861 hood doesn't fit right

[johnnmr]

Previous owner had started installing power steering but didn't live long enough to finish it. When I got the tractor the hood was just laying in place w/o being bolted down. The gas fill access door fit was poor then, at the time I blamed that on no bolts.

Buttoning up the hood today did not help. The gaps are tight at the nose cone (those bolts were never loosened) and instrument panel yet the top panel has huge gaps and doesn't want to latch. Brake side gap is 1/2" at the front, clutch side is 1/4". Our Jubilee's hood has an 1/8" gap on both sides, I'm assuming that's what the fit is supposed to be?

By the serial # my 861 is a 1958 model, the hood sides are smooth with Ford 861 power master decals. The patina is even, I believe the hood is original to the tractor or at least all the pieces appear to be mates. Another thing, it feels like the gas cap hits on the hood when it's closed. This gas tank is supposed to be from an 881 (tractor was once crudely converted to propane) but it's my understanding all 801s use the same larger tank. I used the tank brackets that were already on the tractor but the original gas tank had been previously removed. Everything associated with the hood but the top lid fits like it should. The tin is far from perfect but all the other gaps are good..

The parts manual says 1953-57 tractors use #nca-16617-b panel assembly (Ford's term for the gas fill access door) while 1958-64 uses #310891. Are these doors noticibly different that they cannot be interchanged? That's all I can think of that would make such wide gaps. Or am I overlooking something else?

 

[pomester]

The difference in the panel assemblies between the X00 and X01 series is the placement of the hinges which allow for the larger gas tanks of the X01. Not much room was spared fitting the gas tank, but there should be no interference with the cap. Make sure the tank is attached to the brackets correctly. I've had the front tank support be loose from the tank before, I glued it back with modern panel adhesive which is holding up well a few years later.

The hinge has slots to allow for fitment. I'd see about splitting the difference on the reveal and seeing if the latch will catch.

Perhaps other suggestions will come along....

 

[johnnmr]

Yes my tank brackets are tight using the correct and stupidly expensive thin rubber washers under the tank.

Comparing the 861 hood parts to the Jubilee they have the same width of the front of the hood, 9 3/4". The Jubilee has an 10 1/4" opening at the front while the 861 is 10 1/2". That 1/4" difference would be enough to center the lid edge on the front rattle spring and probably wouldn't catch a guy's eye as being wrong.

But wow to narrow that gap would involve changing that front nose cone width and the grill parts. Surely it didn't leave the factory being so far off but I don't see any damage that could have affected the fit of the lid.

When my new rubber bumpers for the lid come I might make the hinge slots longer with a die grinder to try to at least center the lid in the gap. I found some older posts regarding this happening after replacing bent hood pieces etc but it appears they never found a solution.

 

[pomester]

Yes my tank brackets are tight using the correct and stupidly expensive thin rubber washers under the tank.

Comparing the 861 hood parts to the Jubilee they have the same width of the front of the hood, 9 3/4". The Jubilee has an 10 1/4" opening at the front while the 861 is 10 1/2". That 1/4" difference would be enough to center the lid edge on the front rattle spring and probably wouldn't catch a guy's eye as being wrong.

But wow to narrow that gap would involve changing that front nose cone width and the grill parts. Surely it didn't leave the factory being so far off but I don't see any damage that could have affected the fit of the lid.

When my new rubber bumpers for the lid come I might make the hinge slots longer with a die grinder to try to at least center the lid in the gap. I found some older posts regarding this happening after replacing bent hood pieces etc but it appears they never found a solution.

Well, you can flatten the crown of the hood a bit, lower the profile and increase the distance between the sides, but it's unlikely satisfaction will be found unless the crown is already tall at the front. I think your idea of gaining a bit of adjustment with a grinder, centering things as best as possible, and getting on with life is the best bet. If it were nicer and I were not recovering from surgery I would toddle out to the shed and measure some hoods. Maybe next week. I know fitment across my fleet is not real consistent.

The center hood piece is available as a reproduction, but who knows about quality control.