1952 860 electrical issue and PTO problem

[Jay guinn]

I recently went to start the tractor the other day and there was just a spark that came from the left side of thetractor. I did not see exaclty where it came from. I thought it might have been the solenoid. I had an extra and I replaced it. I had my son stand next to the tractor while I attempted to start it. Once again it just sparked. My son said it came from the connection to the starter. Could there be an issue with the starter or the cable connecting to the starter. The connection does look alitte corroded but prior to this problem the tractor has started up right away. The other problem I have is wit the pto. I can not shift the pto lever to engage the pto. Any thoughts would be great. I need to brush hog the back field.

 

[John T]

Im NOT experienced with Fords much butttttttttt usually if shes not cranking correct and you see sparks (or hear a sizzle) at or near any cable or battery or starter or solenoid or ground cable connections, its EITHER the conenction is bad n burned or carboned or just plain too loose. I would remove, clean n wire brush, n reattach any place like that. If the connection isnt the problem, the next thing that goes bad is the cable terminal end or crimp etc which may look okay to the eye but theres carbon underneath causing resistance and heat and the end or cable simply needs replaced.

However, if allllll cables n grounds n connections AND THE BATTERY??????? are alllllllllll good then there may be a starter switch/solenoid or a starter itself problem.

If the lights dim way down badly when trying to crank I suspect the starter first (or it may be mechanically stuck/jammed) but if they dont dim down then I suspect the switch or solenoid more although it can still be the starter in that situation.

John T in Indiana

 

[old]

Sounds like you need to remove the cable from the starter and clean both the cable end and the bolt it hooks to on the starter. That area being out in the open like it is gets a lot of water etc on it and can/does cause problems at times
Hobby farm

 

[awhtx]

A minor detail but there is no such thing as a 1952 860- the 800 series didn't come out until 1955.
If you do in fact have an 860 you have live PTO and you cannot engage it unless it's clutch is disengaged. There is a clevis with 2 holes on the end of the rod from the clutch pedal to the throwout bearing cross shaft. The pin through the clevis must be in the rear hole and the clutch pedal standing nearly straight up. Then when you push the pedal all the way down you disengage the PTO clutch. If this is the way your tractor is set up and the PTO still won't engage then either your clutch is worn out or you have other problems. You can remove the round plate that the PTO lever is mounted to and look inside at the sliding coupler that egages the PTO.