Oh boy!!! Here we go!!!

[jcmorgan31]

I inherited my dads Ferguson TO-20 eight or so years ago and it was quite the mess. I managed to get it running and used it some but it still needed a lot of work. I wasn't sure I wanted to put the effort into that particular tractor as I really wanted something with live PTO.

My uncle, who was a bit of a farm equipment hoarder, had an old 861 in his garage that he couldn't get to run. I tried for years to get him to sell it to me. Unfortunately, he passed away last year. His son, my cousin, was in the process of cleaning up the property and trying to get rid of some of the farm equipment in the weeds and taking up barn space. They probably have 8 tractors in various stages of runabilty sitting around. He knew I wanted the 861 and offered to sell it to me.

I am really looking forward to getting this thing back up and running. I have the hood and a loader came with it (although I need to get it out of the weeds still). $700 for the whole nine yards was hard to pass up.

I just rolled if off the trailer last night and haven't touched anything yet. Any initial advice would be appreciated!

 

[JMOR]

Sounds like a nice project at reasonable cost.....so far. If mine, the necker knob would have to go, still have the gimped up hand from 40 years ago!

 

[jcmorgan31]

I thought necker knobs were beloved by truck drivers and old tractor owners! LOL

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 11:36:32 12/03/21) I thought necker knobs were beloved by truck drivers and old tractor owners! LOL

ot this one! A slim maybe IF it had power steering, but after my injury, I still don't have one on my newer P.S. equipped tractor.

 

[diesel fumes]

another necker knob hater here.

 

[tractorguy2]

Looks like a good project. From what I am seeing. It's an 860 not an 861.

I would like to have an 860. They don't come up for sale very often here. They always go for $4,000 or more.

 

[jcmorgan31]

My first order of business is to locate and clean off the model # so that I can get an actual year and model.

What makes you think 860 right off the bat? I'm not sure what the difference is between the two.

 

[Jim L WA]

My initial advice is to send everything to me and I'll give you $700. That way you don't have to get dirty or do any work on it.
Just kidding of course, Nice find.

 

[Dean]

It's an 860, not an 861.

Looks like a great project and hard to go wrong at $700.

Dean

 

[Destroked 450]

Fenders are for a 800 series, 801 series had the thin shell fenders

This post was edited by Destroked 450 on 12/03/2021 at 04:54 pm.

 

[Dean]

Also small carburetor, intake, exhaust, etc.

Less fuel but no less useable HP.

Dean

 

[Destroked 450]

When dad opened the fuel screw on our old 850 to pull 3-14's in sod ground even with that small carb it would suck down 5 gallons of gas per hour, with 2-14's or normal haying operations it would run most of the day on it's 15 gallon tank

 

[fredstev]

(quoted from post at 12:49:16 12/03/21) another necker knob hater here.

Me too. They should have called them wrist whackers.

 

[Sean in PA]

It must be a regional thing. I've never heard of them as a "necker knob". I've always heard of them as a "suicide ball", but that was in reference to their use in cars. I've also more recently seen them called "steering wheel spinners".

 

[jcmorgan31]

Found my serial number. Had to remove some paint.

860
135628

Believe it is a 1957.

 

[nashranch]

I had a 850 a while back with an extra engine with big hole in the block. I sold the tractor but still have the spare engine. I've got an ad running on Craigslist for the parts. Send me a PM if you need anything

https://eugene.craigslist.org/grd/d/springfield-ford-850-gasser-tractor/7414410212.html

Here's the one i had

This post was edited by nashranch on 01/23/2022 at 09:14 am.

 

[showcrop]

I suggest starting off with a little mineral oil in each spark plug hole, remove the valve cover, (no need to remove the tank), and manually oil the rocker arm assy. then crack each drain plug to see if any water comes out. Then check to see if the starter will start to crank it, but don't turn it one revolution until it sits for two days.

 

[Cynical_Curmudgeon]

(quoted from post at 10:36:32 12/03/21) I thought necker knobs were beloved by truck drivers and old tractor owners! LOL

As a truck driver and old tractor owner, I hate 'em

 

[jcmorgan31]

Today was a good day! Finally get her to run!

I rebuilt the carb, reset the timing and it wouldn't quite go. I loosened the hold down bolts on the distributor and turned it a little at a time until it fired up and ran. Was able to drive it around the yard a little before it died again. Not sure why it died but I'll figure it out.

Went to clean and refill the oil bath and found a pin hole in the bottom of the bowl so I gotta get that fixed.

Proofmeter seems to be a little goofy. It is showing 300 RPM with the engine off. Is there a way to zero it out? I wanted to use a timing light on it but I have to know the RPMs to do so.

 

[Michaels Dad]

Try taping on the face of the proof meter with your finger. Mine was doing the same thing, taping on it made it go back to zero. Also cleaning and lubing the cable might help.
If neither helps, replace the meter, that's what I ended up doing.