Ford 3600 Lift Issues

Ford 2000; 3 cyl. gas; 4/1....I may have the opportunity to buy a Ford 3600 diesel 3 cylinder at a good price but the ad says the lift has just quit working. I'd like to upgrade from my 2000 to what I've read is a really good machine but am wondering what my exposure might be on a 'lift quit working' 3600. Assuming all else is working well on this 3600 what might the range of issues/costs be for a lift that has quit working? Worst case scenario??

Many thanks.

If it doesn't do anything, it might be as simple as a stuck unload valve or a pump that lost prime.

I'm gonna go see the tractor tomorrow and quiz the owner on what happened with the lift. My thought is, for $2500, it might be worth it even if I have to put some money into the lift repair and I'd wind up with a very good tractor. Then, sell my 2000 gasser. I think it'll all depend on how the tractor cranks and drives to see if the risk is worth it. Are the lifts on the 3600 series tractors fairly simple to diagnose and repair? Thanks.

I wouldn't be afraid to take it on and $2500
sounds like a great price - if - the tires
are decent and the tractor runs and drives
good, tin is decent, no smoke, knocks,
blowby, noisy gears, etc. Lack of hyd
pressure could be a couple of things. The
unloader valve might be stuck as Bern says
or they could have bumped the suction line
to the hyd pump so it's sucking air or the
line could have pinholed from rust. That
model has a gear pump so I think unlike the
piston pump on your 2000 it should self
prime - if it's not sucking air. It could be
something so basic as a remote valve handle
that got bumped and it's directing the oil
through that circuit. Though items like live
pto, PS, diff lock were still considered
optional on a 3600, most of them came
equipped with that way so it would be a
significant upgrade from your 2000 with 4/1.
It won't do any more work mind you but it
will do it easier. The 6 or more likely 8 sp
in it is a significant upgrade from your
4/1.
The tires and rims should be the same as on
your 3000 so you could swap those if yours
are better. The fenders are interchangeable
too if yours are better. My first two 3 cyl
tractors were a plain Jane 2000 and 3000,
both with 4/1 trans and no other options. My
tractor is actually a stealth 3600 with 3000
tin, etc and all the good options. I would
not like to go back to the other ones I had.
A bit about worst case scenerios: A new
double clutch is most of $400 and they do
like to wear out the pto clutch first and a
new hyd pump is about $400 as well. A new
injector pump and injectors will run you
most of $800 should you ever need them but I
wouldn't worry about those if it starts and
runs good now. A diesel starter is expensive
too.
It's 3AM here and I can't sleep so sorry
this got so long.

Well, I hate report that the tractor sold already before I could go look at it. Too good to last, no doubt. Many thanks for the detailed description of what could be problematic with the lift. Looks like I'll need to be satisfied (which I am) with my 2000 until another great bargain comes along and I have some cash in hand. Thanks.