Looking fantastic, the seller says this 1964 Ford 4000 Tractor is an older restoration, and it appears in really nice condition from looking at the photos. This gem is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Pardeeville, Wisconsin, and the seller is asking just $3,000 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
I don’t see how a person can go wrong here, even if you don’t need a tractor! This would be fun to own for anyone with a yard, although not a city lot, but a house outside of the city with some land. It doesn’t have to be much, even an acre or less, plus a nice-sized garage so you can park it inside where it belongs. It’s too nice to park outside in the elements.
Ford made the 800/801 series of tractors, and the 4000 was an update of those tractors. They were offered from 1962 through 1975, and this example is from the first generation, made from 1962 through 1965 or so. They were typically blue and white in this era, and later all blue with a more square design rather than this older-looking style. Some folks painted the white a different color, and I really like the tan or cream color on this one.
I would have absolutely no use whatsoever for a tractor like this, but I still want it. At $3,000 or best offer, it seems like a steal to me if it operates as well as it looks. As the first series of the 4000, as I mentioned, these tractors were almost exactly like the previous 801 series. This tractor has optional power steering, which is a mind-blowing luxury on a tractor looking like it’s from the 1940s and ’50s.
The 4000 tractors had a 2.8-liter (172-cu.in.) four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine in either gas, diesel, or LP gas configuration. These first-series 4000s had 62.5 horsepower and 158 lb-ft of torque, and this one is sent through a 10-speed Select-O-Speed transmission (10 speeds forward, 2 in reverse) to the rear wheels. Here’s a bit more info on the Select-O-Speed from a Ford brochure. The seller says this tractor “runs good,” and if it runs as good as it looks, it must purr like a kitten. Would any of you have a need for this beautiful Ford 4000?
Wait a minute….Let me see if I am understanding this correctly…. A TRACTOR…… On BARNFINDS???? Just kidding. This is awesome!!! I grew up across the street from the tractor that uses to farm my neighborhood, before it was a neighborhood and actually was a farm. It was a 1940 Ford 9N. The old farmer used to let me sit on it when was a kid. It was old and used. This one really looks like a nice restoration. Does anyone know if you can get a Marti report on this one?(Again…. just kidding). ( That is Until Bob from TN comes on here and actually tells us yes, yes you can lol). Come to think of it…. That would be kind of funny. Whats neat is, I never knew about these 10 speed transmissions Ford had. Great idea, keep the engine in its sweet spot no matter what you’re doing on the farm. I do hope it goes to a good new home. Great find Lothar, thank you, and a great write up too Scotty. ( Wait…. What???No crew cab version? Just kidding).
Maybe the crew is going to start “Pasture Finds” next?
Weird to find a tractor in a barn?
I believe that the first three speeds are slow, slower and slowest. I don’t know what the other seven speeds are (glacial? sloth like?).
Had no idea a tractor this old could come w power steering. What a luxury if you’re doing lots of turns, as I once did towing a huge gang mower to cut rough on the golf course in an old IH.
Later on I drove a big brand new 4wd Kubota tractor 🚜 w cab and all the luxuries, to cut ball fields and parks pulling a big gang of reels. Worst enemy… pine cones 🌲they’re so tough, they’d get caught up in the reel and stop it from spinning. Leaving the tires locked and dragging 😑 😒😲
That’s some experience Stan. I always admired the folks who maintain those huge greens. You reminded me of a guy I knew years ago, had an old International 300 with a front end loader with manual steering. It was indeed a chore to wheel that thing around the farm.
Dave every greenskeeper loves cutting the greens w those sweet triplex mowers. I learned on a 3wd beauty Jacobsen.. then later after some experience took out the old direct-drive Toro 2wd. Better plan your route on any wet slippery hills or you’re out pushing on the way to the next green. Direct drive was much trickier to operate. Both great units. Those reels would get sharpened by our ace mechanic and slice paper against the bedknife.. ⛳️
Ah, Error 403 Forbidden, my arch nemesis. Obviously nerve wracking for all, here’s a(nother) condensed version. My brother lives in the country, and always had hobby tractors. His 1st and 2nd were H model Harvestors, late 40s, then got a ’53 Ford 800 series, that I thought was newer, and more like this. I’ve been around farm tractors from my mid 20s on. I hung out at several friends parents farms, and had to get to know how to operate them. My favorite is the A-C D17. The worst? A Leyland, sorry mates, a very poor tractor. The Select-O-Speed, I read, was a novel transmission. 10 forward speeds, 2 reverse, and somehow hydraulically shifted on the fly, but no torque converter, and a regular dry clutch that had to be depressed when stopping. I bet many bought these as they outgrew the postwar 8N, but kept it because it still ran good. Live PTO, much better and safer.
I’m very grateful that I got to hang out at farms, gave me a different perspective, and why, in part, I became a truck driver. Many of my friends and mentors were old farmers, and knew what they were doing. Today it takes $5,000 and fly by night schools to teach that. It’s a different world I don’t belong in, apparently.
This particular tractor may be fine, but the Select-O-Speed doesn’t have a good reputation … something to be mindful of if you’re interested and are not familiar with this generation of Ford tractors. (I’ve owned a 1950 8N for almost 25 years, and farmed with it for about 15 before we retired and downsized).
We had a ’64 4000 diesel for many years. I called the Select-O-Speed the “Jerk-O-Matic”. 4th and 5th gears were the most used working gears, and the roughest shift. 5th finally went out, so I sold it and bought a Massey-Ferguson 165.
Nice looking tractor, but show is about all they’re good for anymore. Parts for the Selecto are almost nonexistent and the few guys who still run them gather them up for parts. PS supplied by a hard to keep tight belt driven pump. Shift on the go was great for saving time turning on the headlands while making hay or working ground, BUT they free-wheel in many of the gears and if you’re not on the ball, the baler and wagon load of hay will be your last as you and it lie in a crumped mass at the bottom of the hill. Take it to the parades and shows and leave it in the shed the rest of the time.
I hope we get more than 10 comments. Make me look like a fool telling the staff we want more of these. Anyway, I have a question, and I feel none more qualified than who visit here. As mentioned, follow me now,,my brother has a ’53 Ford 820. Last Spring he started the tractor, and couldn’t get it into gear. I said, it sounds like the clutch disc is stuck to the flywheel. I’ve had that happen several times when a machine sits. Anyway, a quick fix, is get a chain around a tree, start it with clutch depressed, and usually BANG, she lets go. They usually aren’t stuck by much, not like it’s welded shut. Anyway, he did something like that, got it to free up, now, here’s my question:
To prevent that someone told him to depress the clutch, and put a C clamp in the linkage, so the pedal stays down hence clutch disengaged. I initially thought a good idea, but thinking, those are 70 year old clutch springs, will having the clutch disengaged like that for extended periods sack out the already weak springs? If so, aside from running the thing, how would you prevent the disc from sticking? Thanks in advance.
Good question Howard
My 59 stude truck has the same problem since installing a new clutch 10 years ago. I was told new clutch’s are known for this (sticking). Now even though the clutch is 10 years old it still sticks when I let truck sit for a few months. The reason is that it only has about 30 miles total on it. The metal that is in the clutch rusts from sitting especially in a humid area like here in Oklahoma. I have never found a solution for this so this is my solution. I jack up both back wheels with a hydraulic jack under the differential until the back wheels are just a few inches off the ground. Start the truck in 3rd gear. While the back wheels are turning have someone drop the jack quickly. Wella!
I always thought a quick spray of lubricant before storing the truck might work!
Howard, the old 4 cylinder Indian motorcycles suffer from the same sticking clutch issue. The recommended solution is, as you’ve mentioned, to keep the clutch pedal depressed when parked for extended periods. The newest ones are now 82 years old but I haven’t heard of anyone having trouble with their clutch springs from doing this.
For many years Ford compact tractors had a little wooden block on a cable that hung from the running board, if the tractor was to be stored for any length of time the clutch pedal was depressed and the block put between the pedal and the running board.
Had the clutch stuck on my 1600 Oliver, rather than pull the engine, I pulled the starter, bent up a piece of flat stock, sharpened the edge into a fine wedge, adjusted the linkage up tight for max travel, bared the engine around to where there was a gap between the clutch cover and the flywheel, stuck the wedge in there and popped the disc loose. Back together I slipped the clutch a little to take the rust off and was good to go.
Thanks Jim and others. That’s what’s great about this site, glitches notwithstanding, this stuff is bound to stir up memories and sore knuckles again. Farming was huge in the 50s, I read, over 20 million Americans lived on farms then. That’s a lot of “us”, well, not me, a city boy, but loved the country. I could have just went on some tractor forum, there are many, and eventually did, but wanted all you’se guys opinion 1st.
Jim, I seem to remember that wooden block you speak of, but never knew what it was for. Apparently, the clutch springs are not any worse off doing that, and stuck clutch discs, usually from rust, is a very common problem. Most all suggest the “tree/chain/bang” method. I don’t think there is an inspection cover, and not sure I’d spray anything in the starter hole and contaminate the disc. Once free, you can “smoke ‘er in”, but I think just use will help greatly.
My uncle sold Masey Ferguson tractors in the 50’s and 60’s in South Jersey.
In his safe out in the garage he kept his liquor, in his pocket his cash.Sold out in 69′ and bought a bar,passed 2 years later.
I have never even heard of that Selecto-Speed thing, and I’m a tractor and truck lover and spotter. The subject tractor looks like a good deal to me and it would be fun to have for a hobby tractor. I am currently interested in finding a Ford 8n to have and use around my son’s property where I live. I want an 8n mostly for the memories of the ones my Grandfather and uncles had, that I drove every chance I got. We have a John Deere now but I want the 8n to use with the mower to keep the field cut. Well that’s my justification for wanting one and I’m sticking to it.
I run a ’49 8N and it makes a fine mowing machine. The only problem is the lack of live PTO.
I like the listed Ford, but need a wide front end tractor, not a tricycle gear.
C my post/pic. “Change it out.”
Scotty, Good write up, and thanks for adding farm tractors to Barn Finds.
Howard, I question your ’53 800 series???? The 1953 was the first year of the NAA model called the “Golden Jubilee” and had a very distinctive emblem front top center of the hood, 1954 and later had a very similar emblem , but NOT the words Golden Jubilee… The NAA model lasted until 56 or 57 then the 600 and 800 series came out..
Hi Brocky, I believe you are correct. Been a long time, and he said a ’53, so it must be a Golden Jubilee. Apparently the 600/800 series came out in late ’54 with similar styling, I believe. That “Edsel”( kind of) front, and red and gray. Ford shot themselves in the foot with these, as many only bought one,,for life.
I always wanted one of the early Ford Tractors that had the Flat Head V-8 in it. There was a show on RFD channel that was nothing but tractors original and restored. A man had an 8n with a Cadillac flat head V-8 painted red.
A flathead Ford V8 was a common swap years ago. Stuffed into an 8N, it made them quite the hot rod,( some say 55mph was possible) and still had low end grunt of a flathead motor. I knew a guy once with a M series IH that had a SBC, and “zoomies”. He said it out did the old IH motor in every way, and sounded great. A Caddy motor might be a bit much.
I believe the IH with SBC is in Johnston County North Carolina. He was featured several years ago on a program called THE TAR HELL TRAVELER
Hi William, the one I knew of was in Cow Poop Flats, S.Central Wis. It was a common swap too.
My grandfather bought the same identical tractor in the late 70’s. He bought it to run our hay bailer. We also had a Ford 2000 for years, but it didn’t have live PTO which the 4000 did. The 10speed Select-O-Speed was very problematic and I remember someone always coming to our barn to work on it. He would never take it above 7 because it would jump out of gear coming down a hill. Other than that, it was a good running tractor.