Another wiring question

[jmcdaniel505]

Hi All,

I was gifted an old Ford tractor that has been sitting for about 6 years with problems unknown. Im struggling to determine exactly what it is. I have found the serial number: 871 <103923>. Based on that I think it is a 59 model 871. It has a gas engine. Thats about all I know. Can anything else be determined from the number? 2nd issue and most frustrating.. There was old 12v battery in it, but i am not convinced that it has a 12v system in it. It has an old generator, a 4 pin start relay, start button, no ignition key(toggle instead). I have found online many many variations of wiring diagrams, but Im not sure what I have? Seems like a mix of parts( 4 post relay, old generator). Any help here would be much appreciated!! Id love to get this thing going...
Thanks !

 

[Bob NY]

Hi All,

I was gifted an old Ford tractor that has been sitting for about 6 years with problems unknown. Im struggling to determine exactly what it is. I have found the serial number: 871 <103923>. Based on that I think it is a 59 model 871. It has a gas engine. Thats about all I know. Can anything else be determined from the number? 2nd issue and most frustrating.. There was old 12v battery in it, but i am not convinced that it has a 12v system in it. It has an old generator, a 4 pin start relay, start button, no ignition key(toggle instead). I have found online many many variations of wiring diagrams, but Im not sure what I have? Seems like a mix of parts( 4 post relay, old generator). Any help here would be much appreciated!! Id love to get this thing going...
Thanks !

You are correct. 871 is the model and 103923 is a 1959 serial number. An 871 would have a Select-O-Speed transmission, 10 forward gears and 2 reverse shift on the go. It is my understanding that Ford used 6 volt systems on gas powered tractors thru the 1964 model year.

 

[Janicholson]

Hi All,

I was gifted an old Ford tractor that has been sitting for about 6 years with problems unknown. Im struggling to determine exactly what it is. I have found the serial number: 871 <103923>. Based on that I think it is a 59 model 871. It has a gas engine. Thats about all I know. Can anything else be determined from the number? 2nd issue and most frustrating.. There was old 12v battery in it, but i am not convinced that it has a 12v system in it. It has an old generator, a 4 pin start relay, start button, no ignition key(toggle instead). I have found online many many variations of wiring diagrams, but Im not sure what I have? Seems like a mix of parts( 4 post relay, old generator). Any help here would be much appreciated!! Id love to get this thing going...
Thanks !

Welcome to YT ' and these forums. Likely 6 volt. unless changed to 12v components. ^v is not a problem. They do need 0gauge battery cables and ground to carry 6v current requirements. Look at the light bulbs for voltage of the number, and the generator number (posted here or looked up on line will tell you the system voltage. A 4 terminal starter relay (solenoid) is a ford thing. the 2 small terminals are labeled S and I the S goes to the start button, the I goes to the coil (between the coil and the resistor) to bypass the resistor for starting. Keep asking questions!!! Jim

 

[Keith Williams]

Welcome to YT ' and these forums. Likely 6 volt. unless changed to 12v components. ^v is not a problem. They do need 0gauge battery cables and ground to carry 6v current requirements. Look at the light bulbs for voltage of the number, and the generator number (posted here or looked up on line will tell you the system voltage. A 4 terminal starter relay (solenoid) is a ford thing. the 2 small terminals are labeled S and I the S goes to the start button, the I goes to the coil (between the coil and the resistor) to bypass the resistor for starting. Keep asking questions!!! Jim

Janicholson,
With all due respect, the 2 small terminals are NOT wired that way!
One goes to the junction block that is fed power from the key switch.
The second goes to the push button that provides a ground path for the relay in the solenoid.
There is no coil bypass in the 6 volt tractors, or for that matter any of the pre 65 tractors (I do not know if the 6000 did, it was 12 Volt).
Wiring any other way defeats the safety interlock that prevents these tractors from starting in gear.
Keith

 

[used red MN]

Hello JM, welcome to YT! An old tractor whether it was originally 6 or 12 volts that starts fairly easily will run a couple of days on just the charge in a decent battery. In your case someone may have just set the 12V battery in and used it. Depending on how their connections were made in their wiring modifications the generator is likely just spinning along tensioning the fan belt if needed for that. If your intention is just to get it running with no concern of “restoration to original” I would suggest just changing it to a 12 volt negative ground system with and alternator. Six volt generators and modern day replacement voltage regulators seem to be difficult to keep them reliable. I would suggest using an 3 wire Delco 10si internally regulated alternator, these provide nearly rock solid reliability. The 6 volt starter can be continued to be used without a problem. Here is a link to another YT post for a conversion on a 600 Ford, follow the diagram by Hemmjo should be quite similar to your tractor. The wire shown in yellow should be 10 gauge, all other wiring can be 14 gauge. One detail that needs clarification is if your starter button send power to the solenoid or completes it circuit to ground. The diagram I am suggesting you follow shows a stock configuration that grounds the solenoid through the original starter switch. A 2nd detail is I see an 871!has a fuel gauge on the dash. if you really want that to work there is going to be some additional discussion needed to accomplish that. To obtain the suggested Delco alternator go to any parts store and ask for an alternator for a 78 Chevy half ton V8 without A/C. Depending on belt width the belt pulley from the generator may need to be swapped onto the alternator.
YT thread with 6 to 12v conv.

 

[Jim.ME]

Janicholson,
With all due respect, the 2 small terminals are NOT wired that way!
One goes to the junction block that is fed power from the key switch.
The second goes to the push button that provides a ground path for the relay in the solenoid.
There is no coil bypass in the 6 volt tractors, or for that matter any of the pre 65 tractors (I do not know if the 6000 did, it was 12 Volt).
Wiring any other way defeats the safety interlock that prevents these tractors from starting in gear.
Keith

Given he said it had an old 12 volt battery in it, can you say for certain what the solenoid in it is? I think you both have a 50/50 chance of being right. It appears to me a good bit more diagnosis is needed to say anything with certainty.

 

[jmcdaniel505]

Thanks all for your help! I did find 12v stamped on the back of coil. I proceeded to wire as 12v neg ground. Assuming that the gen will not charge the battery, I will look for the alternator mentioned above. Decided to pull tank to clean, carb to rebuild and will add a general inline fuel filter. Motor is now cranking! Compression is around 65/cyl. I’m on a good roll now in getting it going. I’m sure I will have more questions and a thankful for this forum. Cheers!

 

[Janicholson]

Thanks all for your help! I did find 12v stamped on the back of coil. I proceeded to wire as 12v neg ground. Assuming that the gen will not charge the battery, I will look for the alternator mentioned above. Decided to pull tank to clean, carb to rebuild and will add a general inline fuel filter. Motor is now cranking! Compression is around 65/cyl. I’m on a good roll now in getting it going. I’m sure I will have more questions and a thankful for this forum. Cheers!

Inline fuel filters are not used unless they are for a gravity fed system. they are easily filled with particles that can restrict fuel. NAPA and others sell gravity system filters. Jim

 

[jmcdaniel505]

Inline fuel filters are not used unless they are for a gravity fed system. they are easily filled with particles that can restrict fuel. NAPA and others sell gravity system filters. Jim

Good to know! Thanks

 

[Mad Farmer]

Hi All,

I was gifted an old Ford tractor that has been sitting for about 6 years with problems unknown. Im struggling to determine exactly what it is. I have found the serial number: 871 <103923>. Based on that I think it is a 59 model 871. It has a gas engine. Thats about all I know. Can anything else be determined from the number? 2nd issue and most frustrating.. There was old 12v battery in it, but i am not convinced that it has a 12v system in it. It has an old generator, a 4 pin start relay, start button, no ignition key(toggle instead). I have found online many many variations of wiring diagrams, but Im not sure what I have? Seems like a mix of parts( 4 post relay, old generator). Any help here would be much appreciated!! Id love to get this thing going...
Thanks !

Post some pictures and move this over to the Ford forum. If it's got lights, check to see if the lamps are 6 or 12 volt.