My dad got an 801 and 881 in 1960 and 61. At 6 years old he'd let me drive to pick up hay. The 801 was still on the farm when it sold 6 years ago. We had the same Ford combine as this film. I miss those ol'girls. 1967 he got the 5000 with standard transmission. By then I was big enough to push in a clutch. This made my day.
Harold Brock was the engineer who was developing this transmission. Ford wanted to rush it into production but he told them it was not ready and they parted ways. He went on to develop the 4020 with the power shift and the rest is history. Brock also developed the 8n ford under Henry fords leadership. Brock was interviewed by machinery Pete in a 4 part series and it is quite interesting.
Ray Miller designed it. It was Harold Brock’s job to test it and report changes to be made. He went to the company head and told them it wasn’t ready, but marketing wanted it right now, and they got their way. He told them it wasn’t ready, and cleaned out his office and left. John Deere picked him up, because they were spooked about Ford’s new power shift. He told them don’t worry, it’ll fail. He got John Deere to buy two SOS transmissions, and showed them what it was going to take to make it right. Some people say it’s a copied transmission, but if you’ve ever work on both, the Deere transmission is different, and less complicated. Later SOS transmissions were better. Ford really should have listened to guys like Harold, he knew what he was talking about.
I think Ford marketing is still pushing out features before they are ready. I have a 1966 4000 SOS with over 10,000 hours on the clock. A fantastic tractor.
Great video. In the UK, select-o-speed was nicknamed jerk-o-matic because of the sharp gear changes. It was found to be unreliable, unless very carefully operated, and was not popular. It's a shame it was not more refined and robust; it was way ahead of it's time. I grew up on Fordson and Ford tractors in Ireland, but with standard gearboxes or with the Ford Dual Power underdrive gear splitter which was reliable.
Ford rolled it out before all the bugs were worked out. The early ones had problems but the later ones are very reliable. Of course maintenance is everything improper maintenance on anything and it won't last. Thanks for Watching
@@kennycopeland282 Are you on the Select o Speed Facebook group? Lots of knowledgeable people on there could help out with your problem. Thanks for Watching
@@kennycopeland282 call aurthurs tractors. They have mastered selecto Speed. First thing they are going to ask is when was your last hydraulic oil Change and filter cleaning. The oil must be maintained
We had a tractor with a select-O-speed,... an early one,... 701,... or 781,... 7.. something,...diesel,... never had trouble with the transmission,... remember the small pedel on the left,... a clutch ( it wasn't actually a clutch),... when you were ready to go,.... you let the pedel out,... you counted 1 thousand,... 2 thousand,... then pushed the pedel back in some to meet it,... or it would snap ya pretty good,... dad was loading manure with it in the cow yard,...when he noticed oil runnin' out of the side of the block,.... ya,... the early one's had gas blocks,... but Ford stood behind that,... with new diesel blocks,... thing would go like hell,... in road gear,... had to watch that free-wheelin' thing from gears 6 to 10,...all in all,... it was a good tractor before it was traded for a 656 IH utility,.... 656's and 3020's were takin over the big farm duties,... along with the XT Allis's,... and others,...... I miss the 1960's,... dearly..........
Positive gear engagement was a lie on the early SOS tractors. The 6000 and all tractors after 1965 had positive engagement. Those Red Hash marks denoted coasting gears. 5th, 6th, and 9th were the coasting gears. Dangerous as they wouldn't provide any engine braking down hill. We had one as a kid and I've got one in the shed.
Great video... I have a 64 industrial 4000 with a front loader best thing I ever bought. One issue I have though is before it's warmed up both R2 and 4th gear will instantly kill the engine. The SOS locks and kills it. Once warmed up this goes way. Seems like an adjustment ?? I'm not a farmer just use this around my property. If anybody knows the sure I'd appreciate it.
Boy did I have a Hard Time telling Dad on the ability to stay Parked when the trans is in park or the engine off!! That was a real argument. like normal . Had to argue over the ability to slow down baling on the one hill. hahahahhah
Haaaaa I had three large trees for logs mostly 16 fters, on the trailer so towed it down the one hill I had to for from 4th into first to get the wheels not to spin, have no idea how much weight was on that trailer. It had the Allied 300 loader on it. It was put on in June of 72. Just before haying time.
Power shift transmission ahead of it's time, I have a 1973 diesel just two years before they stopped making them, it has been more reliable than a standard gear box and very quiet, none of that gear whine
Takes a little getting used to. But I like it. My 3000 is working great I should really change the filter and adjust the shifter on it says it’s in R2 but it’s really in P. Looking forward to using it for mowing this summer with all the speed ranges should work great. Thanks for watching.
A lot of the selecto speed complaints came from Operators that could not properly operate the transmission and refused to maintain the fluid and filter
Looking at this bc im thinking about getting a 68 ford 4000. Im used to the manual clutch shifting not the select o speed. But seems like u just have to get used to it like any tractor
That’s great that you found this and put it on here. I’ve got some Ford slide shows I’ve converted over to digital and have on my channel. How were you able to convert the film?
I got this a few years ago off youtube but I guess youtube deleted or the person deleted their channel because it wasn't on anymore so I put it back on. I see a lot of content drop off never to be seen again. Its a shame especially with older films. I do have old 8mm and super 8 films that I've converted in the past I have a screen and digital camcorder and just record them and put them on my computer. Thanks
@@TheGoldenHillFarm I’m glad you saved it. That’s how I did the slides for mine was taking a picture of each one with a digital camera with it projected onto a screen and found a record player that plugs into the computer and transfers the record to digital. I’m a sucker for anything Ford tractor related. Have 40 Fords, 20 of them with the Select O Speed.
@@ford9000puller Wow that's a lot of Fords I have about 38 mostly IH but have the 3000 and 4000 SOS and a few other Fords. You must be a expert at the SOS and in the Facebook group I posted the video there that's me write me a comment there. I think the SOS is under appreciated I like them. I also have a 861 with an original Ford Half Cab and canopy was my great uncles he bought the tractor new in 58. Thanks for Sharing
Love my 801 SOS. But too ANYONE who has an 801 SOS trans or a 801 SOS for parts in Washington please reply too my comment or if you have info on someone who knows how too work on them please hesitate too tell or someone that knows how they work. My ole girl needs some tube that goes from the top of the trans into the trans or so ive been told,I was a little boy when my dad tore it apart and said the tube "disenigrated" in his hand and i have only found 1-2 801 SOS near me (Yacolt). UPDATE:I found the part and ordered it hopefuly it is the correct part!
This was rushed into production and subsequently had issues with reliability. Ford's reputation as a tractor company took a big hit and never recovered. It was a shame as the company had built some great tractors.
I know I worked at a Ford Dealership as a Mechanic and had the "Privilege "??? of getting to Re-Build a Sos once. Awsome Transmission but they Did have a problem with the lever staying in proper adjustment .Could be a Very Dangerous tractor but ILoved them !!
It’s a shame. I still have my grandfathers 63 4000 select o speed and it has never had an issue with it. Although I still shut it off every time I get off of it.
Apparently the accountants git involved. And components where swap for cheaper components. A other thing that didn't help was the foot throttle was not standard. Which made a big difference in shift quality, as you could drop the revs while shifting. But what a transmission, years ahead of its time
Yeah I see that not very good timing for it to stop. But mine shifts without stopping its a newer one the early ones with the overrun clutch in them might have done that when under load. I don't know for sure.
Really a 20 speed. I thought they were all only ten speeds. Did you have an extra transmission like a sherman high low? or was it special? Interesting.
The transmission was rolled out too soon before all the bugs were worked out. They had problems with the early select-o-speeds but did replace them, the newer transmissions didn't have the problems and are great but they had a bad rep. I love mine I have the 68 3000 and a 63 4000. Thanks for Watching
@@TheGoldenHillFarm A bit of difference between the 2 transmissions. The 58 is the first design with coasting gears. The 3000 and other new world tractors along with the 6000 does not and they were far more robust.
we are from uk england ,we have owned this tractor since 1963 and have had no issues it has done phenomenal amount of work ,could you tell me if I can still buy parts for it and will it be a difficult repair, just to say how much I appreciate your time to reply thanks in advance Roger
@@user-jc2dj1gr8o What model tractor do you have? Parts are available but a little pricey and it is kind of a difficult repair if you have to replace the input shaft. Are you sure smoke is coming from the bellhousing or could it be oil near it smoking? As for the no gears is the coupler from the trans to the rear axle engaged? There is a disconnect lever that could cause that?
@@TheGoldenHillFarm smoke is definitely coming from bell housing, after that no gears ,it is 1963 3000 model i did have two gearboxes with that clutch but I scrapped them what a fool, but I do have a box of internal parts thanks for your help what is price of the clutch or could I get it reconditioned, thanks roger
@@user-jc2dj1gr8o looks like the clutch is around 290 for it from a few different places Wlats Tractor Parts or Yesterdays Tractors or Ebay. Have you been on the Select o Speed Facebook group there's a lot of knowledgeable people on there that could help too. Hopefully you can get her going again.
Just saw this video. Not to make light of your delima, but all these can be repaired, you just need to bite the bullet and take it to someone that knows how to correctly diagnose and repair it. Yes, most times today, the repairs can get pricey, but what isn't?
