My new to me Ford 3000 with FEL. What do i have?

[SimpleManLance]

I was given this tractor from my uncle who inherited it from his father. my Uncle already has a kubota and a skid steer. He said the last thing he needed was another tractor. Anyway i'm not to sure what exactly I have.

I know it is a 1969 37hp gasser with a FEL added to it. Im not sure what brand FEL it is or what the hydraulics system is. I know i would like to do a crank driven hydraulic pump and run a joystick to control the loader. Unsure what exactly i need right now to do that but i have been researching. Thanks for any help you can give me on the FEL.

Plans for it:
clean it up
different hydraulic system (loader is way to slow)
3pt backhoe
ballast box
would like a grapple for fire wood
build a brush guard

 

[square1]

He said the last thing he needed was another tractor.

Welcome to the forum. I'm concerned for your uncle. He may be displaying early signs of senility

 

[NC419N]

Nice looking machine. It looks a lot like a factory Ford loader and I agree that a crank driven pump would greatly improve the speed of the lift and then you will have extra ports on you spool valve. There should be lots of used brackets and pumps out there for the retrofit.

 

[Birdhunter1]

What you have is a headache in the making. The front end components will not hold up when you start doing loader work, radius rods will bend or break, spindles will break and bushing will wear out. Don't be conservative on greasing the front end zerks, if grease is running out then there is plenty in it. The pivot pin will take on alot of wear and the bushing will also wear down to where it is into the axle support. The front end on the 3000 is the same that is on my 3910 and everything I mentioned above has happened to mine and while I've handled some heavy loads I haven't abused it.

The crank driven pump will provide alot of hydraulic power, there is one made that will mount under the fuel tank to the rear of the engine between your clutch pedal and power steering pump. There is a trapezoid looking plate on the block that comes off and that is where it mounts, not sure of the internal plumbing that needs to go on where your current spool block is as I bought my tractor used and it came already plumbed with the pump.

 

[CCWKen]

Wouldn't your uncle's father be your grandfather? :confused3:

I'd be more concerned about blowing those front tires overloading the FEL than adding a ballast box. Load the rear tires and keep the weight off the axles. That tractor is pretty heavy as it is. I agree that a dedicated pump would improve speed over the factory 5GPM but that may require a dedicated fluid system too. The 6 gallon tractor system is pretty small and could overheat quickly. The rule of thumb is one gallon of tank to one gallon of flow (GPM).

 

[Birdhunter1]

I've not added an extra tank but I did extend all of my cylinders and then topped off the fluids, which is what the book recommends. I think mine is supposed to hold 9 gallons of Hydraulic oil.

 

[sd455dan]

Nice looking machine. It looks a lot like a factory Ford loader and I agree that a crank driven pump would greatly improve the speed of the lift and then you will have extra ports on you spool valve. There should be lots of used brackets and pumps out there for the retrofit.

I can't say it is not a factory loader - but it is not a 730 or 735 and the mount design for the cylinders looks more like an Allied loader my buddies Case tractor has.
Not sure who built it.

i half agree with Bird Hunter on the 3000s being used as loader tractors , but would add that with a real heavy 3 point implement and not driving the tractor with a heavy load in the bucket to fast with rough ground- it will work.
My 3000's front end had been broken and re welded in several places.

 

[SimpleManLance]

Thanks for the replies. I have been reading on the weak front ends on the 3000. Is there any upgrades or ways to strengthen the front axle? My main purpose will be yard work around my 9 acres. hauling tons of firewood until i'm caught up with the dead standing and on the ground stuff. I would like to get a back hoe to dig some ditches and a small pond. it wont be doing anything super serious, just outside enjoying the fresh air and the property. With just over 1000hrs on it i can tell it has been babied. My uncle said the tractor was like a car that was driven by a little old lady to and from church on Sunday.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I am not aware of any method of improving the front axle strength of your tractor. We used an 861 Ford with FEL for 30 years loading 4x5 round bales. These bales were light in weight. Pop used an older chain baler. We sold that tractor last year. The axle was cracked and the king pins were worn out. If you take it easy and don't overload or jerk the front end when loaded you can get by. You have a fine tractor but those swept front axles are not as robust as the solid front axles.

 

[sd455dan]

Thanks for the replies. I have been reading on the weak front ends on the 3000. Is there any upgrades or ways to strengthen the front axle? My main purpose will be yard work around my 9 acres. hauling tons of firewood until i'm caught up with the dead standing and on the ground stuff. I would like to get a back hoe to dig some ditches and a small pond. it wont be doing anything super serious, just outside enjoying the fresh air and the property. With just over 1000hrs on it i can tell it has been babied. My uncle said the tractor was like a car that was driven by a little old lady to and from church on Sunday.

My first suggestion would be mount as heavy 3 point implement as possible to the rear Yes a backhoe would do it
I either used my 1000+lb Gannon box blade or an even heavier 85 inch tiller,
This also did wonders for FEL work and even pushing snow.

Here are a couple pictures of some FEL work- and it did dig out that tree stump after cutting the tree down, also dug graves for a couple old horses that past away, you can do quite a bit with a FEL equipped 3000 if you need to.

My 3000 had racked up over 4000 hours by the mid 1970s
and pretty sure it had more than doubled that since then- All with a 730 loader and the stock Un-rebuilt engine.
You will love the low end torque the ford 3 cylinders have.
Those old Fords are great do it all tractors. Also more than the equal of some of the new small 4x4 tractors when weight and torque are needed. Congrats :thumbsup: