They are very good, very reliable tractors.
Probably the one thing to look out for when buying a 5 speed is the detents in the transmission gears wear out and they will jump out of gear.
There are guys gere who know those tractors way better than I do and can tell you how to test those detents.
About the only other thing one could say bad about them is they are tall, long, ungainly things and not as handy as their ag sisters - 801, etc.
Especially the wide front models. The narrow fronts are more nimble but still much taller and longer than the 801s, etc.
 
The two-stage clutch (for live PTO) is expensive if you have to replace it; make sure it's not slipping if you're looking to buy a 961.
 

Ford 961s are so nice looking just sitting there that it doesn't matter whether they even run or not. I have three of the old four cylinder row crops and consider them to be very handy, nimble or whatever you may want to call it. If they are longer than an 861, they sure don't look it and an NFE will turn way sharper than an 861. They are more compact than most other tractors of the time.
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Clutch pedal will easily bang one in the shins if one's foot slips.

As far as length goes, they are no longer than any other 801 or 901 series tractor. UD is incorrect about that aspect of them.
 
Really Larry.
An 800 with the swept back axle vs an RC
with the tires in front of the engine??
Tractordata says a 960 has a 10" longer
wheel base than an 860. That's a lot.
They dont say whether the row crop is a WF
or NF though. Before i looked it up If I was
to have guessed I'd say a row crop is about
8" longer on a nf and even a foot or more
longer on a wf.
 
Pretty good condition doesn't tell us much.
How are the tires? Tires are a big expense.
No rust showing on the rims?
Tin decent - not more than surface rust, no major dents? Grill? Paint fair? Engine runs good? No rattles, blow by or smoke?
All the 3 point stuff there - drawbar?
No major oil leaks? Water in the oil or oil in the water? Cracks or welds anywhere? Lift works good? No grinding in the gears.?
$3500 is not too much to pay for one but for that price you should pretty much be able to put it straight to work.
 
"Pretty good condition doesn't tell us much."

Very true. There are so many variables and tires are a big one.
So is the difference between wide front and narrow front.
Many people are afraid of a narrow front. Most, for no good reason.
Location is another variable. They're "cheap" around here.

I bought my 960 for the price the of the engine rebuild that the
seller had done. His receipt showed $1200 so that's what I paid.
He delivered it.

Yes, it did need some brake work and 5 years in I had to buy tires.
New tires and tubes; sandblasting and repairing the power adjust
rims and painting them cost as much as the tractor did to start. :roll:
 
I paid $1350 for my 960,drove it on trailer. Minor little repairs here and there. Had carb rebuilt. Gotta put a cam follower pin in and adjust lift. But absolutely love it. Plow ,disk , bushhog, box blade,you name it we use that tractor. Wife likes her 640 ( with wrong grill). My daughter and granddaughter like it too. For 3500 bucks I hope the one you looking at is really nice!
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a175901.jpg
 
If it's got good sheet metal and tires and it runs and drives well, sounds like an okay deal.

Absolutely love my 961, I'd buy another in a heartbeat if I had more room
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a175917.jpg
 
good tractors.
-The 5-speed jumping out of gear thing.....drive it around in Third gear, keep your hand off the shifter, drive up and down small hills varying the speed...if it is worn, it'll pop out of gear doing that.
-the double clutch is expensive, but on all tractors I've bought....it works.
-most 961's will have power steering, make sure it works. Parts are expensive for PS.
-most 961's also have spin-out rear wheels. Check them carefully. Expensive to replace.
-with or without power steering, a narrow front should steer with no effort. The pedestal bearings take a lot of strain, and do wear out/fail.
-all hundred and 01 series Fords need the gas tank checked carefully. The shut-off is a joke, and the tanks also fail by/under the front mounting brace.
-the swaybar setup....and especially the row crop drawbar need to be there at that price. Hard to find replacements.
-most row crop Fords wear big rear tires...expensive to replace, and every NF 900 I've bought....they are loaded...
-55 thru 64 Fords....after a test drive and rear lift check with a load, make sure oil in the hydraulic chamber isn't 'disappearing'....these years have internal hydraulic lines that can leak.

-basic engine and drivetrain checks....remembering that back in the day, a 900 Ford was the 'big' tractor....and they were worked hard.

$3500?...depends on your area...Row Crop Fords are very expensive in my area.....but even here, at 3500, it should need nothing mechanically.
 

No new parts gives you a number of good specific points. I will elaborate on a couple. When I have had it pop out of gear has been on a pretty steep down hill grade. The steering problem that is really important to check on is for chrome worn off and rust pitting on the cylinder rod. They will be at the center point of the rod, on the underside. To replace the rod is easily a $500.00 job, although I repaired one by thorough cleaning, including phosphoric acid, then filled with JB Weld, then polished smooth. This was four years ago. Another potential hidden problem is the bottom bolt holes for the drawbar bracket. One of mine was broken out.
 

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