Slightly Neglected Ford

[mark777]

Hey Guys,

What do you think? I had mentioned on another thread that I have been looking for a Ford to re-do. This one screams "Rescue Me". It is the first time in two years that the grass was well mowed around the tractor....and it is the best look I have had in a long time. If I got any closer than I have to consider shoot first and ask questions later principal.

I have left messages (taped to the mailbox), talked to neighbors and cruised the streets hoping to catch someone home...but these people appear to be ghosts. And now I don't want to seem too anxious (but am very interested).

I know most would probably walk away, not give it a second look.....but I have repaired/restored worse (I think?) and any Ford buffs that recognize the model, please feel free to tell me what a fool I am....or not.

Any information would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Regards, Mark (BTW telephoto lens through a 6' cyclone fence)

[mark777]

You think the battery might be a little low??

[dirtybernie]

mark. i dont know anything about the tractor but i hope you get a chance to rescue it. i have several like that in my area and people wont sell. its always "im going to restore it someday" i think there should be a law against letting old iron rot away! bernie. :banghead3

[Tvern13]

You think the battery might be a little low??

Naw, filled up to the top with vines. :fing20:

That's a shame to just let that sit. Box scraper, FEL and all. That does scream out rescue me. Good luck I hope you can work something out.

[Kid Muddy]

Well, first of all there's no such thing as a non-restorable Ford! They're ALL worth it. And this one definitely needs some rescueing!

It looks like a Hundred Series, or maybe an early 2000 or 4000.

Either way, it's worth it to restore and it's a shame that these people have neglected this tractor. Makes me want to cry.

[mark777]

Well, first of all there's no such thing as a non-restorable Ford! They're ALL worth it. And this one definitely needs some rescueing!

It looks like a Hundred Series, or maybe an early 2000 or 4000.

Either way, it's worth it to restore and it's a shame that these people have neglected this tractor. Makes me want to cry.


I feel the same way. I wish I had better pictures to identify.
Mark

[Durwood]

I guess you could call it your grass roots project Mark. I'm not sure how it would look with Yanmar red though. :trink40: Either way, i know when you were done with it it would be a new tractor.

Dur

[simple_john]

looks like a great planter... you'd think folks would do something not to let a good tractor go to waste.. good luck

[jdkubotamurray]

Worthy project, hope you get it for a few hundred!!

[DYT4000]

That front end loader makes it worth a look to me!!

[Greg]

I have a feeling it might be in better shape than you might think. Could very well be that it just wouldn't start/run for some reason and was left there. Gradually the vines took over and discouraged the owner from doing anything more with it. As DYT4k said, the FEL alone looks like a worthy project tractor. Sure hope you get word back and a change to pick it up.

Greg

[Steve (Magnolia, TX)]

Well, Mark...

First off, I agree with Kid Muddy... looks (to me) like an early 2000/4000 (or a hundred series).

I'd keep trying, I guess. I don't have any better suggestions than what you've already tried, though...

Similar situation... there's an old Farmall C (looks to be in worse shape, just not QUITE as overgrown as your Ford, there, but close) on my way to/from work. I stopped in a couple years back and asked if I could get it out of there for them (sitting in their front yard, covered in vines, with the single wheel tricycle front end and a full set of cutlivators on it), and was told "well, that's my sister's tractor... you'd have to talk to her"... left my numbers, but never heard anything... One of these days I'll stop in, again...

Good luck....

[mark777]

Steve, and others...

What started this for me was a similar find about the same time I discovered this Ford. 20 miles from here, someone would brush hog a big lot, and when he was finished it revealed a Leyland diesel. Talk about your orphan. But it was in excellent looking condition...sheet metal, all the mechanics, gauges and even good tires with airpressure. Same thing, talked to the neighbors...left messanges on the closest home near the lot. Tried half a dozen times in about 18 months....to no avail.

In May of this year, I stopped again....lucked out found the guy that owns the lot and tractor (the lot was way past due it mowing 6' tall weeds etc.) convinced him to walk out there with me and consider a fair offer.....it was gone. Yep, stolen. The guy just looked at me and said "Oh Well good riddence". He said it was POS. After it ran out of diesel and he refilled it...."It wouldn't start no matter how many times I recharged the battery" Can you believe it?? Knowing then what I know now...I should have stolen it myself and tacked a C note on his front door. I wouldn't have one iota of guilt.

I hope you get the Farmall C before someone else dishonest abscounds with it.

Mark

[MowHoward2210]

Mark, what's a Leyland diesel?

[dirtybernie]

thats to bad mark! where the ford is does it look as if anyone lives there? being as nuts as i am i would consider camping in theyre yard to catch them. ROF

[mark777]

Mark, what's a Leyland diesel?

Nuffield Universal, the firm that made Morris cars in England, made the Nuffield tractor for export to here (U.S.). First one's in 1947 - I think around '55 through '69 they used a Perkins 3 and four cylinder and called it Leyland (as in British Leyland).
It looked very much like the early Ford 2000 / 4000 series tractor, maybe a little smaller...95% of Nuffield's engines (and other engines they used) were diesel, because it was cheap fuel.

There were two complaints about the tractor: One...it was too powerful of an engine for the frame size (loss of traction), and Two...Lucas electrics, bad switches, wirings and probably positive earth.

Man....I think just about anyone here could handle problems like that, rewire the tractor and puts some weights on :).

Mark

[mark777]

thats to bad mark! where the ford is does it look as if anyone lives there? being as nuts as i am i would consider camping in theyre yard to catch them. ROF

Yep, somebody lives there. The gate is alway open too, but there is a no trespassing sign on the gate, and I'd hate to begin negotiations starting off on the wrong foot. I'd REALLY like to get in there and have a better look-see at the tractor. If nothing worked I bet I could still fix everything from engine rebuild to hydraulics (3 PT and FEL) for $3K or less.....maybe :).

Mark

[MowHoward2210]

Thanks, Mark. I figured it had British origins.

Lucas wasn't called "The Prince of Darkness" for nothing! :D

[dirtybernie]

Yep, somebody lives there. The gate is alway open too, but there is a no trespassing sign on the gate, and I'd hate to begin negotiations starting off on the wrong foot. I'd REALLY like to get in there and have a better look-see at the tractor. If nothing worked I bet I could still fix everything from engine rebuild to hydraulics (3 PT and FEL) for $3K or less.....maybe :).

Mark
i hear you mark! hopefully they contact you instead of letting it rot there.

mow. i heard a joke on lucas parts.
Q) why do brits drink warm beer?
a) because lucas makes ice boxes also! ROF

[mark777]

Well, I have an update...and it is kind of dissapointing. The suspect Ford is a 1974 series 3000, with a 3 cyl gas engine....and yes, completely repainted in 1979 when he purchased it.

I happend to wonder off course while in the viscinity and actually caught the gentleman working on the roof of his deck (2nd story). As I looked at the tractor from outside the fence...he yelled down and said it's not for sale. Not "howdy or can I help you" but NOT FOR SALE. I said that's fine, but I was wondering what year and model...

He came down and we talked for several minutes about the history of the tractor. He used it frequently untill '94 when something blew up near the power steering. And that is where it has sat 'till this day. But he is going to fix it..........someday. I asked if I could take some pictures for my buddies on a tractor website...and he said sure.

After peeling back the thorns and weeds, I (and even he) was surprised how much damage the elements (and kids probably) had taken it's toll on the tractor. Gauges smashed, every rubber part - hydraulic hoses rotted away, aftermarket lamps broken off, and wire loom chewed by any and every varmit in the neighborhood. Plus there are allot of things that are not stock...like grille etc...Poor quality pix, and nothing exciting, but I had, at that point, lost all interest.

I took two pictures, shook my head as removing the weeds were more trouble than it was worth....TOO BAD.

Thanks for all the help in trying to indetify the tractor.

Regards, Mark

[Durwood]

Wow , it sounds like that tractor wouldn't be worth it if he gave it to you. Like you said, that had to be disappointing. Hopefully something else will come along that can receive a pretty blue paint job.

Dur

[cadurning]

Mark, what's a Leyland diesel?

Mow,

Here is a link to Leyland Tractors. THose were true orphans.

http://www.tractordata.co.uk/nuffield/

[MowHoward2210]

Thanks for the link, cadurning. :fing32:

[Frog]

Mark, what's a Leyland diesel?
I believe you will find this is an English built tractor originaly called Nuffield. We still have a few of these working on sugar cane farms in North Queensland Australia, thier diesels were very good and long lasting. Regards Frog

[Argee]

Mark....how disappointing that it still sits there neglected. Maybe..NOW..that the owner sees the investment in time and money required to restore it...may change his mind. Did you leave a number where he might reach you??

[mark777]

Yeah, I left my number and address. He probably tossed it. He just wasn't interested in selling it and wanted to fix it.

It's still there, untouched, unloved and my last trip (up Mariposa Ln.) was about 5 months ago. It's in the same place and he still cuts around it with a riding mower.

Some deals just aren't suppose to happen I reckon :(.

[Ken N Tx]

Try again...Maybe he needs gas money now!! :trink40: