Ford 4000 How to check Hydraulic Fluid?

[cletus99]

I have a 1963 Ford 4000 diesel and it got stuck in reverse over the weekend. I took the shift lever plate off to see if I could figure out how to get it unstuck. It's happened before and I have rocked it back and forth before and got it unstuck, but it didn't work this time. Anyway, the hydraulic fluid was almost to the top. The level was completely over the gears and the shifter rods (whatever they're called). It was about an inch or two from running over. I believe the little square headed bolt on the right side by your foot is where you check the level. I took it out and let it drain out that hole until it got down to that level. Am I correct on this? Is that where the level should be, up to the hole with the square headed bolt?

I bought this tractor at an auction a year or so ago and it's not in the best shape, but it gets me by until I can afford to get a new one. I only paid $1500 for it, $1700 after tax and auction fees. I know it needs some clutch work and probably a few new gears. The fuel injector pump leaks slightly and the PTO won't engage with the tractor running. Besides that she runs good. I wish I had the money to get these things fixed, but I imagine it would probably cost me close to $3000 or more.

 

[MikesTractor]

With the fluid level being that high, I would go ahead and drain the transmission and check for water. If there is water in it, you might have just drained off your oil and left the water. If there's no water, then reuse the oil and fill to correct level.

Mike

 

[Cbrown9064]

Yes, the pipe plug on the right side of the tranny is for checking the level.

Have you changed fluids since you got the machine? If not, I would drain the trans, hydro and rear. Then refill with a UTF (Universal Tractor Fluid) meeting M2C134D spec. You can use UTF in all three sumps. The trans and rear have pipe plug level hole, the hydro has a dipstick.

With the PTO not wanting to engage and having "stuck" gears it may be the clutch not releasing? How does the clutch feel? Have you checked the adjustment?

Just to make sure, we are talking about a 4 cylinder 4000?

 

[cletus99]

No I haven't changed the fluids except the oil since I got it. Money has been tight, especially now that I'm furloughed. I'm a government employee so I'm loosing two days per pay period. Yes I believe it is the 4 cylinder. It's a 1963 deisel and it's not the select o matic. Changing the hydro fluid has been on my to-do-list I just haven't gotten to it. There probably is water in it since there isn't a gasket under the shifter plate and I did keep it out in the rain until I got my shed built. The fluid is real thick though. The color of the fluid is about the same color as coffee with creamer in it. I'm not sure what color it's supposed to be.

Oh I don't believe I have a dip stick anywhere though except for the engine oil.

 

[Varmint1]

Go ahead and service the entire machine, sound like you have water mixed in with the trans oil. Soundguy has a recipe for cleaning out all the sumps, hope he will post in later. I have a 4000 industrial with a SOS that I'm going to be swapping over to a four speed. They are strong machines and moves our hay bales with very little effort. Congrats on your purchase

 

[Soundguy]

deffinately service it. as another poster said. you likel drained off the oil floating on the water. the water may be adding to why the trans is locking up..

 

[Cbrown9064]

Oh I don't believe I have a dip stick anywhere though except for the engine oil.

There is a dipstick for checking the hydraulic (not trans or rear) sump. This looks like a "knob" adjacent to the PTO shift lever.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Money may be tight, but you will throw away $1700 by not servicing it, then you will have to spend that again or more on another one.

 

[Soundguy]

he said hyd fluid.. but then said he was looking in trans. ( go figure. )

 

[cletus99]

There is a dipstick for checking the hydraulic (not trans or rear) sump. This looks like a "knob" adjacent to the PTO shift lever.

I don't remember seeing one there, but I will look this afternoon when I get home.

he said hyd fluid.. but then said he was looking in trans. ( go figure. )

It uses Universal Tractor Trans/Hydraulic Fluid does it not?

 

[Soundguy]

you can put utf in all 3 sumps.. or you can put gear oil in the trans and rear end, and then utf or hyd oil in the hyd sump.

many people DO put utf in all 3.

however.. generically saying 'checking the hyd oil' infers you are checking hte oil in the hyd sump. ps.. i would not use plain hyd oil anywhere. utf is way better than plain hyd oil.

if I had utf in all 3 sumps and wanted to check the diffy oil. i would not choose to say i was 'checking the hyd oil'

same with t he tranny.

you want to check the tranny oil.. say you are checking the tranny oil.

as for a 4 cyl 4000.. the dipstick for the hyd oil is ont he cover with the pto shifter oem ones looks like a mushroom cap

It uses Universal Tractor Trans/Hydraulic Fluid does it not?

 

[cletus99]

I will definitely have to take a look when I get home in a little while. I still can’t think of any dip stick near the PTO lever. The PTO lever on mine is under the seat on the left side. Is the dip stick on the top or side? That is what you are calling the hydraulic sump correct? That’s what controls the 3 point hitch right? I guess I thought there were only two sections. I didn’t realize the rear end was separate from the hydraulic section. So where and how do you check the fluid in the rear end?

 

[cletus99]

I looked and I do not see a dip stick anywhere. Here are some photos.

 

[Cbrown9064]

I looked and I do not see a dip stick anywhere. Here are some photos.

It's because this is not a 1963 4 cylinder 4000. I asked this question earlier to help give you correct info. Your machine is a 3 cylinder 1965 or newer machine, not a pre '65 machine. Model identification makes all the difference in the world!

What I said about pipe plugs and dipsticks does not apply to this model.

I don't know anything about the '65 and later machines, so am bowing out here...

 

[Soundguy]

well.. back to the drawing board.

1, can you count? how many cyl's did you say this machine had? I remember hearing 4.. and you saying it was a 63-64 model.

that is a POST 65 ford. different beast entirely. you sure it does not have 3 cyls maybee?

post 1 said 1963 post 3 asked , to be clear.. if this was a 4 cyl.. as that what was around in 63. post 4 confirms that.

now.. back up.. check the numbers stamped into the trans bellhousing aft of the starter. we need to know what blue ford you REALLY have before continuing to give out info.

 

[Soundguy]

if you can't read or find the numbers, take pics of the rear axle trumpets, the front bolster, and the left side of the engine for us to decide..

 

[cletus99]

It was sold to me as a 1963 model. After I got it I got the serial number off of it and it matched up to a 1963 model from what I had found online at the time. I will have to try and find it again and check it.

As far as being a 4 cylinder that's what I thought it was. This is the first thing I've had that was a diesel so I really don't know anything about them. I know you can tell what a gas engine is by how many spark plugs it has. How do you tell on a diesel? Be a little easy on me, I really don't know s**t about them .

 

[Soundguy]

um.. count the injector lines.... one for each cyl...

no way you matched up a sn on a blue ford to a 63 series....

post it... there is a model id code , a date code, and a sn.. the sn will have a C, B or A prefix. beware that if it is a 3000, the model id could have a C or 3 prefix, depending on if it is pre 4-68 or not.

2000 will have a B or 2 model id prefix.... 4000 will have a 4/D prefix.. etc..

if you don't know what you got.. post the pics i asked for.. rear axle trumpet profile.. left side of engine area including front bolster and steering box area, plus a front on pif of the frotn axle and bolster.

detail right side pic under the seat of the center section will help too, if it is a 4000

 

[cletus99]

Here's a couple pictures of the serial number. I'll have to go back out and take more if you actually need the others you mentioned. I woke up with some stomach bug today so I'm not really feeling up to keep walking out there to get pictures. Hopefully this will help.

 

[cletus99]

I did look at the engine while I was out there and it is a 3 cylinder. I never really looked at it much before but I can see now the injectors.