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Ford 1600 Tractor Specifications

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Complete specifications for the Ford 1600 compact tractor, transcribed from the specifications section of the factory operator's manual (SE 3551). The 1600 is a two-cylinder diesel of 77.7 cu. in. rated at 2500 rpm and producing 23.0 observed PTO horsepower, with manual steering, drum brakes, and a nine-speed transmission arranged as three ranges of three. At 2260 lbs. on a 62.6 inch wheelbase, it is the largest of the early Shibaura-built Ford compacts.

If you also own or are researching a Ford 1000, read this first. Ford printed the same three specification pages in both the 1000 manual (SE 3413) and the 1600 manual (SE 3551). Every figure below is identical in both books: the same bore and stroke, the same 77.7 cu. in. displacement, the same capacities, the same 23.0 observed PTO horsepower, the same dimensions, tires, torque values and ground speeds. The only editorial difference is that the 1600 manual fills in a page cross-reference that the 1000 manual left as an unfilled placeholder reading “page 00”.

In practical terms the two tractors share their mechanical specification. If you are sourcing parts or setting clearances, figures published for one apply to the other. The Ford 1000 specifications page carries the same tables.

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Engine

Type Diesel
Number of Cylinders 2
Bore 3.54 in. (9.0 cm)
Stroke 3.94 in. (10.0 cm)
Displacement 77.7 cu. in. (1272 cc)
Compression Ratio 21 : 1
Firing Order 1-2
Low Idle Speed 750–850 rpm
Maximum Speed (High Idle) 2650–2700 rpm
Maximum Speed (Rated) 2500 rpm
Valve Clearance, lash on a warm engine (Intake) 0.012 in. (0.30 mm)
Valve Clearance, lash on a warm engine (Exhaust) 0.012 in. (0.30 mm)
Air Cleaner (oil bath) 0.47 qt. (0.44 liters)

Capacities

Component U.S. Metric
Fuel Tank 5.8 gals. 22 liters
Cooling System 5.6 qts. 5.3 liters
Engine Crankcase (less filter) 5.0 qts. 4.7 liters
Engine Crankcase (with filter change) 5.3 qts. 5 liters
Hydraulic Reservoir 10.5 qts. 10 liters
Rear Axle and Transmission 21 qts. 19.8 liters

Cooling System

Type Pressurized liquid with recirculating bypass
Water Pump Type Centrifugal
Water Pump Drive V-belt
Water Pump Belt Deflection 7/16 to 9/16 in. (10–15 mm) when 20–25 lbs. (9–11 kg) thumb force is applied midway between pulleys
Fan Diameter 11-3/4 in. (30.0 cm)
Thermostat Starts to Open 159.8°F (71°C)
Thermostat Fully Open 185°F (85°C)
Radiator Cap 13 psi (7.2 kg/cm²)1

Engine Oil

Ford specified Ford M-2C121-A (Ford 300) engine oil, described in the manual as a super premium, heavy duty, low ash oil compounded for Ford tractor engines. Where Ford 300 was not readily available, these commercial equivalents are given:

Temperature Viscosity Grade and API Classification
Below +32°F (0°C) Low Ash SAE 10W CD
32° to 50°F (0° to 10°C) Low Ash SAE 20 CD
Above 50°F (10°C) Low Ash SAE 30 CD

Fuel sulfur note, as printed: with a sulfur content below 1.0%, an API CC oil may be used instead of CD, but the oil change interval must be reduced to 50 hours and the filter changed every 100 hours. Between 1.0% and 1.3% sulfur a CD oil must be used (except at 10°F and below), with the same reduced 50-hour oil and 100-hour filter intervals. Fuel with a sulfur content above 1.3% is not recommended.

Electrical System

Alternator 12-volt, heavy duty, 10 amps
Regulator (Alternator) Transistorized
Battery 12-volt, 70 amp. hour rating with negative ground
Starting Motor Solenoid, pre-engaged
Headlamp Bulb No. 1074
Tail Lamp Bulb No. 89
Instrument and Warning Light Bulbs Bulb No. 53

Fuel System

Type Diesel
Injection Pump Type In-line
Injection Pump Timing 24° BTDC

Clutch

Type 8.5 in. (21.59 cm) dry disc, organic face
Pedal Free-Travel 3/4–1-3/16 in. (1.9–3.0 cm)

Brakes

Type Drum (expanding shoe)
Drum 6.69 in. diameter (17.0 cm)

Steering

Type Manual
Turns Lock-to-Lock 2.3
Front Wheel Toe-In 0–1/2 in. (0–1.27 cm)
Turning Radius (without brakes) 9.0 ft. (272.5 cm)

Power Take-Off

Type Transmission
Shaft 1-3/8 in. (3.49 cm), 6 spline SAE STD
Engine Speed for 540 rpm PTO Operation 1955 rpm
Horsepower PTO, observed 23.02

Hydraulic Lift System

Type Live Position Control, Category I three-point linkage
Pump Type Gear
Pump Capacity 4.2 U.S. gpm at 1422 psi at 2500 rpm (3.5 Imp. gals. at 100 kg/cm² at 2500 rpm)
System Relief Valve Setting 1422 psi (100 kg/cm²)
Mechanical Draft Control Optional

Cast Iron Weights

(3) Front End Weights 32 lbs. (14 kg) each
(4) Front Wheel Weights 34 lbs. (15 kg) each, 2 per wheel
(4) Rear Wheel Weights 54 lbs. (25 kg) each

Drawbars

Fixed Type Standard
Adjustable Optional

Tires

Front, standard 500 × 15
Front, optional 20 × 800-10
Rear, standard 11.2 × 24
Rear, optional 12.6 × 16 R33

Wheel Bolt Torques

Front Wheel Disc-to-Hub 40–45 lbs. ft. (5.5–6.2 kgm)
Rear Wheel Disc-to-Rim 180–217 lbs. ft. (25–30 kgm)
Rear Wheel Disc-to-Axle 123–138 lbs. ft. (17–19 kgm)

Lubricants

Engine Ford M-2C121-A (Ford 300), see the engine oil table above4
Hydraulic System M2C41-A
Transmission, Rear Axle and Steering Gear Oil A high quality, extreme pressure gear lubricant with an anti-foam additive, see viscosity table below
Front Wheel Bearings and Lubrication Fittings Good quality, multi-purpose, lithium base, cup-type grease
Temperature Viscosity Grade
Under 32°F (0°C) SAE 80
32° to 86°F (0° to 30°C) SAE 90
Over 86°F (30°C) SAE 90 or 140

General Dimensions

Length 100 in. (254 cm)
Wheelbase 62.6 in. (159.0 cm)
Height, Top of Exhaust 70.6 in. (179.5 cm)
Height, Top of Chassis 54.7 in. (139 cm)
Adjustable Width, Front 43–60 in. (108.5–153.5 cm)
Adjustable Width, Rear 48–58.7 in. (121.6–149 cm)
Crop Clearance at Front Axle 14.0 in. (35.6 cm)
Weight (less options) 2260 lbs. (1025 kg)

Ground Speeds

From 1250 to 2500 rpm engine speed, with 11.2 × 24 rear tires.5

Gear Position At 1250 rpm (mph) At 2500 rpm (mph)
Forward
1-L (1st) 0.4 0.8
2-L (2nd) 0.5 1.1
3-L (3rd) 0.7 1.5
1-M (4th) 1.0 2.0
2-M (5th) 1.4 2.8
3-M (6th) 1.9 3.8
1-H (7th) 2.3 4.6
2-H (8th) 3.2 6.4
3-H (9th) 4.3 8.7
Reverse
R-L (R1) 0.6 1.2
R-M (R2) 1.6 3.2
R-H (R3) 3.6 7.2

Notes:
1 Reproduced as printed. The two figures do not convert to one another: 13 psi is approximately 0.9 kg/cm², not 7.2. The Ford 1100, 1200, 1300 and 1500 manuals all print this figure as 13 psi at 0.89 to 0.9 bar, which confirms 13 psi is the correct rating and the metric value here is a printing error. The same error appears in the Ford 1000 manual, which shares this page.
2 The manual prints this label as “Oberved”; spelling normalised. The same typo appears in the Ford 1000 manual, where the figure itself falls on the page trim. This printing gives it cleanly.
3 Reproduced as printed. “12.6 × 16” is an unusual designation; the comparable size in general use is 12.4 × 16.
4 The manual gives this as “See table on page 33”, referring to the engine oil chart reproduced above. The Ford 1000 manual, which shares this page, leaves the same cross-reference unfilled as “page 00”. This is the only editorial difference between the two specification sections.
5 The manual presents ground speeds as a bar chart rather than a table. The values above are the endpoint figures printed on that chart at 1250 and 2500 rpm. They are transcribed, not measured from the graph. Gear positions are shown with both the range and position label used on the shift pattern (1-L, 2-M, and so on) and the equivalent sequential gear number.
All specifications transcribed from the specifications section of the Ford 1600 operator's manual, manual code SE 3551, originally published by Ford Tractor Operations, Ford Motor Company. Ford reserved the right to change specifications without notice; verify against your tractor's serial number before ordering parts or setting clearances.

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Manual code: SE 3551

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