Looking at a new farm truck

Dave H (MI) · Apr 18, 2014

New to us anyhow. Ford 7000 from the 1970's. Cab-over design. Has a Caterpillar diesel engine in it. Split differential like the tanker I used to drive for the FD. Currently has a grain box on the back and two big cylinders that hoist it up. PTO activated in cab and hoist lever behind cab. Has a few cosmetic issues but I wasn't planning on driving it to church. A few electrical issues of no merit like the wipers don't work and tail lights are out. One thing I did NOT like was a grinding that you could hear and feel when you pushed in the clutch. Grind goes away when you let the clutch up and it shifts thru all gears just fine and drives about as nice as you would expect a truck of that age and size to drive. Any opinions on the clutch noise? I have one but I would appreciate hearing a few more experienced opinions if you have them.

sixtyninegmc · Apr 18, 2014

(quoted from post at 10:53:49 04/18/14) New to us anyhow. Ford 7000 from the 1970's. Cab-over design. Has a Caterpillar diesel engine in it. Split differential like the tanker I used to drive for the FD. Currently has a grain box on the back and two big cylinders that hoist it up. PTO activated in cab and hoist lever behind cab. Has a few cosmetic issues but I wasn't planning on driving it to church. A few electrical issues of no merit like the wipers don't work and tail lights are out. One thing I did NOT like was a grinding that you could hear and feel when you pushed in the clutch. Grind goes away when you let the clutch up and it shifts thru all gears just fine and drives about as nice as you would expect a truck of that age and size to drive. Any opinions on the clutch noise? I have one but I would appreciate hearing a few more experienced opinions if you have them.

sounds like a throw out bearing. I would plan on a new clutch too, it it didn't tear up the pressure plate and it all looks good, bonus, but not too likely in my experience. Good thing is this cabovers, especially with a bed hoist, are real easy to work on, it wouldn't be too bad of a job.

just another old geezer · Apr 18, 2014

Most likely a bad throughout bearing. Soon the bearing will be through the clutch fingers and you will have to drop the transmission to fix it.

dustycoal · Apr 18, 2014

Most of your bigger trucks have a grease fitting for the throw out bearing. You find trucks that the tube hanging down with a grease fitting on it or you need to take inspection plate off and reach up in there to grease. There are grease fittings for the cross shaft on the sides of the bell housing also that should be greased that get over looked also. Maybe save you a clutch job? Drove a ford 8000 with a 225 cat & 4x5 trans in 1970. Ran great, was a good riding truck coming from a B model Mack with air steering.

Super Trucker · Apr 18, 2014

BAD throw out bearing. Is it a v-8 or a 6 cat. v-8 more than likely it's a 3208. Not a bad engine just don't expect much other than it will get you there ... sometime.

Cas · Apr 18, 2014

I had a 3208 in a truck and it did good by me. One time on mine the noise started and it was about a week and there was no clutch. Saved the pressure plate though.

hd6gtom · Apr 18, 2014

Dave all the 3208's I have driven have a double disk clutch. They are noisy when you have your foot off the clutch.

notjustair · Apr 18, 2014

The fords of that era are my favorites to drive. The 3208 can't get out of its own way but once you get it rolling it will hold it fine. The drivers hated that engine in a bus as it meant everyone behind you would be mad at you. There isn't a lot to go wrong on them. See if the pump has been done at some point. They aren't so fun.

Bruce Ricci · Apr 18, 2014

DAVE H, What you are hearing when clutch is stepped on is the center plate of the double disc clutch ,that was very common with the cat engines, they all rattled , IH used that engine in their small cab overs , had the same noise . If it shifts ok should be good to go BRUCE

DWF · Apr 18, 2014

I had a L8000 with the V8 Cat. I figured the throw out bearing was bad when I got the truck. Put a new clutch in it and it still made noise. Then I started asking questions and found out that's the way they are. Oh well, clutch was about half gone any way. The bigger trucks didn't have that noise unless there really was a problem.
DWF

Pair-a-dice farm · Apr 18, 2014

If it's a 3208 V8 Cat the clutch noise is normal. I've got a LN8000 and have driven 5 others and they all have that noise. The 3208 is a pretty good engine for what you are doing but it is way under powered. Mine says 236HP and it ain't one HP over that.

Bob · Apr 18, 2014

BINGO! Those clutches were quiet when everything was new, but once the slots in the flywheel and the fingers on the middle clutch plate wear they sound like a little rock crusher when released.

And forever after, "cuz the flywheel, with the worn slots typically never got replaced.

Different than clutches that have replaceable "dowels that engage the middle plate.

Looking at a new farm truck

Dave H (MI)

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sixtyninegmc

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just another old geezer

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dustycoal

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Super Trucker

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Cas

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hd6gtom

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notjustair

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Bruce Ricci

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DWF

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Pair-a-dice farm

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