966 Tires

[Whiskey Bent]

Were 18.4 38s optional on the 966s or just 18.4 34s?

[dale560]

5 minutes ago, Whiskey Bent said:

Were 18.4 38s optional on the 966s or just 18.4 34s?

Yes they were. 

[brewcrew]

You probably could have gotten nearly any size you wanted, but probably over half the 966 tractors I know are sitting on 38” rubber.

[Eason]

My 966 has 18.4 x 38s

[Matt Kirsch]

Many came with 34's because they were a few bucks cheaper.

[766 Man]

  Don't under estimate the value of a few bucks saved with people.  That is how a few Ford 8000 & 8600 tractors got sold around here back in the day versus IH or JD.  

[MarkG]

@DOCTOR EVIL

[pt756]

i remember when the 8000 came out, local dealer sold a bunch of them, for around 8000 dollars new back then, we had a chance to but a new 9600 with cab for 13,500 later on but had to pass on it back then, still like that style, still a lot of them here in central wis. Cherokee Garage was the dealer back then, was quite a step up compared to the old 6000,

[ny bill o]

The 1983 Equipment Dealer's Guide lists only 34" tires for all variations of 966.

[DR.EVIL]

66 series a little before my time at FARMALL,  NY Bill's info is better than anything I had or have.  A LOT of big tractors got 34" rear rubber.  The 4320 I broke-in one night came on 18.4x34 Firestones.  He had the 4320 and FIVE 4020's and later a 4230, all on 18.4x34's. You would have thought he had duals that size.

[ksfarmdude]

My Dads 966 had 18 4 34 rubber I always thought it was a wheel requirement Dads had the axle clamp type wheels not the wedge lok style

[766 Man]

2 hours ago, pt756 said:

i remember when the 8000 came out, local dealer sold a bunch of them, for around 8000 dollars new back then, we had a chance to but a new 9600 with cab for 13,500 later on but had to pass on it back then, still like that style, still a lot of them here in central wis. Cherokee Garage was the dealer back then, was quite a step up compared to the old 6000,

  I was a little young then to know much but it seemed like it was said the 8000 was the better part of a thousand dollars less than a 4020 or 856.  A greater difference between the 8600 and a 4230 or 966.  Quite a bit of the land around here was and is less productive than a lot of other areas around here never mind the Midwest.  The thousand dollars or so difference was a very big deal to those that bought based on price.  There were a few 8000's sold in our township new but no 806 and only one 856.  A lot of those farmers liked to cal themselves IH guys to boot.  

[Matt Kirsch]

5 minutes ago, ksfarmdude said:

My Dads 966 had 18 4 34 rubber I always thought it was a wheel requirement Dads had the axle clamp type wheels not the wedge lok style

Wedge locks were available in 34" and clamp style in 38"

[ksfarmdude]

Just now, Matt Kirsch said:

Wedge locks were available in 34" and clamp style in 38"

I know but I always seen the smaller wedge locs on the wheatland style tractors not the row crops all the wedge locs on row crops around here were the "38s 

[Lars (midessa)]

Where was the Ford Tractor assembly plant?

[460]

Ford tractors were built in Highland Park, MI till around 197x then Romeo, MI till 1988.

[ny bill o]

my 966 had worn 20.8x34" tires when I got it from the original owner, but he had had the rims widened. With clamp style hubs.  When the tires needed replacing, I bought blocks to change to 38" rims and tires, because blocks plus used rims plus new 38" tires, were less money than new 20.8x34s. When the clamp centers cracked, I went to 38" wedgelocks and took off the blocks. Just about the time used 38" wedgelock centers started getting scarce. Quite a journey to get from 1984 to today.

[ole 815]

Mine came factory with 16.9x38

[billonthefarm]

Mine has 18.4x34 with clamp wheels.  A high percentage of 966’s here seemed like they were bought on 34’s.