Ford 2000 questions / Please help

suregrip391 · Oct 12, 2008

Hi, I am new to the forum here. Found you guys while digging up info on a 1973 Ford 2000 tractor that just went up for sale near me. I am looking for a small tractor that will pull a brushhog on about 5 acres. I may in the future want to pull a one or two bottom plow but was not sure if it was powerful enough? It has turf tires and appears to be in good shape. Has roughly 2200 hours on it. Its a 3cyl gas engine. Can anyone tell me how big of a brushhog I can pull? how big of a Plow? rough idea what a good price would be for a 2000? Tell me all the good/bad the ugly...LOL Thanks very much!

Opti-Mist · Oct 12, 2008

It will handle a 60" rotary cutter O.K. as its 32 HP which is a little more than my 1920. A 2000 with R1 rear tires would handle two 14" bottoms running in draft control, but that may be a bit much with Turfs. I'd be inclined to go 2-12" bottoms with turf.

The 2000 is a very good utility tractor, but I can't comment on price.

suregrip391 · Oct 12, 2008

Thanks for the reply, he wants $4500 firm and it comes with tire chains, and a ford rear PTO finish mower (5ft). The tractor also has a three point hitch and of course, the PTO. I would like to get it for under 4K but he is firm. Just wondering about average prices on these things??....

Farmwithjunk · Oct 12, 2008

suregrip391 said:
Thanks for the reply, he wants $4500 firm and it comes with tire chains, and a ford rear PTO finish mower (5ft). The tractor also has a three point hitch and of course, the PTO. I would like to get it for under 4K but he is firm. Just wondering about average prices on these things??....

Most 2000's were not equipped with live power. (no 2-stage clutch) In hard ground, they'll struggle with a plow bigger than 2X12". W/finish mower, $4500 is about the "going rate". Not a bargain, not a rip-off. That's lower than average hours. Decent tractor, just a tick short on power for the size/weight.

suregrip391 · Oct 12, 2008

Thanks again for posting info. Im new to this so can anyone explain to me what a Live PTO is vs. Non? I take it this tractor does not have live power so what will that mean to me as I brushhog or use a finish mower and a plow??....I do not understand this yet....Thanks!

tymax · Oct 12, 2008

I have a 1968 Ford 2000 and a JD 3720. I can tell you that the Ford 2000 will do a great job with the 5ft mower. I ocassionally pull a 2 bottom plow with it and again it's no problem in first gear even in virgin ground.

I switched the original transmission PTO for a live PTO so I could have the two stage clutch....what an improvement! I wouldn't recommend the transmission PTO for mowing since the mower only gets power while the tractor is moving. It truly is a pain in the butt.

Doc_Bob · Oct 13, 2008

If memory serves me right, 15 HP for each bottom.

I did some plowing last year. This is a very rough estimate. many factors, kind of soil, traction (tire type), how well you set up the plow, etc.
Bob

wolc123 · Oct 13, 2008

I had a diesel 2000 of about the same year. Some say the diesel had more guts, and the 2000 did seem to pull as good as a 3000 gas that I had. It was perfect for a 5 ft brushhog, but I think it would be a little under powered on a 6 footer, and I would definitely stay with a 5 footer in a gas model. For a plow, I used a 2 x 12" which it would handle easily in any soil conditions and that is the size I would recommend. I sold mine 3 years ago for $4400, in need of a rebuild with over 7500 hours, so I think your price is in the ballpark. Diesels typically fetch 20% more or so if they are not worn too bad (you can tell by how easily they start cold and mine was starting to always need a little either).

fishfighter · Oct 14, 2008

Hi,I new here too.Been reading alot till I came across your post.I happen to have a 1973 Ford 2000 diesel.Hours,I don't know the truth,but was told mine was rebuilt a couple years ago.When I bought it,the tack cable was broke and the meter was showing 1760 hours.

Anyway,I payed $4200 for it with a old John Deere cutter 127 with a sec# 003.It was very well taken care of.For a plow,a 2x12 works easy.The disk set I pull is a 6'/20/16".I use a moleboard single plow that is 18" and that sucker digs all 18" down.

It does have a live PTO 2 stage clutch which is a must bush hogging.Here in the south(Louisiana),I see a few ford 2000 gas tractors selling around $3500 were as the diesel ones sell $4000 plus.

Soundguy · Oct 14, 2008

Suregrip..Live pto lets you clutch the pto independently of the drivetrain..

that sound slike an average price on a 2000.. It should pull the 2-12 or 2-14 fine.. as well as the 5' mower. i've mowed with a 6' mowe ron a 2000 and a 3000.. not alotta difference.. just more hp.. etc.

Soundguy

Rowdy Raven · Oct 21, 2008

Hello,
I am new here as well and am also looking at buying a Ford 2000, 1972 model.
The owner tells me it has a live PTO but that he has put a ratcheting device on the PTO to where he can stop the power and thus not be propelled forward by the PTO when he is trying to stop or turn. I am not the most up to date on tractors, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks,
Rowdy Raven

Rowdy Raven · Oct 21, 2008

Also, in reference to the above request, I would like to get a ROPS for this ford 2000. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Keith

Soundguy · Oct 21, 2008

Somethings a little fishy here.

If the tractor has a live pto.. it doesn't need an over-running coupler on it.. UNLESS he was interested in taking a load off a pto brake.

Post the model ID number from the bellhousing of the tractor, aft of the starter and i will tell you what it had when it left the factory..

the ID for a 72 2000 (ag chassie,gasser with IND 540 pto would look like this, as an example)

B1024C

A date code for a 72 will begin with a '2'then have a letter for the month, the 1-2 numbers for day of month, then A-B_C for which shift that built it.

Serial number May begin with a C or B.. though the B ( basildon machines can be configured a lil different.. etc.. )

Serial number Start number for 1972 was C327200
(start number for 73 was C367300 )

soundguy

ME83 · Oct 21, 2008

I don't mean to hijack the thread here, but I have a 68 Ford 3500 with the trans PTO. I didn't realize you can change these to a live PTO, how do you do this?

Out of curiousity, can you also add a locking differential to a non-lock rear?

Soundguy · Oct 21, 2008

I'm not up on the later models.. nor the industrial x400/x500 models.. however.. if your rear end doesn't have a diffy lock.. about the ony way I can think of for you to get it, is find a bolt up compatible rear end from another modle that does have it.

As for making a pto live... again.. are you wanting to swap the trans out? or do you want to add an orc tot he pto to make it freewheel?

soundguy

JC-jetro · Oct 21, 2008

ME83 said:
I don't mean to hijack the thread here, but I have a 68 Ford 3500 with the trans PTO. I didn't realize you can change these to a live PTO, how do you do this?

Out of curiousity, can you also add a locking differential to a non-lock rear?

No way to make a transmission driven PTO to live unless at the least clutch system, transmission and may be rear differential to change. Live PTO has two physical input shaft one hollow and one solid that is inside the hollow shaft. Each shaft is directly splined to it's clutch disk, one for transmission and one for the pto.

JC,

ME83 · Oct 21, 2008

Thank you for the input, I never knew of a PTO over run clutch. It would have helped this summer when I took a fence post out with the loader when I was brush hogging and couldn't stop in time

.

A live PTO was an option on this tractor but with a different transmission

. A differential lock was also an option and I have been wondering what would be involved in puttting one in. The rear end has a block off plate where the pedal shaft would go in for the locker.

I will have to go out and buy a PTO ORC, even though the grass isn't growing anymore here.

Soundguy · Oct 22, 2008

I'd find a rear end with diffy lock in a salvage yard.. and either canabilize it for parts.. or just do a complete swap, depending on condition of realative parts.. etc.

soundguy

Farmwithjunk · Oct 22, 2008

Soundguy said:
I'd find a rear end with diffy lock in a salvage yard.. and either canabilize it for parts.. or just do a complete swap, depending on condition of realative parts.. etc.

soundguy

My first thought would be to sell the 2000 w/o diff loc & live power and buy comparable tractor WITH.

Soundguy · Oct 22, 2008

Farmwithjunk said:
My first thought would be to sell the 2000 w/o diff loc & live power and buy comparable tractor WITH.

Even better idea.

Probably cheapest and most rewarding in the long run compaired to 'parting' together a machine which almost certaintly will cost more than selling and buying another.. etc.

soundguy