Thoughts on a Ford 2810 longevity?

sweetjeep · Jul 4, 2013

Hey all..

I am looking at a 1990 (ish) Ford 2810. It has got 4wd which as I have gathered is a pretty rare item. I assume it was installed after initial manufacture.

The tractor is a little weathered but all in all, looks and appears good and right.

The problem I have is that it has 8500 hours on it. The story is that the bulk of it's hours came from being a cranberry bog pump. Around here (Massachusetts) the bogs are flooded and drained with pumps powered by a tractor PTO. Or at least they used to be. This one did that job, let's leave it at that. As a result, 8500 hours.

My dad has a 2810 which has been otherwise bulletproof, but his has a grand total of 700 hours on it.

The gentleman who has it wants $6k. So the price is, acceptable but not amazing. He and I are planning to pick it up as a 4th tractor for him and a second for me, so it might get 50 hours a year for the next 20 years.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the hours this thing has on it? Should we pass? Anything in particular to worry about on these rigs?

sawtooth · Jul 4, 2013

Well im not sure they ever made 4x4 2810's but will look Sunday as i have all kinds of original literature. If it is original then might be cool just to own it. As for 2x4 models i see them for around 7500 if they have 2000 hours or less.

RickB · Jul 4, 2013

I would be more concerned about parts availability for whatever front axle is under it than the age, hours, or price.

boatyard · Jul 4, 2013

I checked Tractor data,. Ford made a 4wd 2810. TractorData.com Ford 2810 tractor information

sweetjeep · Jul 4, 2013

boatyard said:
I checked Tractor data,. Ford made a 4wd 2810. TractorData.com Ford 2810 tractor information

Thanks so far. We're pretty minimally worried about the bulk of the tractor. Everything about the tractor supports that it has minimal time in motion. That or it was maintained absolutely to a 'T'. The steering is solid and has no real slop, clutch is a tiny bit soft initially, but nothing of concern.

It's mainly just the time on the motor.. does it have another couple thousand hours on it or was it over due to be scrapped 2000 hours ago?

RickB · Jul 5, 2013

sweetjeep said:
Thanks so far. We're pretty minimally worried about the bulk of the tractor. Everything about the tractor supports that it has minimal time in motion. That or it was maintained absolutely to a 'T'. The steering is solid and has no real slop, clutch is a tiny bit soft initially, but nothing of concern.

It's mainly just the time on the motor.. does it have another couple thousand hours on it or was it over due to be scrapped 2000 hours ago?

If the coolant and crankcase oil & filter were serviced with any type of regularity the engine should have several thousand hours left in it.