Ford tractor advice

carbonfibre farmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Hi first post here and new to farming so be gentle. I just went to look at a Ford 4630 2wd tractor with a Trima 1090 loader. Has anyone had any experience with these, any known problems and some idea of what the loader can lift? Many thanks
First things first, what gearbox did it have?
Gear levers in the middle between your legs or to the right hand side (3 sticks)?
 

Mattyp64

Member
Mixed Farmer
It’s the shuttle shift one. I did read they have problems, I asked about it and was assured it worked fine, my dad took it for a test drive and said he didn’t notice any problems with it. It’s done less than 3,000 hours supposedly and the guy that’s selling it got it off the original owner who retired
 

carbonfibre farmer

Member
Arable Farmer
It’s the shuttle shift one. I did read they have problems, I asked about it and was assured it worked fine, my dad took it for a test drive and said he didn’t notice any problems with it. It’s done less than 3,000 hours supposedly and the guy that’s selling it got it off the original owner who retired
Yes they can be a problem, those gearboxes. Hence why i asked.
I know of ones like that, that have done 7-8000hrs with no problems and others on 2500hrs that have broken.
The problem is spare parts as much as anything. The rest of the tractor you can get bits for or make other "bits" fit so to speak. But those side shuttle gearboxes are practically impossible to get replacement parts.

Saying that, I've a 3600hr one (4wd) that hasn't had an easy life 🙈 And I make her work hard on the small hrs a year I do 🤐 and the gearbox is fine (that's cursed that now 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️)

Assume loader been on it from new?
Beaten about or reasonably straight and tidy? Much play in the loader pins/rams to suggest it's done lots of heavy lifting and hard work?
And what are you going to use it for...?

They should lift a 600kg bag of fertiliser alright but if that's the kind of thing it's done lots of it will have taken it's toll.

Your description suggests otherwise.
 

Mattyp64

Member
Mixed Farmer
I checked the loader over looked in pretty good shape (unlike the cab), the hydraulics all round seem to be strong, there was some dirt and oil on the manifold for the loader pipes but couldn’t tell if it was a leak or oil had come out a connector at some point and not been cleaned off. I’m not sure wether it’s been used hard unfortunately. There is a leak from the power steering pump case was told it’s because there is an o ring that needs changing, would this be accurate?
The most I need it to do is unload some bulk bags of type 1 from a trailer and any equipment I buy as got stuck with a haybob on the trailer the other week and it took me 3 hours to get it off with an engine crane
 

carbonfibre farmer

Member
Arable Farmer
I checked the loader over looked in pretty good shape (unlike the cab), the hydraulics all round seem to be strong, there was some dirt and oil on the manifold for the loader pipes but couldn’t tell if it was a leak or oil had come out a connector at some point and not been cleaned off. I’m not sure wether it’s been used hard unfortunately. There is a leak from the power steering pump case was told it’s because there is an o ring that needs changing, would this be accurate?
The most I need it to do is unload some bulk bags of type 1 from a trailer and any equipment I buy as got stuck with a haybob on the trailer the other week and it took me 3 hours to get it off with an engine crane
That could well be an "o" ring. As long as it's not running out in front of your eyes!
Sounds like not a particularly hard life for it, with you, if you brought it.
Dirt and oil round the loader manifold could well be from taking it on and off. Though on something like that it probably hasn't been taken off much.
Did you look at wear on the front tyres? Even or uneven wear?

When you say the cab is untidy, is that the fabric/seat etc or the actual frame of the cab rusted away?Or bent/twisted none closing doors?

I guess any pics would help too. If you have any?that you want to put on here.
 

Mattyp64

Member
Mixed Farmer
I didn’t get a chance to take pictures I was planning to but only managed to write some notes on things to ask about. The guy made a point of starting it when cold to show it was not Smokey and to be dose it started and ran really well.
the front tyres looked good didn’t look worn in an odd pattern.
The cab is fairly rusty (although I’m in the highlands and it’s odd to find one that not) the doors opened and closed fine so structurally it seems ok, the inside looks pretty rough, looks like the original seat has been replaced at some point with a generic one.
I Kinda have a an idea of what I’m looking at as I’m a car restorer by trade but my first encounter with these tractor things has been restoring a Massey 35 my dad picked up last year so it’s all a bit alien.
I told the guy I was gonna let him know if I wanted it next week as he’s going away tomorrow for a few days, and it gives me a chance to ask you guys and see if I’m opening a hole can or worms I’m not prepared for, experience wise or wallet wise.
 

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