Americana circa 1957 - The Venerable Ford 600 Series Tractor!
Jan 29 '08
The Bottom Line These tractors have a rich history that will continue for many more years to come - from the days when iron and steel products were built with much in mind.
October thirteenth 2007 had been a bad day for me as it was the day my ninety-eight year old uncle passed away. Earlier, the year before, he had given me his most prized possession - 1957 Ford 600 Series Utility Tractor. At the time, he wanted me to take to my home. I wouldn't because I knew of the pleasure that tractor had always brought him, and that tractor gave him reason to continue as he looked at it and thought about it each day. He even continued to get on it and run it in his yard until the last year of his life. Each time he always had the familiar grin on his face I always recognized as he operated it, walked around it, and spoke of it. The pride he took in this tractor was always evident. He was still thinking of it and speaking of it in his last few days. A testament of his admiration for it. I can still see that smile each time I think of him or the tractor.
He had purchased the tractor used but fully restored in 1976 at the age of sixty-four. His previous tractor had been a 1946 model Ford he had purchased new. The only discrepancies from the factory condition on this one were he bought it as a 1956 model, and the fact the restorer had placed 601 Workmaster emblems on the hood. In the thirty odd years he operated it, he never had to do anything to it other than normal service and a new clutch installed three years before his passing. Well, there were the easy but semi-major repairs of my rebuilding the factory cast iron Marvel Schebler carburetor once for him, and replacing some of the old wiring that was losing its insulation, some six years back.
Considering he worked this tractor, plowing and cultivating a number of acres each year, until well into his nineties is quite a testament to his and its strength and reliability - and I have to tell you my uncle wasn't the easiest fellow on equipment. He believed in working hard and expected no less from anything or anyone around him. One would think, after so many years of use, this tractor would be in need of a lot of replacement parts - but that was never the case, and it remains in very good working condition to this very day.
It took a few months before I felt comfortable doing anything with the tractor once I finally brought it home. I hadn't heard it run in at least two years, but I knew my uncle had allowed a neighbor of his to use it in a garden last spring. That neighbor confided how nice the tractor was and how well it ran at the time I had it shipped home - although he said it was in need of a tune-up.
I really didn't know what to do with the Ford tractor as I have two Kubota diesel tractors, and thought of selling it due to my brand new Kubota 2350 lawn tractor and Kubota Grand L Series 3100 tractor. A week back I gently pushed it into my garage using the front bucket on the 3100.
After walking around it in my garage for a week, I decided there were too many memories here to part with it unless it was in bad need of expensive repairs. I drained and flushed the fuel tank, spent $28 on a new OEM replacement fuel bowl filter and cut-off, and installed it. Next, I drained the oil - and found it low, very thin, and gas diluted, which worried me. After replacing the oil and canister style oil filter for under twenty dollars, I installed a shop battery I keep ready for use in my garage. The old metal fuel line was in bad shape but I left it place. The only other service was flushing the 15 quart cooling system and adding a 50/50 mix of Prestone antifreeze and water to fill it. I had previously bought five gallons of fuel for $16 and poured it into the tank. I could almost feel my uncle standing there with a grin as I worked.
With the 4 speed transmission in neutral, I turned the switch key on, turned the fuel on at the fuel filter, pulled the choke to on, and pressed the factory neutral safety starter switch. The engine turned easily a few seconds and fired right up. I pushed in the choke lever to turn it off, and let the engine warm for a few minutes. I kept a careful eye on the oil pressure, which was at 40 pounds idling. After noting the spring loaded oil pressure bypass (in the center bolt holding the oil canister) was working, with a slight increase in engine speed, I opened the throttle to check operation of the speed governor at the front of the engine. Everything was right on the money and the engine was running fairly smooth, but rich and stumbling at acceleration.
A trip to the local NAPA auto store again for four new Autolite #216 sparkplugs was called for, and I also purchased a new 60 inch x 1/4 inch metal fuel line. Including my previous purchases, I felt I had enough to tell more about the tractor and I realized I hadn't even spent a hundred dollars yet.
Once home again, I scoured the Internet and found a website for old Ford tractors - http//home.att.net/~jmsmith45/identify.htm
The site had everything I needed - tune-up specifications, identification information, and all. I even found enough quality pictures there to be sure of the correct routing for the new fuel line - and learned my uncle's tractor had accessories and features not found on all models of its year. Internet searches for OEM parts, I would like to replace to new condition, also showed parts were not expensive - a new Ford scripted fender under $200, a new battery box under $50, $12 for a new tachometer cable (proof meter cable), and various OEM lenses and gauges.
The next evening I retired to the garage and installed the sparkplugs and fuel line I had purchased. I had to cut about a foot off the fuel line and double-flare its end. Making the proper bends and re-forming the end flange for the one end took about thirty minutes, and I was ready to again start the engine - and anxious to make finer adjustments to the carburetor. Nothing, I had no start while pressing the starter switch on the transmission housing. I quickly traced the problem to the starter relay solenoid. Fortunately, I had my trusty 1970 Ford race car sitting adjacent and borrowed its Ford Autolite starter solenoid. A few minutes later I had started the tractor and was listening to a new and sweet exhaust note. After the engine warmed, I set the carburetor idle air bleed and high speed mixture screws to the proper 1 and 1 1/8 turns out from seated position settings.
The engine was purring like a healthy tiger - after all, it is a four cylinder 134 cubic inch model known as the Red Tiger. I pulled the throttle lever toward the seat and felt a smooth increase in rpms - strong and healthy, with no hint of oil use in the exhaust.
I checked the operation of the hydraulics and the rear PTO. Everything was working perfectly, and I could almost hear my uncle's voice saying I told you - and I'm sure he was grinning ear to ear. I caught myself wearing the same grin my uncle always had around this tractor.
At about 3300 pounds, this is not a lightweight tractor, and with 31 horsepower it wasn't meant to be - the iron is there to make it last. The engine is an industrial model that begs to be used and it was built to last - as can be seen by the number of others like it still in use, and the availability of parts. The sheet metal is heavy gauge and not easily dented - far different from my Kubota Grand L. The Ford 600 is about the same power and size of my Kubota Grand L 3100 with notable differences. It burns gas of course, but it can also burn propane easily (with a conversion) as mine is the 640-L model with about six to one compression - no detonation problems at this compression. It's also quieter than my diesels due to gas operation and a horizontal muffler and downpipe exhaust extending behind the operator and under the rear axle housing. Just moving it around under its own power, I also have to say it feels much stronger than I expected for a 51 year old tractor or any gas burner model. Dropping the rpms at the throttle even gave an unexpected momentary engine lope as experienced running more heavily cammed performance street cars - a sound denoting power.
Despite the low compression and weight, the 600 series offers low fuel use. Hey, this baby is gravity fed - no fuel pump. That and the 1/4 fuel line prove this - unless you have a carburetor problem with the up-draft carburetor or the oil-bath air cleaner. Carburetor problems aren't unheard of. But clean regular grade fuel, a good needle and seat, and float in the carburetor, see to miserly operation of this engine. Hey, with such low compression this tractor will burn some really low octane fuel. I can imagine many of these are still working fields daily in third world nations, or at least coveted or wished for.
Something of note with all of these tractors is how easily and quickly they start. I've noticed this with every one I ever seen that was properly maintained. Believe me, I've seen more than a few of these and the Diamond Jubilee models restored through the years and kept by various friends of mine. There is even a ratchet-toothed type starter handle that can be used for starting by hand through a factory hole in the front grille. My 1957 model also has a nice tool box built in the right step plate just to the rear of the operator seat.
The category I three point hydraulic hitch is a solid system and the draft control is strong - so is the 550 rpm rear PTO. No problems using this tractor on twenty or one hundred acres with the double plow operation it was designed for, but the steel pan style seat with its replaceable thin foam and vinyl seat cover might feel better if replaced with another seat offering back support. The tractor has no factory ROPS (roll over protection) and plenty of power, so it would be advisable to keep an implement attached to the rear hitch if you have one. You might still want to add ROPS - and they are available. A more comfortable seat might also offer a needed seatbelt for further protection.
Mine will remain factory, and I will use it occasionally - and start it anytime I want to see my uncle's face and hear his voice in my mind. The "Red Tiger" had a strong hold on my uncle, and I guess it now has one on me. I am impressed by its timeless style and excellent design for long life. So, I have a tiger by the tail now and it has its teeth firmly in me.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about a classic piece of 1957 farmer's iron that was built and helped build and run our nation in simpler more relaxed times.
If my "Red Tiger" peaked your interest, take a look at a nice 640 Ford 600 Series tractor that looks very much like mine here: http://www.tntwebdevelopment.com/tff/images/MarkBollman_Ford640.jpg
Ever wonder where the saying "Ford tough" came from. Old Fords never die - they just rest waiting for the next owner.
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