fordson 5000 ( s. major? )

Soundguy

The HP was 55 and the torque figure was higher than the first "true" 5000.

We were sorry to see them replaced and it took nearly three years to get the 5000 right. Again, at that time the 4000 was a far better tractor than the 5000 but time marches on and they finally got the new models better, but for easy of working, the Super Major 5000 took some beating.

I have seen about 1400 hp put through the standard gearbox and rear axle in tractor pulling. there used to be one around fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine from a WW2 Spitfire.

Soundguy

The quoted torque figures from the Ford demonstrators handbook are 5000 = 170 @ 1400, Super Major = 180 @ 1200. So we gained 13HP but lost the ability to lug down under load.

In fact the 5000 was nearly 20lbs/ft light on its nearest rival the Massey Ferguson 175. This really showed up at demonstrations.

We had to handicap the 4000 if we were demonstrating the two side by side as the 4000 would do more work in an hour on less fuel.

Torque on a fully equipped engine, at rated speed was 171 gas, and 175 diesel.
Max torque on the gas was 206 at 1100 rpm, and for the diesel, 199 at 1300 rpm. Both observed figures.

As far as i know.. the 5000 was one of the best tractors ford turned out. I can pretty much say that a 5000 would rip a 4000 in half. Around here, people use 5000's to mow with 10-15' mowers.. I don't know anybody mowing with a 15' mower on a 4000.. I do believe I've seen a 4000 creeping along at max rpm /1st gear with a 10' mower before though.

Having driven 4000's.. both the old 4 cyl ( updated 801 clone ) and the later models, and later 5000's I can say that they are just not inthe same class... not even really close. Look at the lift specs...

I'm really kinda surprised at the 'lower than 4000' opinion i see here. have never heard that before...

Soundguy

I would agree with you that this was a really good machine. I never went away from a Ford dealer and believed they would get it right in the end but the years from 1964 to 1969 were a great disappointment to all over here including the Ford team at Boreham. Years later, they are now prepared to write in our vintage mags. what they really thought!

Soundguy