[AT] Ford 861

charlie hill charliehill at embarqmail.com
Wed Mar 6 04:50:05 PST 2013


Ford tractors were a common fixture on small tobacco farms when I was a boy. 
Unfortunately,
since the model number is not prominently displayed on them I never really 
knew or noticed what
farm had what model tractor.  I always liked them.  The ones I drove seemed 
to work effortlessly in most situations and they handled well.  I never 
drove one enough to get used to
that rotary shift pattern but it seemed to work ok.

The smallest farms had a one row Farmall or Allis Chalmers.   The guys that 
were just a bit larger
but still no where near big farmers had Fords and Massey Fergusons.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 6:27 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Ford 861

I have an 860 gas for about thirty years and love it. It was my first
"full size" tractor (after several Farmall Cubs), and it just keeps on
working at whatever I ask of it - brush cutting, blading snow and
gravel, running my 25 KW backup generator, working with a boom crane,
pulling "stuff" that won't move on its own, powering my Unicorn
splitter, carrying material on a three-point platform lift, finish
mowing with a 6' Woods, etc. It really needs some work on the steering,
but I never seem to have a time when the weather is right and I don't
need the tractor. The 860 is only very slightly different from the 861.
I believe that the diesel version is somewhat rare, but that shouldn't
be a problem as far as parts.

The 5-speed shift arrangement takes a little getting used to, but the
motion from third to reverse and back is very convenient for shuttle
work. The seating is very comfortable, and it is easy to mount and
dismount. It isn't a "pretty" tractor, but it does everything I have
ever asked of it with no complaint or effort. And yes, mine also had the
serial number etched by battery acid - very common with all the 600/800
series Fords.

Some images at:
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/other_machinery/ford.html>
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/other_machinery/ford-860-with-woods.html>
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/other_machinery/boom_on_860.html>
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/other_machinery/ford-860-with-woods-1.html>
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/other_machinery/unicorn2.html>

Best of luck with your new machine,

Mike

On 3/5/2013 8:48 PM, Spencer Yost wrote:
> I recently added a new tractor to my shed:  A Ford 861 diesel.  The
> serial number has been etched by battery acid but it was represented
> to me as a 1958.  From the parts catalog and various parts numbers I
> can tell it is definitely one of the earlier ones.
>
> I needed a work tractor and since I sold the Oliver, I did not
> really have one.  I have never been a Ford guy but this thing has
> the convenient foot print of a red belly but twice the power, live
> hydraulics, and a two stage clutch.  The vertical 5 speed shift is a
> little different but otherwise any red belly owner would be hard
> pressed to see any difference from the seat(and the fact it has the
> Rest-O-Ride seat)
>
> I bought a shaver HD8 post driver from craigslist and added a remote
> hydraulic kit and used it to drive 225+ posts over about 7 weekends,
> including some pretty big locust corner posts.  They both did great.
>
> I really like this thing but never heard much in the list about
> these 800 series diesels.  Anyone else own one?
>
> Spencer _______________________________________________ AT mailing
> list http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
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