Off Topic-Off Color--Ford 4000 Row Crop
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37880
Printed Date: 20 May 2025 at 1:34pm
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Topic: Off Topic-Off Color--Ford 4000 Row Crop
Posted By: JoeO(CMO)
Subject: Off Topic-Off Color--Ford 4000 Row Crop
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2011 at 12:25pm
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I honestly can't explain why! I purchased this for the 13.6x38 rear tires/PS wheels to use on another, a "On Topic D15 II Diesel, High Clearance, Single Front Wheel", taking up space in my shop with no rears.
Sooo, I bought this Ford 4000, 3 cylinder gas, it has like PS wheels, i.e., holes in rails are drilled parallel to axle, also no rust holes or destroyed rims, just need painting as usual, but no flat top fenders or 3-point, PO or ? removed. The sheet metal is pretty good.
It is a Select-O-Speed, which must be a good set up or JD would not have used it. Some say they are the same type operation.
I need some expertise on this on how to check it without engine, if possible, which is locked!
I mainly want to check the SOS before going very far with this, and who knows, it might actually be worth something.
I just don't want to have another piece of off color hardware laying around, saving it, and cluttering up the place.
I have found that the 4000 Row Crop is somewhat of a rare bird, lots of 4000's but tall Row Crop model's are scarce.
Any help appreciated, honest. ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2011 at 1:34pm
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Ford's SOS does not have a great reputation. There are a few mechanics with magic touch that can keep it working. Ford's chief engineer quit them because he didn't consider it ready for production but upper management put it out anyway. He hired on at Deere for the new generation tractors and made Deere's Power Shift very tough. It rarely breaks. The Ford SOS some say always breaks. Gerald J. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2011 at 3:19pm
| There are TWO Ford 4000 tractors......the first was a four cylinder version which is just an older 900 rebadged as the new 4000 (to go along with the new 6000 Commado they came out with) and the true "new" 4000 with was only blue in color and had the 3-cylinder engines. The new is a whole different tractor that the old 900/4000. If it is the later model one, the trans would be better than the old one. We always called them Select-A-Jerk tranny's. |
Posted By: Roger Nolin
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2011 at 3:58pm
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neighbor had a ford with selectospeed, don't rememvber which model. But I do remember that some of the gears let the tractor coast if not pulling. I went down some hills faster than I should have. if you get it running be careful. |
Posted By: David Maddux
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2011 at 4:45pm
| Joe: I have a guy that is supposed to be good with the sos trany here locally, give me a call if you are interested in his name and no. Dave. |
Posted By: Joe(TX)
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2011 at 8:44pm
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The transmission is a Select O Speed.
You did not state which 4000 it was.
Only the early 801/801 series tractors had the overrun clutch whish would freewheel in certain gears. The later 801/901's and the 4 cylinder 4000's had a direct drive clutch.
The Ford tractors had 28 and not 38 inch tires.
The 1965 and later 4000's were differant.
As far as testing, there is no way without a running engine. In fact the output shaft is locked if the input is not turning.
I have a 4000 4 cylinder row crop diesel with a select o speed. I has been a very reliable transmission for over 20 years. It is a great baling tractor.
Most problems with the SOS is not keeping the fluid clean. Th valves will stick and it will not operate.
There is a learning curve when operating one. You do get a sore neck until you develop the skill.
There is a guy on YTMAG.com who is an expert on the SOS. ------------- 1970 190XT, 1973 200, 1962 D-19 Diesel, 1979 7010, 1957 WD45, 1950 WD, 1961 D17, Speed Patrol, D14, All crop 66 big bin, 180 diesel, 1970 170 diesel, FP80 forklift. Gleaner A |
Posted By: JoeO(CMO)
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2011 at 8:40pm
 I thought a pic would help, ser # shows it to be
a 1967 year model
------------- |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2011 at 8:53pm
| That's the newer version with the three cylinder engine. |
Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2011 at 12:29am
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I've had pretty good luck with SOS transmissions. Probably had a half dozen over the years. Rebuilt at least one. Unless they were abused, and the oil not changed regularly, as stated above, they hold up well and as also mentioned, make a great baling tractor. I currently have one of the first 300 6000's built which was recalled and completely rebuilt at the factory and repainted blue (the first 300 were red). The SOS came out on smaller tractors, 600 to 900 series starting in 1957, I believe. There were some problems with the early models, mostly oil leaks. The oil hit the fan, so to speak, with the 6000. The transmission wasn't up to the task of working with a 60 plus HP engine. The chief engineer at Ford Tractor, the story goes, told management the tractor wasn't ready to ship until some bugs were solved. He went on vacation and the tractors were shipped. Problems started immediately and Ford recalled those first 300 that hadn't been improved. It cost them a bunch of $, not to mention getting a bad rep. The engineer did quit and go to JD and improved? the SOS by making it an eight speed. I think the SOS is a better transmission then the IH hydro, but to each their own. ------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: RMD
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2011 at 7:56pm
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There was a diesel version of that on my uncle's farm when I was a teenager. With the flat top fenders it made a really nice looking tractor. General wisdom is that the 3 cyl. was a much better in the diesel version than gasoline. The clutch with the SOS was called an "inching pedal" -- the ten "gears" on the SOS were grouped into 3 or 4 bands on the control - I was told to depress the inching pedal when shifting between bands, but that you didn't need to touch it when shifting bettween "gears" in the same band. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2011 at 8:03pm
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That was a distinct difference between it and a Deere...Ford used bands in some gear selections (that required adjustment occasionally) and Deere did not. Deere also never free-wheeled in any gears. |