ford 801 diesel

[nspec]

Does anyone know how many 801 diesels were made? Saw a nice 841 diesel and just wondering if it"s anything more desirable than the other models. I"ve always liked the 801"s and thought someday I may find one to take home. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Larry NCKS]

If it's a Ford diesel you're looking for, you'll not find one older than an 01 series. Other than a little more oomph (and fuel consumption along with it on the gasoline models), different fenders,, different grill on the 801s and 901s, different paint colors and schemes, the availability of diesel and eventually Select-O-Speed transmission; the 01s were little different than their hundrerd series predecessors.

Now, if you want to talk 8N or prior tractors, the 01 series was a vast improvement over these and only remotely related to their design if even that.

 

[awhtx]

I have purchased 3 841D's (one even had a Sherman Combination) in the past 6 months, all with bad engines. I parted out 2 of them and I'm going to put a gas engine that I have in the 3rd one.
I just spent 6 hours in the seat of my 861D cutting my hay field with a Ford 505 sickle bar cutter.
Ford didn't keep any records of how many of each particular tractor they made.

 

[WA-Hal]

I would guess that it is a matter of opinion, but the cylinder diesels are probably a little less valuable than the same tractor in a gas version. The diesel engine costs LOTS more to rebuild if you have to do a rebuild, and the injector pump itself can cost a huge amount to get it rebuilt. They made lots fewer diesels than gas engines in the X01 series, so a diesel may be considered rarer, so maybe a diesel is more "collectible".

A diesel uses a bunch less fuel than a similar gas tractor to do a given job. A diesel tractor will be a challenge to get started in cold weather without a plug-in engine heater. Gas engines start easier cold if you can't plug them in. Diesel exhaust stinks and the diesels I have been around all smoke pretty bad, at least at times. I think my diesel is messier than a gas tractor would be.

I really like my 641D for doing the jobs I have asked it to do. It has plenty of power for plowing dirt or snow, and runs my brush hog just fine. I have been amazed at how little fuel it uses and am also pleased that it runs as well as it does, since it probably has a whole lot more than 10K hours on what I believe is the original, unrebuilt engine.

So it depends on what you plan to do with the tractor. I think that if I had the choice between two old X01 tractors that were similar in condition and price, except that one had a diesel
and the other had a gas engine, I would probably buy the gas engined tractor. Why? The gas engines are simpler and cheaper to rebuild and a carb is something that I can fix myself, while I would have to have the fuel injection pump rebuilt professionally. But if I came across another good running diesel at a good price, I certainly would be very interested. Good luck!

 

[Dean]

Early Ford 172 CI four cylinder diesel engined tractors are less common that gasoline engined versions of the same tractor but certainly not rare.

Dean

 

[souNdguy]

I like gassers.. but for smoke.. a good diesel is way better than a good gasser. diesel exhaust is less likely to put you in a hospital too!



soundguy