$2000 for an Farmall 856D project tractor?

redpower1990

New User
Hi,
I was just looking through the local Craigslist and found a Farmall 856 Diesel for $2000.00. According to the owner the engine has a spun bearing on the crankshaft. I'm still weighing in the back of my head if its a worthwhile project. The rest of the tractor is in pretty decent however. If I do decide to buy it, potentially worst case scenario, how much would I be looking to spend if I were going to do the repairs myself?
 
Well depends if it is a rod bearing or a main . The 407 is like the 361 not and engine for the novice and not a cheap engine to rebuild with out spend money on a machine shop for the machining . depending on total hours tells me what needs to be done . Does it need line bored will with this one if it spin a main yep that is a give me does it have core shift ?? won't know that till ya get the crank inline . Then how bad is the head ?? does it need new seats and guides?? how about the valves how are the valve springs . and you have no idea if it needs a T/A yet. So two large sounds cheap till you get into it . even for me with my cost on parts by the time i was done with it and no labor it total up to a total of 6-7000 real fast.
 
Thanks for the info tractor vet, I wasn't sure how pricey the 407s are to rebuild, think I'll wait and get a running one lol. I know T/As are costly to replace. My uncle has a 766 thats gone though 2 in the last 30+ years that he's owned it. About how many working hours generally will a T/A go for before needing replacement that you see on average?
 
Here i really can not say for sure , I have seen them fail only after a couple years and some that are still going strong after 25 years. Ya follow the rules and they will last , (1) ya never use it as a brake to slow down (2) ya keep the adjustments on the clutch , dump valve and trans brake in adjustment (3) change the hyd. oil and filters like you should and they last . I know all the ones i have installed are still going . And if my one friend has not taken out the one i put in his two tractors are sill going after twenty years, now not sayen that tomorrow that they won't go out. I make sure that the stuff is kept in adjustment and checked once a year. Now if you were really serious about that 856 you could do a transplant with a combine engine IF you could find one, there will be some parts swapping to be done and and injection pump change to be made . The combine engine should have some life left.
 
(quoted from post at 16:53:31 01/13/13) Thanks for the info tractor vet, I wasn't sure how pricey the 407s are to rebuild, think I'll wait and get a running one lol. I know T/As are costly to replace. My uncle has a 766 thats gone though 2 in the last 30+ years that he's owned it. About how many working hours generally will a T/A go for before needing replacement that you see on average?

Don't be concern about the TA. We had a 756 with the TA bad for 15 years, didn't affect the ability of the tractor to do work. We used the tractor for cutting hay, manure hauling, hauling shell corn loads, etc, etc. When we finally replaced the TA we hardly ever used it.
 
Your tractor sounds like mine last May. Couldn't tell you without some searching exactly what I spent. Didn't really matter once your committed to the overhaul. Mine spun a bearing too. Couldn't find a different crank any where, but lucked out machine shop could grind it to work. Think you would be better off that way than going threw all the work putting a donor in that you know nothing about.
 
I saw that ad too, but couldn't find it again.

You could always drop another engine in it. I know where there are a couple of DT360 truck engines for sale. You'd need some parts off a 766 diesel or early 886, and a little machine work, but it would be a lot cheaper than having that 407 rebuilt. Keep the parts just in case someone down the road wants to put it back to original.
 

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