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SW “Ohia” | eweland,
They are good, simple, reliable tractors. Period. Parts are plentiful and decently priced. Not flashy, but Ford didn't market them that way.
Keep the coolant changed every two years and add an external bypass filter. That is their only downfall, and only occurred due to lack of proper maintenance. Hydraulics are not spectacular, but it is an old tractor. The 401 diesel is legendary for durability. My 8000 (older version of the 8700) is a hoss, my main tillage tractor turned to 125hp. 8,700 hours and going like a top.
These tractors have very few issues. I know of several with 18,000 hours on them and they have done a massive amount of work over the years. There is a reason that many dairies ran blue for decades.
Dual Power is good, but can wear out. Check for strog shifting between both while driving. Watch the PTO shaft while running the tractor; it should stay still. If it spins with the handle disengaged, the band brake is worn out. This is a pain to fix, and usually shows the tractor has been run hard. Snap the PTO lever off and see how fast the shaft stops, that can tell you good the band is. PTO clutch replacement means splitting the tractor, just FYI. If you need to switch between 540 and 1000, there are two different stub shafts that you have to interchange.
The power steering hand motor under the steering wheel can give problems, but this is very rare. Check for leakage in that area. Power steering hoses use a special thread with packing nuts; pretty odd and usually only available at a NH dealer. The shifter linkage is very long with several wear points, so check that is goes in all gears easily; usually not a problem.
DO NOT use automotive brake fluid in the brake system. It must be NH spec fluid, or the rubber will turn to mush. The brakes and power steering on these tractors are both separate from the hydraulic system, which I prefer. You have immediate use of both at startup.
The 401 injection pump has a separate oil reservoir that must be changed when you change the engine oil. Some people neglect this. In my experience, Fords have somewhat noisy transmissions/rear ends, so just be aware.
I recommend these Ford tractors to anyone who asks. They just plain work. | |
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8700 Ford
