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Ford Tractors Discussion Forum
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981 year?

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Bigwheels

12-26-2007 06:58:46




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I have a 981 sos which I am confused about the year. It has the serial number stamped on the opposite side of the housing which indicates to me that the housing has been changed. It has a 4 digit serial number that states it should be a late 1957 model,but I have read that the Select-O-Speed was not introduced until 1959. Is there any way I can determine the correct year of manufacture?




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Larry NCKS

12-27-2007 05:38:52




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Kelly Jewell (KY), 12-26-2007 06:58:46  
312259 is the number cast into the left side of the original transmission, just above the inching pedal pivot it is not a serial number



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john in la

12-26-2007 09:57:30




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Bigwheels, 12-26-2007 06:58:46  
Follow the link and tell us what #'s you find on your tractor per the pictures and where you got them from.



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Bigwheels

12-27-2007 05:21:03




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to john in la, 12-26-2007 09:57:30  
to John in la; The numbers I have found are as follows: radiator code 4-59 rear end date code: 93S Axle date code: B189 engine date code: 95 O Hyd.cover date code: 959: I found the original operators manual and the serial number hand written in the front is 312259. This does not seem to make sense as it does not match any of the numbers on the sheet you sent me. Thank for any help you can give me. Bigwheels

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john in la

12-28-2007 17:45:57




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Bigwheels, 12-27-2007 05:21:03  
All your date codes point to mid year 1959 tractor. This would go along with a early SOS since the first ones were recalled for trans replacement.



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Larry NCKS

12-26-2007 07:06:38




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to keithr1, 12-26-2007 06:58:46  
The number you're looking at is likely a transmission update number. The SN and model number is under the air cleaner (gasoline) or battery (diesel) on the left side on the flat on top of the bell housing behind the starter. If you have a diesel, battery acid could have done it in. If they were careful enough to stamp the transmission rework number on it, they should have restamped the SN and Model.

SOS (981) was introduced in 1959 or very late '58. Your 981 would have been built between then and late '62

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Bigwheels

12-26-2007 07:23:10




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Larry NCKS, 12-26-2007 07:06:38  
I have no arguement due the fact all the literature tells me you are correct. The confusing part is that there is no stamped numbers or corrosion(it is gas) on the left side. I could suppose that the whole housing could have been changed and they put an update number on the right side and neglected to restamp the serial number on the left. Thanks for your imput.



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Tony Jacobs

12-27-2007 09:53:49




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Bigwheels, 12-26-2007 07:23:10  
Hello Bigwheels , You tractor has a Factory Rebuilt transmission indicated by the serial number of the trans.(not the tractor) on the right hand side, The dealer unfortunately did restamp the serial number of the tractor on the new trans. on the left hand side that's all. Thanks Tony Jacobs



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Bigwheels

12-27-2007 12:20:14




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Tony Jacobs, 12-27-2007 09:53:49  
We finally had toassume that the number on the right side was a rebuild or an update. It was like a light bulb lit up when I was told what I thought was a serial number was a casting number. I have seen it a hundred times in cleaning this tractor up for painting,duh.
Thanks for all the replies, Bigwheels



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Bigwheels

12-27-2007 12:20:12




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Tony Jacobs, 12-27-2007 09:53:49  
We finally had toassume that the number on the right side was a rebuild or an update. It was like a light bulb lit up when I was told what I thought was a serial number was a casting number. I have seen it a hundred times in cleaning this tractor up for painting,duh.
Thanks for all the replies, Bigwheels



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old

12-26-2007 09:35:08




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 Re: 981 year? in reply to Bigwheels, 12-26-2007 07:23:10  
Sort of a common problem. If the bell houseing at some time broke et. it would have been replaced and if that has happened then most likely there will be no numbers stamped on it. There are places that will have date codes and other numbers to tell you about the year it is but I can't tell you for sure where to look for them.

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