.
Caution, and if you buy, don"t pay too much. Good luck!
I have HEARD that the SOS can work just great, but if it doesn"t, it is hard to find people that know how to work on them and it is also hard and expensive to get replacement parts.
Would I ever buy an SOS equipped tractor? Maybe, if the SOS appears to be working OK. But I would probably only want to pay about half of what a similar tractor with a conventional transmission would bring. If the SOS is not working, I wouldn"t pay much at all--maybe to part it out or change it over to a conventional trans and rear end.
One problem I have noted with the older Fords is that it is hard to get them to go slow enough for some jobs. An SOS tractor might be just right for that kind of job, like snow blowing or roto tilling.
Caution, and if you buy, don"t pay too much. Good luck!
showcrop
Well-known Member
Everyone that knows a little about old Fords knows that the SOS was no good. Everyone that knows a fair amount about them knows that the first ones were problematic, but that the second generation that came out in '64 was just as good as any other transmission and that there are probably tens of thousands out there earning their keep every day. Like anything else you have to keep up with oil changes, and yes, there are not a lot of people that work on them, but if anyone needs help with them the YT Ford guys will see that they get the help that they need.
We chopped silage for a neighbor that had a 6000 with one. I never felt comfortable hooking up the wagon. It wouldn't win any long jump prizes but it sure win the short jump prize. It seemed to have lots of power.
The guy's wife could make the best home made bread. My dad could eat a half loaf just by holding back, other wise he would have eaten the whole loaf!
The guy's wife could make the best home made bread. My dad could eat a half loaf just by holding back, other wise he would have eaten the whole loaf!
I used to care for a 4 cylinder 2000 SOS LCG Diesel at a previous job, it was a POS, not because of the Slecto-Shift but because someone put a big heavy industrial loader on it that was way to heavy and they never worked the darn thing. It had those dinky thin dual turf tires on it, it you didn't have the rock on the 3 point a bucket of dirt in the loader would pick the rear wheels off the ground, it stunk and slobbered. We got behind on course work one summer and I ended up running the snot out of it for 3 days on a PTo powered leaf blower, it ran okay for a while after that. If you weren't careful with the inching pedal or shifting the tires would spin and it would get stuck on a pile of dog poo. Would of liked to have it at the farm to bale with.
Bob N.Y.
Well-known Member
- Location
- Norway, N.Y.
I had a 6000 for a few years and never had any trouble with the transmission. I loved it for baling hay. I let it go because it had an appetite for crank shafts.
Ford9000puller
Member
Going Thursday to pick up a 4 cyl 2000 all purpose with a select o speed. It will be the 11th SOS in our collection. Have pulled some and worked some and had great luck. Once you get used to one you love it. It helps that my dad worked at the Ford dealer that used to be in our town from 66 thru 88 with one of the best SOS mechanics there was.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
Well I have been around a few and when they work they are pretty good but when they stop working they are money pits. Sad thing is that the up keep on them also runs into more $$ then the normal transmission type tractor.
By the way you have another venison recipe in your e-mail
By the way you have another venison recipe in your e-mail
Fordfarmer
Well-known Member
Had 2 - 971 and 5000. 971 was sold to help pay for a 7600, 5000 was bought as a project with the intention of selling when done. I wouldn't mind having one to keep. Given a choice of an SOS or 8-speed, I'd take an 8-speed every time. BUT I wouldn't pass on one because it has an SOS, as long as the price and condition are right.
Fullthrottle
Member
Dad bought one of the so called bad ones (pre 64)in the 80's. It was a rollover tractor that had pinned and killed the owner. We put a new steering wheel on it and cut off the bent fenders. We and everyone else have used it without a problem for 30 years with only 1 service. Currently the motor smokes like its on fire, the radiator leaks, and the 3 point is a little weak, but the transmission works great!!! I plan on running it until the drive splines shear off from wear or the motor gets run out of oil.
Some of the older ones would free wheel down hill in some of the gears. Dad has a 6000 commander that had an issue early on but has about 13000 hours now with no other issues. However he is nervous because of a thing called metal fatigue. Also he has grandpas 6000 commander and it has never been apart but I don't know how many hours on it.
Goose
Well-known Member
From 1981 to 1986 I was Buildings and Grounds Supervisor for a local public school district. We had a 971 with SOS that we used both on a 7' finish mower and a blade for blading snow. It was great for our purposes. You couldn't have found a better match between the tractor and that 2 bladed finish mower.
There was a local fellow who had an independent shop, and he was the local expert on the SOS trans. I'd have him check the adjustments every spring.
We also frequently used the feature where you can disconnect the trans so the tractor will free wheel. We frequently towed the tractor and mower on a tow bar behind the school service pickup to another campus in our system 8 miles away when we needed to mow over there.
Under our conditions, the SOS was great. I did hear they didn't stand up too well under farm fieldwork. But I didn't have any experience in that area.
There was a local fellow who had an independent shop, and he was the local expert on the SOS trans. I'd have him check the adjustments every spring.
We also frequently used the feature where you can disconnect the trans so the tractor will free wheel. We frequently towed the tractor and mower on a tow bar behind the school service pickup to another campus in our system 8 miles away when we needed to mow over there.
Under our conditions, the SOS was great. I did hear they didn't stand up too well under farm fieldwork. But I didn't have any experience in that area.
I have one in a late 69 5000 diesel (256 ci) with a 727 loader on it, its been a great tractor and has well over 15000 hrs. on it, we've rebuilt it twice (2nd time due to a broken snap ring) over the years. It's a great trans with the right speed for almost any application and is fast as a loader tractor. It is a little different to operate than a standard, but once you get used to it, it's hard to beat in MHO. Chuck
We had an 801 with the SOS back in the early 80's. We mainly used it for loader work and hauling wagons and such. Once in a fit of desperation we actually used it to chop haylage.
It worked fine for us all the time we owned it. And it was enjoyable to operate. One of the small Fords I actually liked.
It worked fine for us all the time we owned it. And it was enjoyable to operate. One of the small Fords I actually liked.
We had a 6000 Commander with SOS back in the late 60's early 70s. Always worked great, even with us teenage kids thrashing on it. Only problem we had was with a seal that let fluid leak between the tranny and the rear end. Had to send it to the shop a couple of times for that. Otherwise it was rock solid.
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