Question about the 861 Ford.....

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Just had the opportunity to drive one over the weekend. Used it to move the cut-offs wagon for the buzz saw. It was ok, but found it to have about as much power as an 8N. Now, I'm not trying to cut down either tractor. I was just a bit underwhelmed by it's performance.

Which l eaves me with a question:

What jobs did they excel at? It seems they would be a capable chore tractor at least.

Otherwise, after getting used to the shifter, I did like it. The controls are set up good, had good visibility & easy steering. It has that classic Ford four banger purr, too.

Mike

 

[Steve in IL]

Just had the opportunity to drive one over the weekend. Used it to move the cut-offs wagon for the buzz saw. It was ok, but found it to have about as much power as an 8N. Now, I'm not trying to cut down either tractor. I was just a bit underwhelmed by it's performance.

Which l eaves me with a question:

What jobs did they excel at? It seems they would be a capable chore tractor at least.

Otherwise, after getting used to the shifter, I did like it. The controls are set up good, had good visibility & easy steering. It has that classic Ford four banger purr, too.

Mike

Hmmm. Must be some wrong with the 861. It should have about twice the power of an 8N.

However, unless weighted correctly, it can have difficulty putting that power to the ground.

 

[Richard Nixon]

Just had the opportunity to drive one over the weekend. Used it to move the cut-offs wagon for the buzz saw. It was ok, but found it to have about as much power as an 8N. Now, I'm not trying to cut down either tractor. I was just a bit underwhelmed by it's performance.

Which l eaves me with a question:

What jobs did they excel at? It seems they would be a capable chore tractor at least.

Otherwise, after getting used to the shifter, I did like it. The controls are set up good, had good visibility & easy steering. It has that classic Ford four banger purr, too.

Mike

That tractor is about 65+ years old. With no added weight it weighs about 3200 lbs with the operator. We tested an 881 in 1959 that was heavily weighted and it pulled 3 14" mounted plows in heavy red clay soil with no problems. But, it was heavily weighted front and rear and probably weighed in at something like 6500 lbs. About double its unladen weight. And, it was brand new.

 

[moresmoke]

Had a 961 until it got flattened by a tree. Measured 45 HP on the dyno, seemed to be a well balanced tractor for its size. Shifter is odd, but everybody else that drove it could always find the gear they were looking for, where they struggled on a normal tractor.

 

[da.bees]

Your review for the 841 sounds more like features of a suv than a tractor so I must ask how many tractors have you operated over the years? You best put the 8N and 861 through their paces again if you didn't notice a lot of difference the first time. By any chance was the 8N a funk conversion?

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Hmmm. Must be some wrong with the 861. It should have about twice the power of an 8N.

However, unless weighted correctly, it can have difficulty putting that power to the ground.

It's an unweighted, restored tractor. Didn't slip any, just seemed doggy.

I may have been expecting more, I guess.

Mike

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

That tractor is about 65+ years old. With no added weight it weighs about 3200 lbs with the operator. We tested an 881 in 1959 that was heavily weighted and it pulled 3 14" mounted plows in heavy red clay soil with no problems. But, it was heavily weighted front and rear and probably weighed in at something like 6500 lbs. About double its unladen weight. And, it was brand new.

The one I was on was restored. Seems like it would pull 3x14s, just not in 4th.

Mike

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Your review for the 841 sounds more like features of a suv than a tractor so I must ask how many tractors have you operated over the years? You best put the 8N and 861 through their paces again if you didn't notice a lot of difference the first time. By any chance was the 8N a funk conversion?

It had whatever 4 banger they came out with.

Which brings up a question, did Funk make conversions for the later Fords?

I've put in a lot of time on an 8N many years ago & thought it had enough power for what it could do. (Plow, disk, mow. etc.) A Farmall M on the same wagon would have handled it with no issue.

Mike

 

[Non-farmer]

An 861 from the factory had twice the HP of an 8N. I agree with Steve, something was wrong with that one.

 

[johnnmr]

My only gripe about my 861 is how slooow it is going down the road (too bad a Sherman Over/Under won't fit otherwise I'd do it) . Pulls a 6' shredder thru tall/thick weeds fine, 2 stage clutch is kinda goofy but works fine.

Doing the research when I put my basket case back together the 8x1 series got 5 more hp on the very top end of the rpm band VS the 8x0s. Guys didn't like how thirsty the 801s were for a few more hp and would switch to the smaller 600/800 size carburetors to get back some efficiency. Maybe that conversion was done poorly or has enough age that it's time to get freshened up?

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

An 861 from the factory had twice the HP of an 8N. I agree with Steve, something was wrong with that one.

I have to call the owner, tomorrow, about a few unrelated things. Think I'll ask him about it. After the testimonies here, I don't doubt that tractor should have a few more beans.

Mike

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

My only gripe about my 861 is how slooow it is going down the road (too bad a Sherman Over/Under won't fit otherwise I'd do it) . Pulls a 6' shredder thru tall/thick weeds fine, 2 stage clutch is kinda goofy but works fine.

Doing the research when I put my basket case back together the 8x1 series got 5 more hp on the very top end of the rpm band VS the 8x0s. Guys didn't like how thirsty the 801s were for a few more hp and would switch to the smaller 600/800 size carburetors to get back some efficiency. Maybe that conversion was done poorly or has enough age that it's time to get freshened up?

I'll ask about the carb. Got to call the owner tomorrow, about a few other things anyhow.

Mike

 

[johnnmr]

I'll ask about the carb. Got to call the owner tomorrow, about a few other things anyhow.

Mike

861 should have a 2" pipe between the carb and air cleaner. The smaller carb will use a smaller pipe, 1 5/8" I believe.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Please note that the 172 CID engine in that 861 will run perfectly fine with two of its four cylinders dead. It just won't have much power; ya know, sort of like an 8N. BTDT.

 

[Farmallhighcrop]

Just had the opportunity to drive one over the weekend. Used it to move the cut-offs wagon for the buzz saw. It was ok, but found it to have about as much power as an 8N. Now, I'm not trying to cut down either tractor. I was just a bit underwhelmed by it's performance.

Which l eaves me with a question:

What jobs did they excel at? It seems they would be a capable chore tractor at least.

Otherwise, after getting used to the shifter, I did like it. The controls are set up good, had good visibility & easy steering. It has that classic Ford four banger purr, too.

Mike

Must be something wrong with 861 they have 62 engines HP versus 24 I have both my 861 will upset my 8 n

 

[Ozlander]

Well, you do have to pull that little lever on the right side down some.

 

[Vito]

My 961 had a pogo shifter. When mowing my lawn it was nice to just shuttle the shifter between 3 and reverse.

Vito

 

[paul]

The 2 960s we ran were pretty capable tractors, traction was kind of a thing but hp was there. 4 row cultivator, 2-16 plow in tough ground, 10 foot and 12 foot disk, many many hours pulling a 4 section harrow in 4th and even high gear. Baling, raking, mowing.

No brakes and no traction until we got fluid in the tires were the only weak parts.

Something not right if you only saw the power of an N in that one.

Paul