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Keep ford 3000, or sell and buy JD 950?

J

Jeremiah3000

Member
Got an old 3000 3cylinder gas, 4 speed, trans driven pto with power steering. Do a lot of bush hogging in the woods, and the 4 speed is just too fast. Slowest I can go is 3mph at rated pto speed in 1st, very scary when trying to maneuver around trees and such, plus the pto stops every time I have to stop (again thanks to the trans pto). I've got a really good deal on a mechanically sound JD 950 4wd. Its yanmar diesel which I've heard and read is very reliable a d sips fuel (siping fuel is foreign to the gasses in the 3000). The only down fall is it doesn't have power steering. I do not have and FEL (would like to possibly find one in the future, would only be lite work) The 950 is a 2 stage clutch, which fixes the having to stop pto all the time, and the lowest speed it will go is 0.8mph while at rated PTO speed. That's a huge positive! The caveat is, wife says if I get the deere, I have to then put the ole ford up for sale. What are yalls opinions, and maybe pros and cons. Again, the deere is in good mechanical shape,o ly small not worried about leaks/drips, is well used and dont remember the hours, The Ford is also relatively inexpensive to get parts for, and so far easy to work on. I am very mechanically able and would do all work, repairs and maintenance.
 
The John Deere is a heck of a good machine,
but from what I've heard from some people
is the older "50" series like those are
starting to get harder to find parts for.
The "55" series is easier to find parts for
and those are hydro as well. But being
green parts are expensive. From my
experience being around the "55" series is
that they are very reliable and rarely
broke down. We had 5 of the 855 tractors
with belly mowers and never had anything
major go wrong with any of them.
 
Go ahead and list the ford for sale. Just price it high so no one buys it. The wife will never know. ;)
 
We have a JD 4600, which is a little bigger and newer, but it has a Yanmar engine, and is bulletproof. You probably won't need power steering for mowing, the weight of the cutter will make the front end a little light. And, maybe you will build up a little arm strength using it!
 
The JD 950 is a good machine, but some parts are getting hard to find if needed.
I'm not real familiar with the various Ford models ,but I am surprised it does not have at least a 2 stage
clutch ? and more speeds. Sounds like it really does not suite your needs.
What sort of price do they want for the JD ?
 
My opinion is get rid of the wife and buy
the tractor. Less trouble and upkeep on
the tractor. Problem solved.
 
There are some things I woundn't want a hydro for but for mowing you can't beat them. Forward and backward unlimited speeds. Creep up on trees, around curves, hill sides etc. You can mow backwards in to tight spots and go like H*** on the straight a way. I have a JD 4700 with a JD 460 FEL, 3 pt 7' finish mower and a bunch of other implements. Been a good tractor for 20 years. Only problem I ever had was when I went to get an oil filter 20 years ago they gave me one for a JD 4700 sprayer. Much bigger engine and filter. I learned over the years to specify utility tractor when getting parts
 
It has weights already too, which is definitely an added benefit, my 3000 Is light on steering too with my old 5ft bush hog
 
I would buy the 950 and sell the 3000 as well (or sell the wife and keep the 3000, your choice....). Anyway, a personal experience- I had a small compact Ford 4wd like
the 950. It had a loader on it AND lite truck tires on the front. It was not fun to drive while using the loader because like the 950 you may buy, it did not have power
steering. However, I got rid of the front tires and replaced them with R4 tires. It made a real difference and was not so hard to steer while using the loader.
 
I've driven multiple tractors that were hydro, and just hate the way they feel, kinda like a auto trans with a terrible torque converter (high stall, non aggressive stator angle, loose feeling). Its just a preference thing. I do cut a small field, plow and disc the garden, and drag the drive way as well. I do like the shuttle shift though. Something about just picking a gear, and setting throttle I like
 
Nope, the old 4 speed only came with single stage clutch, it was at some point a highway use county tractor, has yellow paint under the blue. It was an impulse buy years ago when I bought my property... but it's been a reliable old girl!
 
Good, in the event you get the tractor and later get a loader, you may well be pleasantly surprised how easily it steers without power steering.
 
I have a Yanmar YM330 same tractor mechanically as the JD 950,its a great little tractor,very easy on fuel,no PS but steers easy enough.I would keep it over your Ford 3000 for sure.As far as parts JD may be cutting out some parts but Hoye tractor a Yanmar parts place will have about anything you'd need for the 950.
 
Kinda like saying I don't want a automatic in my pickup. But in 03 I got a new f250 4x4 auto. And in 08 got a new 50 hp jd hydro. Have never looked back.
 
Two things I regret selling the most - my first and 2nd tractors, and my first shotgun (nice little 410).

You won't get enough from the selling the Ford to make much of a difference. And what will you use to pull out the JD when its stuck?

I have bailed out my neighbor and his 35hp Ford compact more times than I can remember. Two weeks ago he had it in a ditch so steep he was afraid it would tip over. I told him to just hook the chain good and I dragged the thing out of the ditch with it still in gear - he was afraid to get back on the seat. No substitute for good old American cast iron (IH2424)..

Keep the Ford - you will regret selling it forever.

Tim
 
(quoted from post at 16:24:42 04/14/20) Kinda like saying I don't want a automatic in my pickup. But in 03 I got a new f250 4x4 auto. And in 08 got a new 50 hp jd hydro. Have never looked back.
Click to expand...

Lol, I've got a tuned 06 f350, totally different story on my pickup that we tow heavy with... I will say we also have a 97 and 02 f250, the e4od/4r100 is kinda the transmission/ torque converter combo I DONT like, love the 5r110 in the 06 though
 
Jeremiah3000,

What year is your 3000? My 73' 4000 will go 1.5 mph and it seems counterintuitive that the lowest speed is 3 mph. I know some of the 3000 transmission options will go as low as 1.5 mph. The only problem I see is the transmission pto. That is a pita even with an overrun coupler. I don't understand why they still had the transmission pto as an option or standard.

The John Deere rates at 31hp while the Ford 3000 rates at 47hp. Will the JD operate your mower? Maybe someone will have a 3000 with a different tranny and live pto for sale so you can eventually trade up as long as your wife can't tell the difference (you still need your 3000 as a trade in and backup (as a plausable excuse). I am a firm believer in a backup machine, because your main machine will fail at worst possible time. (Murphy's law, corollary #34).

Not having a backup tractor makes me reluctant to use my one machine until I get my backups up and running.
 
I can't believe a 1971 Ford 3000 has only 4 speeds. ??? No over and under 12 speed or ??? This was supposed to be replaced in 1970 with a 6 speed. I must be reading Tractor Data incorrectly.
 
I have a 1981 model 650 and it had 426 hours on it when I bought it used. It was used to mow a large yard and the
owner decide he just had to have a 750. So he sold me the 650 with the mower and bought the 750 with a 7' mower
to replace the 650 and the 6' finish mower. I now have 1050 hours on it and other than a water pump, a voltage
regulator and fan belt the tractor has not needed any parts. It is beginning to have a little blow by out of the
crankcase breather tube.
I adapted an IH Cub loader onto it shortly after I got it and put several hundred hours on it with the loader. I
wound up adding the power steering kit on it so it would be steerable with the bucket loaded. I eventually bought
a backhoe/loader tractor and sold the loader off of the 650 and when I did that it no longer needed the power
steering so I took it off and put it on the shelf in a box where it is now waiting for a new owner. This is a very good line up of
tractors and are very tough and very light on fuel. About all mine does now is cut a couple of acres of weeds and
grass with a 5" Mott flail mower, a set up I have used since 1988 and it does a good job of powering the flail
unit. For my money these tractors are some of the best and most reliable Deere's since the 2 cylinder tractors
went away.
 
I have had a JD 850 for over 20 years now, use it to mow regularly, can't say enough good things about it. No power steering, but it steers easy. In all the years I've had it, a new water pump, alternator, brake shoes on one side, and the usual belts, hoses, batteries, and tires has been it. You will probably need a full set of front weights to counter balance the shredder on back. I bought a MX5 shredder for it, but it would barely pick it up so I had to swap it for the lighter weight LX5. It handles a 5' shredder fine but there is no power to spare. If you get the JD and it does half as well as mine has, you should be very happy. Every time I see a nice 950 or 1050 for sale on craigslist, I'm tempted to buy it just because my 850 has done so good.
 
Had a Ford 3000 with FEL & 4 spd.....no ps and too fast for the rear snowblower..
I wanted ps, more speeds & 4x4 so I sold the Ford & bought a Kubota L3400 (similar to JD 950). The Kubota is a great tractor, but less lifting capacity, both
front AND rear than the Ford had. IMHO the 3000 is a lot more tractor if you need that 1/3 more HP and 1000# more weight.
 

Buy it put both up for sale at 4500 a piece and show the wife you can make money buying and selling tractors... : )

Put the sale money in her hand she will be look'N for more to buy its as simple as Dat... : ) I never had you problem my wife did not know if I was working on them for money are buying them to keep she did support my habit...

Are buy the green'N for her it make make her day...
 
4 speed was std, the 8 speed (4speed with hi/lo) was a option as was live pto and ps,remote hyd, dsl engine ect many people would not give the extra coin in those days
 
The one very attractive thing I like about the 60s-80s fords, John deere, mf and a few others is that enough were sold to create a healthy aftermarket for parts.
 
our church has a 950 for mowing and plowing,and I use it weekly for the mowing.it handles a 6ft finish mower with no problem in 7th hi.the plow is a 6ft hydraulic angle,its a real nice setup,and the plow probably weighs 800lb by itself and it still steers pretty good.i am a "RED" guy,but I will say its a nice tractor and it handles pretty good and has suprising power even in hi gear.if I where in your place,there is no question,you are talking about a diesel,4x4,diff lock,high low,two stage clutch tractor for $2500!BUY IT.but as for the little blue tractor,i would keep it,even though you might get $15-2000 for it,why wouldn't you want a "backup" tractor.once you have multiple tractors you will realize how nice it is when you got the mower on one,and you can use the other to pull a wagon without having to take the mower off and put it back on afterwards,for mowing the next day.that gets old,FAST

Rock
 
At the time of the Ford most farmers did not have use for a PTO in that size tractor. Did not need a PTO to pull a hay rake or corn planter. So why spend money on something you did not need. As for the Deeres I guess I have seen those on dealers lot but never heard of anyone having one. The Ford 3000 is also a rarity but if I had to change I would lok for a different Ford tractor.
 
Both are good little tractors.
Unfortunately neither is what you need
for the purpose mentioned. Manuvering
around in the woods without power
steering is definitely not on my wish
list.
 
It's usually a lot cheaper to buy a tractor that already has a loader than to add a loader later. Mowing with a loader on a tractor makes the tractor much longer ( 4 to 6 feet longer) and harder to maneuver, cuts your visibility and would make it harder to steer without power steering. In your situation I would want a loader that can be removed quickly whenever the tractor is needed for mowing.

If you won't need a loader now, the 950 sounds like a very good fit. If you will need a loader in the future, look for a different tractor now that already has the right loader for you, or plan to trade the 950 in the future for a tractor with a loader. I suspect there will be a lot more good deals available in the next few years.
 
I would try to find a way to keep both and put the loader on the Ford and keep it there. You wouldn't want to hurt your back taking it off and putting it back on. My wife said she gets a nice ring if I get another tractor. It keeps me in check unless I really want one. I had to make a lean to for the last one.
 
(quoted from post at 22:25:47 04/14/20) At the time of the Ford most farmers did not have use for a PTO in that size tractor. Did not need a PTO to pull a hay rake or corn planter. So why spend money on something you did not need. As for the Deeres I guess I have seen those on dealers lot but never heard of anyone having one. The Ford 3000 is also a rarity but if I had to change I would lok for a different Ford tractor.
Click to expand...
LOL
In what way is a '71 Ford 3000 "rare"?
 
My father had a 950 JD 2wd tractor for about 25 years. It had
a loader- no power steering. Like an older car or truck without
power steering it didn?t steer too bad when moving, soft
ground and full loader bucket made it hard to steer. It was a
real economical tractor to run as far as fuel use, and in low
range was really slow. The low gearing made it excellent for
running a rototiller and pulling a vegetable transplanter. It
sounds like a really good deal for the price, and sounds like a
good fit for what you want to do. They are a great little tractor.
Putting a loader on it will make it a lot less maneuverable in
tight spots. I would buy it and keep the Ford too , but if forced
to choose, it sounds like the 950 is better suited to your
needs. You can tell the wife you will sell the Ford as soon as
you are sure that you don?t need a backup tractor. (That could
take years!)
 
25 years ago I sold my first 8n when I bought a Kubota B7100 HST to replace it mowing. Even my wife told me to keep it, but I sold it because I really thought I needed the money. Reality check, I really didn't need the money and ended up replacing the 8n anyway. Selling it was one of my bigger mistakes. Buy the Deere, but keep the Ford, I can pretty much gaurantee you you wish you had if you sell it.
 
I think the asking price for a 3000 in 1971 was around $4000-5000. I cannot find a listing and this was just a couple of years before rapid inflation rates starting in late 1973. It is hard to place a value on one of these made in the 70s.

Some people ask a lot more than the msrp because of inflation. Anyway I would go for a Ford 3600 or higher with a live pto if it weren't for my Dextas which makes me biased against 4 speeds. After this the pto seems to be live on all and the transmissions 6 or 8 speed. I am just rambling because I am not fully awake and had too much cornbread this morning.
 
Ptfarmer,
I saw your video. It looks like chickens or pigeons like to roost overhead in you barn. lol. If I had originally spent more time researching tractors I would have gotten mf135s mainly because they had gone to direct injection while the Dextas were indirect injection with their Ferkins engines.
 
(quoted from post at 08:06:24 04/15/20) Ptfarmer,
I saw your video. It looks like chickens or pigeons like to roost overhead in you barn. lol. If I had originally spent more time researching tractors I would have gotten mf135s mainly because they had gone to direct injection while the Dextas were indirect injection with their Ferkins engines.
Click to expand...



Owls like to roost in the barn, takes a lot of work to get that off, it almost like concrete!!!
 
I don't consider that Ford outdated then or now. And Those tractors you have and think so much of I would not drag a single one of them to a scrap yard for them. Same thing for all but 3 specific models and those memtioned are not any of the 3 any John Deere built in 1960 or later. Permently lost me as a tractor customer then. Went to Fords of the age of that 3000 or older.
 
Leroy,

Would you clarify the dates and reasons for not buying John Deeres newer than the 1960s. Are there specific models or any ones made after 1960s and does that include those made up until 1970.
 
In that time frame anyone that wanted a new tractor wanted the next size bigger the 4000series and kept their old tractor for the size tractor of the 3000. Same with a 2000, so all Ford tractors sold in this part of the country were either 4000 or 5000 models. Never saw a 3000 that was not in a old tractor show. I had 2 4000 and a 5000.
 
Guess I will try to convince her to let me keep both lol. I've always thought the 3000 would do pretty fair with a FEL, the power steering on that thing is super easy
 
Anybody had any power issues with the 950? I mean the 3000 is just a hair over maybe 10 more hp at the PTO, I cant imagine that being to detrimental to power, say trying to run a 5ft rotary cutter, assuming they're heavy enough to plow
 
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