Saving A Ford 3910

airbiscuit · Aug 30, 2020

You gotta make it shiny. If it had an overall rusty patina, you could clear coat it, but as it is now, it looks like a mongrel. New decals make new paint even better.

PM Wells · Aug 31, 2020

Thanks for your comments, I think you have hit the nail on the head, it is a mongrel more or less in looks anyway. That may be the best reason to paint it, with new decals, and as we say make it shinny again. I guess I would like it better with some original age patina, but it is probably beyond that at this point. I have seen some tractors with new paint that looks more like a cover up. If I do paint it I would want to do it as right as possible for a tractor, with new seat, and front nose cone. Not like a Ford 3000 I bought one time with new paint, only thing they had painted over dirt and grime that had started to fall off.

fried1765 · Aug 31, 2020

PM Wells said:
About a month ago I traded for a Ford 3910 tractor that had stopped running. The young man that owned it said he was doing some light grading with a box blade and it just stopped running, and after he tinkered with it over about a month off and on, he decided it must be the injection pump. I don't think he had owned it very long. I decided to take a chance on it. So far I have found that the tractor had not been maintained very well over the years. I drained the old fuel and cleaned the tank, replaced the fuel filter, poured in about 5 gal of new fuel. I had fuel everywhere at the pump, but would not get to the injectors. After some discussion with others familiar with Ford diesel tractors, I decided to send the pump for rebuild. I am hoping to get the tractor running to see what overall condition it is in. Hoping for the best.

You could sell it to me.
I'd make it look like new!

PM Wells · Aug 31, 2020

That is a possibilty before I do anymore to it. The tractor has come a long way from where it was when I got it, other than a few minor things, it is ready to make it look good.

PM Wells · Sep 1, 2020

Would some of you ford guys tell me when ordering decals for this Ford 3910 1985 model, would this be a series two model?

airbiscuit · Sep 1, 2020

There are lots of decals on Ebay.

ovrszd · Sep 1, 2020

That's a good question. I'm not familiar enough to know when the started the Series II.

I would have guessed it was later than that.

If buying decals I would for sure check ebay and/or Amazon.

Hopefully someone will chime in with an answer for your question. I'm curious as well.

airbiscuit · Sep 1, 2020

Ebay has 2 types of decals - black and light blue. It looks like the black ones are type 2. It looks like you have the light blue ones. They are $30 - $60.

PM Wells · Sep 2, 2020

I guess a mongrel wouldn't really care if it had the wrong color collar on it as long as it was nice and new.

airbiscuit · Sep 2, 2020

The Black does look better.

PM Wells · Sep 2, 2020

I agree.

PM Wells · Sep 13, 2020

We have come to the end of our story of saving a Ford 3910 Tractor. The tractor was sold to a local farmer who intends to use it in his hay fields along with other Ford tractors he owns. After we discussed everything about the tractor and all that I did to it and what I knew about it's history, he said he would put a nine shank tillage tool behind it and work it hard, then see what he had. He said it would then be a winter project for him to complete any other work it may need. So the end of the story for me is that the old 3910 will be saved and put back to work pulling a hay tedder in the hay fields, probably an easy way to finish out it's reason for being here. Thanks again for all who enjoyed reading about the old Ford 3910 tractor.

ovrszd · Sep 13, 2020

And thank you for telling the story and the end to it.

PM Wells · Dec 9, 2020

Was thinking about the Ford 3910 this morning, and I see a lot of people are still following this story. I have to admit I did have a bond with the old tractor, after all we went through, if that is possible. I find myself wondering about it from time to time, it is almost like finding a stray dog that was left to go off somewher to die. Anyway I miss the old tractor and wish it well, and thanks to all who followed this story through all it's ups and downs.

PM Wells · May 30, 2023

Anyone out there that might have a Ford 3910 for sale. I guess I still miss the 3910

airbiscuit · May 30, 2023

How about going to visit at the local farm?

ROUSTABOUT · May 30, 2023

PM Wells said:
Thanks for the advice on mounting the pump, and I will look around for the compression adapter I need for the Ford 3 cylinder diesel. I would just buy the set, but I know I will not need the adapters for cars and trucks.
I did notice that the transmission fluid was milky looking, so that means water is in it, probably from sitting outside a lot in the weather, that means new fluid and filter, and also engine oil and filter change. Well like I said I am trying to save this Ford 3910 from the salvage yard. Maybe I can figure out how to post a few pics soon.

I wouldn't waste money on fluid. A few days using it, the hot oil will evaporate the water out. Maybe change filters.

Paystar · Jun 3, 2023

airbiscuit said:
Ebay has 2 types of decals - black and light blue. It looks like the black ones are type 2. It looks like you have the light blue ones. They are $30 - $60.

I bought my wife one of those Cricut's for Christmas. She has made me decals and now tractor tee shirts and hats. They are handy to have.

Paystar · Jun 3, 2023

Thanks for the thread PM Wells. Good to see another Ford saved. I was die hard orange (Kubota and Allis Chalmers) but ever since I got my 67 Ford 3000 home I'm in love with that thing!
So much so that I am now going to have some more Ford tractor purchases in my future.

Want to look for a cab model and a lawn tractor next.