Ford 4000 Pricing and Advice

[PVourlitis]

Hello,
I am on the hunt for a reasonably priced tractor with a loader bucket...in 2022 that is easier said than done. My budget being only $5K I am looking for something older that needs some work. Willing to put in some time to make it right.

I found this Ford 4000 on Craigslist and spoke with the gentleman over the phone for a while. The motor had "knocking" when parked and he has a spare motor he purchased a replacement. With the loader he is asking $4000. With it being running with loader and rear arm attachment, am I breaking even or well ahead?

Tractors of this power in Kubota or John Deere seems to go for $8-10K plus. Thanks for any advise!

Southwest Michigan.

Ford 4000 Wide front End TRACTOR - farm & garden - by owner - sale

FORD 4000 Wide Front End Tractor' With Bucket loader' And 12' Back Arm Heavy Duty' For A Trencher Has Hyraulic Motor' tractor Motor is Pulled down needed repair have A Extra Motor for tractor'...

grandrapids.craigslist.org

 

[jaxs]

Hello,
I am on the hunt for a reasonably priced tractor with a loader bucket...in 2022 that is easier said than done. My budget being only $5K I am looking for something older that needs some work. Willing to put in some time to make it right.

I found this Ford 4000 on Craigslist and spoke with the gentleman over the phone for a while. The motor had "knocking" when parked and he has a spare motor he purchased a replacement. With the loader he is asking $4000. With it being running with loader and rear arm attachment, am I breaking even or well ahead?

Tractors of this power in Kubota or John Deere seems to go for $8-10K plus. Thanks for any advise!

Southwest Michigan.

Some ambiguity should be cleared up.
If it is a 4000 with 4 cylinders I can tell you from firsthand experience that a better tractor in that horsepower range was never built. Some equal (like JD New Generation in same era) but none better. I would pay $5k for a 4 cyl 4000 gasser and loader in good,$6k in excellent condition. Add $1k for diesel ONLY IF IN excellent condition.
Then there's the matter of fuel and transmission. Selectospeed NO THANK YOU. Diesel basket case,better pass unless you are highly qulified diesel rebuilder. As equiped I expect it has possibly been worked hard and that make's it a parts tractor imo. You say "running but knocking" seller says "pulled down". Eventhough engine need's rebuilt that makes a huge difference in value.
I like the model but have a bad feeling about this specimen until I can lay hands on. $2,000 sight unseen and half that is in the loader.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

If he's throwing in another engine I'd jump all over that. Anything else probably not. But a 4000 series or 5000 series yes.

 

[PVourlitis]

Both engines are gas. Thank you
It does have power steering, which is a plus.

 

[David Wayne]

Any chance of hearing the spare motor run? And I don't think that is a current pic.
Too green for this time of year, so how long has it been sitting there. I would be worried
about the exposed portion of the cylinder rods getting pitted. Are you going to look at it,
or buying sight unseen?

David

 

[PVourlitis]

Some ambiguity should be cleared up.
If it is a 4000 with 4 cylinders I can tell you from firsthand experience that a better tractor in that horsepower range was never built. Some equal (like JD New Generation in same era) but none better. I would pay $5k for a 4 cyl 4000 gasser and loader in good,$6k in excellent condition. Add $1k for diesel ONLY IF IN excellent condition.
Then there's the matter of fuel and transmission. Selectospeed NO THANK YOU. Diesel basket case,better pass unless you are highly qulified diesel rebuilder. As equiped I expect it has possibly been worked hard and that make's it a parts tractor imo. You say "running but knocking" seller says "pulled down". Eventhough engine need's rebuilt that makes a huge difference in value.
I like the model but have a bad feeling about this specimen until I can lay hands on. $2,000 sight unseen and half that is in the loader.

Thank you. I was reading on the Tractor data website and it says they only came with 3 cylinder gas or diesel? This has a gas engine but I did not ask about cylinder count. Interesting.

 

[John0829]

There are 2 4000 series, the early model used a 4 cylinder the later model used a 3 cylinder. Makes a big difference in parts and tractor, the pic looks like a later model from what I can see.

 

[PVourlitis]

Any chance of hearing the spare motor run? And I don't think that is a current pic.
Too green for this time of year, so how long has it been sitting there. I would be worried
about the exposed portion of the cylinder rods getting pitted. Are you going to look at it,
or buying sight unseen?

David

Good point on the greenery! I would go take it look at it. About 2 hrs from me. I will call to get more pics out of him and see if it's 3 or 4 cylinder.

 

[jaxs]

There are 2 4000 series, the early model used a 4 cylinder the later model used a 3 cylinder. Makes a big difference in parts and tractor, the pic looks like a later model from what I can see.

I agree with that information but have to ask what in the picture make's you believe it's a later model. I guessed it to be an earlier model based on fender shape. Late models have a rather small fender that is square/flat top. I wouldn't stake my life on it based a small glimpse of fender because it might be neither early or late 4000. It could be an European Ford Major or any of several hundered series. I only ask in case I;m overlooking something and want to sharpen my skills. In any case op shouldn't think used tractors can be bought based on pictures shown to interweb buds,I was raised using and working on them but can't assign value without laying hands and eyes on in person.

 

[ovrszd]

Are you a good mechanic with shop and tools? Are you looking for a "project"? Do you have an additional $2K to put into this project?

If all answers are yes, go for it.

If any are no, skip it.

If all are no, don't pay any attention to these types of "projects" and look for something that is functional.

Good luck in your search.

 

[jaxs]

Are you a good mechanic with shop and tools? Are you looking for a "project"? Do you have an additional $2K to put into this project?

If all answers are yes, go for it.

If any are no, skip it.

If all are no, don't pay any attention to these types of "projects" and look for something that is functional.

Good luck in your search

Sounds like wisdom that might have been gained while going against that advice.

 

[ovrszd]

Sounds like wisdom that might have been gained while going against that advice.

Experience is the best teacher.

 

[John0829]

I agree with that information but have to ask what in the picture make's you believe it's a later model. I guessed it to be an earlier model based on fender shape. Late models have a rather small fender that is square/flat top. I wouldn't stake my life on it based a small glimpse of fender because it might be neither early or late 4000. It could be an European Ford Major or any of several hundered series. I only ask in case I;m overlooking something and want to sharpen my skills. In any case op shouldn't think used tractors can be bought based on pictures shown to interweb buds,I was raised using and working on them but can't assign value without laying hands and eyes on in person.

The fender, what little I can see, looks like to me like the ones used on the late 60's tractors but it is just a guess since it is a poor pic to try to identify a tractor.

 

[jaxs]

The fender, what little I can see, looks like to me like the ones used on the late 60's tractors but it is just a guess since it is a poor pic to try to identify a tractor.

Yea,i think it's pretty much unanimous that too much uncertainty for meaningful advice.

 

[japody]

It looks like it's been rode hard. There's no telling what else is wrong with this tractor. You'll probably end up spending a lot more time and money on it, not to mention the aggravation. I think you're on the right path in looking for a 4000, just not this one.

 

[HenryIV]

Hello,
I am on the hunt for a reasonably priced tractor with a loader bucket...in 2022 that is easier said than done. My budget being only $5K I am looking for something older that needs some work. Willing to put in some time to make it right.

I found this Ford 4000 on Craigslist and spoke with the gentleman over the phone for a while. The motor had "knocking" when parked and he has a spare motor he purchased a replacement. With the loader he is asking $4000. With it being running with loader and rear arm attachment, am I breaking even or well ahead?

Tractors of this power in Kubota or John Deere seems to go for $8-10K plus. Thanks for any advise!

Southwest Michigan.

Ford 4000 Wide front End TRACTOR - farm & garden - by owner - sale

FORD 4000 Wide Front End Tractor' With Bucket loader' And 12' Back Arm Heavy Duty' For A Trencher Has Hyraulic Motor' tractor Motor is Pulled down needed repair have A Extra Motor for tractor'...

grandrapids.craigslist.org

View attachment 740626

Personally, I wouldn't have a gasser, but you are in Michigan..it saves you from wondering if the injection pump is okay because a gasser would not have one. Any injection pump is an expensive fix relative to other fixes. 4000 has a front axle that is ideal for a loader, I always am suspect of 2000 or 3000 with a loader. The rear gearing is very robust so if you can get it moving, that's a good sign as the quality of materials and gear cutting was excellent in this era, so rear gears are not a weak point. Clutch problems are not expensive, only time consuming to fix for a novice. I did a dual clutch with pilot and throwout and another seal for about $250 in parts last summer. A loader should have the spring type clutch plate to eat up some of the in and out of loader use of you replace it. Overall these are very good tractors to own. Parts are easy to find and affordable. You'll notice in forums you don't hear people complain about them or mention weak spots. If it starts and can lift the bucket, Id do it.

 

[HenryIV]

Personally, I wouldn't have a gasser, but you are in Michigan..it saves you from wondering if the injection pump is okay because a gasser would not have one. Any injection pump is an expensive fix relative to other fixes. 4000 has a front axle that is ideal for a loader, I always am suspect of 2000 or 3000 with a loader. The rear gearing is very robust so if you can get it moving, that's a good sign as the quality of materials and gear cutting was excellent in this era, so rear gears are not a weak point. Clutch problems are not expensive, only time consuming to fix for a novice. I did a dual clutch with pilot and throwout and another seal for about $250 in parts last summer. A loader should have the spring type clutch plate to eat up some of the in and out of loader use of you replace it. Overall these are very good tractors to own. Parts are easy to find and affordable. You'll notice in forums you don't hear people complain about them or mention weak spots. If it starts and can lift the bucket, Id do it.

Oh yeah - this price is a steal with the 2nd engine. If it's knocking, it has a spun bearing or a main bearing. In terms of cost, that's not a expensive fix, not like having a some bad gears. $4000 is a very good price, the loader alone is $2000.