1952 Ford 860 clutch issues

Jstclair

New User
Hello. I made the mistake of having the local high school auto shop rebuild my 1952 Ford 860 tractor. The auto shop teacher promised a completely restored and functional tractor. Long story short, the shop teacher was asked by the school to not come back. I was allowed to pick up all of the parts to my tractor that I could find. Boxes of parts were everywhere. Through the efforts of my mechanically inclined neighbor, the engine is almost completed. Unfortunately, parts are still missing.
The question, does anyone out there know what style of clutch and bearings an 860 uses. I have checked a few online sites and have found several different types that all claim to fit. But without a sample part or pictures to go from I am lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
(quoted from post at 22:11:08 03/23/17) Hello. I made the mistake of having the local high school auto shop rebuild my 1952 Ford 860 tractor. The auto shop teacher promised a completely restored and functional tractor. Long story short, the shop teacher was asked by the school to not come back. I was allowed to pick up all of the parts to my tractor that I could find. Boxes of parts were everywhere. Through the efforts of my mechanically inclined neighbor, the engine is almost completed. Unfortunately, parts are still missing.
The question, does anyone out there know what style of clutch and bearings an 860 uses. I have checked a few online sites and have found several different types that all claim to fit. But without a sample part or pictures to go from I am lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well when buying parts, I wouldn't tell the parts guy it's a '52
flathead if I were you. Typo right? :)
 
All of the original paperwork that came with the tractor when I bought it states it was manufactured in 1952.
 

In '52 there were only flathead 8N's if I'm not mistaken.
Yours is an overhead valve, no?

I'm guessing your tractor is a 55 but the guys here will tell you for sure.

1955 Ford 860
 
Well, 1952 and 860 do not go together. Tall T linked you to an 860 which were built after 1954. 8Ns were built from 1948-1952 and was a smaller tractor, Clutch question! Does the flywheel have a step around the outside edge with 6 5/16 bolt holes? (860)! 8Ns will show clutch ware on the flat surface. Bearings? for what? Sorrow, but to old to know how to link pictures on "new computers"
 
If it was indeed manufactured in 1952, it's an 8N or early NAA.

Flat head engine or OHV?

Dean
 
To help confirm what you have you might want to check out the link below from John Smith's Old Ford Tractor site. Great info in identifying old Fords. It will give you some useful info concerning your tractor. Hope this helps
ID that Ford
 
A special thanks to GlenIdaho.
I went to the site you provided and discovered that my "1952" is actually a 1957. So much for trusting the word of a salesman.
And to all others who posted comments ... you are right.

I talked with my mechanically inclined neighbor. He said that the flywheel is missing as well.

Any suggestions on that one as well?
 
Wow, sorry you ended up with a dismantled tractor. If it is indeed an 860 it has a dual clutch for the live PTO. I would check again at the school for your clutch as a new clutch is around $300. To confirm it is an 860(which you may have done) check the flat on the left side of the transmission just to the rear of the starter. There will be two rows of numbers. One row will be the serial number with which you can confirm the year and the other will be the Model number such as "860". As you probably saw on John Smith's site, the 6 equals live pto which means dual state clutch. I have never worked on a dual stage clutch but from reading here, there are some adjustments that need to be made before you install it. Many gents on this site can better advise you. I would also suggest that you purchase a Ford Shop Manual and a Parts Manual. The shop manual will guide you through the work that you need to do and the Parts Manual has great diagrams to help you understand how and where everything goes, plus gives you the part number when having to order parts. Check the Parts section of this site as they do sell parts. You can also query New Holland Parts on the web and work your way to their system that has the parts diagrams. An 860 is a great tractor hope you get her goin.
 
It is indeed an 860. I found that stamped right above the serial number.
I will check this site for the manuals.
Thanks and have a great weekend
 
(quoted from post at 19:29:09 03/24/17) It is indeed an 860. I found that stamped right above the serial number.
I will check this site for the manuals.
Thanks and have a great weekend

You might find it interesting that the almost exact same scenario happened to me in 1976. My 51 Chev flat deck needed a rebuild so bad, that when I drove thru town and looked in the rear view, it looked like the town was on fire.

While I was contemplating my options a younger friend who was in technical school, said, "Hey, I'll take your engine to school and have it rebuilt as a class project." Sounded good to me so we pulled the motor and off she went.

Here's where our stories jive, [b:c8c6dd6b29]He quits school[/b:c8c6dd6b29] and brings me back a clean bored out block, ground crankshaft etc. and says, "Don't worry, I'll help you put it together."

So down he comes one day, with his girlfriend waiting in the truck and everything in an nerve wracking rush. We lay the crank in it's new bearings and were in the process of torquing down the main bearing caps. THE CRANK WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. So since I had spent good money for the machining and wanted a perfect job I said, "No problem, I'll figure this all out myself." So off he went.

I had never rebuilt an engine but had done lots of mechanical repairs. Off I went to the big city library where I studied the old GM shop manuals, photocopying a lot of stuff.

The beauty of those old books is that there was an introduction at the beginning:
"This manual was written not only for the seasoned mechanic but for the man of little experience." Talk about a confidence builder!

After studying up on the crankshaft, and finding out the correct year of my engine (late '53) I found out why the crank wouldn't turn. Each of my main bearing caps had to be shimmed with just the right stacks of brass shim stock to arrive at the proper clearance using plastigauge. It took forever but the operation was a success and I'll be getting that engine running again this spring.

It's now in my 1951 Chev Aluminum Step Van. :)

Terry
 
Flywheel? - is the clutch missing also? -

So - eBay has a couple of flywheels that'll fit your application - search for 'ford tractor flywheel' - they are kinda proud of them -

do you have the bolts? - they are a bit special also -

the clutch is an assembly that bolts to the flywheel - no assembly/adjustment is required generally -

when you find/buy the flywheel check the condition of the ring gear that the starter engages - it's not uncommon for there to be an arc of teeth that are chewed up - if the condition is not 95% or better, do yourself a favor and replace the ring gear - it is a shrink fit, cut the old gear off, heat the new gear to expand it, drop it over the flywheel, let cool - there is an inside and an outside -
 
The NAA Tractor was released in September, 1952, designated the Jubilee. The 860 was not released until 1955 along with the 600 Series. All had the new 'Red Tiger' Overhead Valve engines, the NAA and 60 using the 134 cu/in and the 800 using the 172 cu/in displacement.


Tim
 
The serial number will be stamped on a left side boss like this:

DSC03985.jpg

Does the tractor have a 5 speed transmission? If so, then it is probably an 860. Never go by what the previous owner has said -do your own homework. There is no such thing as a 1952 860 -they weren't released until 1955. If you need manuals, email me and I will direct to the site that offers them for FREE.

Tim Daley(MI)
 
I have a flywheel that came off a Red Tiger
industrial? engine that I have no use for. I'll have to
see if I can find a part number on it to see if it's the
right one for an 860.
 
Hey Terry. Sorry to hear that your engine was returned in boxes as well. But, it sounds like everything turned out ok in the end for you and your '51 van.

Hello FordFarmer. This 860 is missing the clutch, all bearings, flywheel and gear, and all associated bolts. The former auto shop teacher really did a number on me. I understand why he was "asked" to not come back. I would have fired him too.

Thank you for the heads up on the "special" bolts. I will add that to my never ending shopping list.
 
The bearings are missing? The bearing inserts, or the
rod and/or main caps? I may be able to help there,
too. I know I have the flywheel bolts.
 
Hello FordFarmer.
If you have a 860 flywheel that you are not needing, I am interested.
Please let me know if you find it.
Have a great weekend.
 
Well, I have a flywheel that will bolt up to your
crankshaft. I have to figure out if it's correct for the
double clutch on an 860.
 
(quoted from post at 16:49:55 03/25/17) Hello FordFarmer.
If you have a 860 flywheel that you are not needing, I am interested.

Before you order clutch parts, check your input shaft. A double clutch will have two gears. A single has one. Trannys have been known to have been swapped on these old tractors.

A double clutch input shaft should look like this.



Best of luck on your project.
 

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