Ford Serial Number Help

I am looking at a ford tractor for sale. The owner says that it is a 1955 800 tractor. When I looked at the serial number it was a little confusing from what I have previously read about. Here are the numbers; the top number is 21201, the bottom number is <>27624.

It is a 4 speed, and has an over running coupler.

If it was an 800 series tractor, I would assume an 850 since that does not have a live PTO, hence the need for an ORC.

However, I thought that I would expect to see the number 850 in the serial number if it was an 850...at least from what I have read about.

It is a great tractor and I am pretty sure that I will buy it, but I want to know what it is before spending the money on it.

21201 is the model number... a '62-'64 2000. That may be what it is, or the transmission may have been swapped into aolder tractor.
A 4-speed in a 800 would be an 840... an 850 would have a 5-speed without live pto.

Is there a square hole below steering wheel with 4 caged nuts? If so its had a SOS replaced. It should have Cyclops emblem in center front of hood if really a 8XX.

Does the left break pedal go thru the transmission housing in front of the running board or does it cross the rear axle center housing at the rear of the running-board? If the LH brake shaft crosses in front of the running board in the transmission housing it's a x00 (600, 800, etc) transmission, if it crosses at the rear it a x01(601, 801, etc.) or a x000(2000, 4000) rear end and transmission. The engine could be any of the above mentioned. What's the casting number on the engine block and date code? From these number we should be able to identify the engine size and even help ID the tractor..

Thank you for your replies everyone.

Attached are pictures from the Ad. Unfortunately, I did not take more (other then the serial numbers) when I was out looking at the tractor to verify the other numbers or routing of the brake.

Shaun Wallace, the hood appears to be a Ford X000 (2000 from what fordfarmer posted), no cyclops emblem on the hood.

agjim, I cannot remember the routing of the left brake when I was using it during the test drive. From one of the pictures it looks like it could be routed over top of the front of the transmission.

fordfarmer, thanks for the correction. You are right, it would be a 840 with the 4-speed.

So, if it does have a 2000 engine and lets say a 840 transmission. How does this affect the horse power? From what I read, the 2000 engine puts out 31HP at the PTO and the 840 transmission if capable of handling 45HP at the PTO? Would I be correct in saying that the most this tractor would put out is 31HP?

Thanks for your input and helping me out while I am learning.


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It looks to be a 600 or 601 rearend, I dont see any ribs between the trumpet bolt holes.

It looks to be a 600 or 601 rearend, I dont see any ribs between the trumpet bolt holes.

That appears to be a 2000. Sheet metal, model number from the transmission housing, and rear differential all point to a 2000. The transmission, regardless of if it's a 4- or 5-speed, could have been used behind either the 134 or 172 engine.

There is a number below the distributor which I believe may be the engine casting number, it is 310905. The another number is further back on the tractor near the seat and it reads 310835 with a second set of numbers below this on reading 3E8:

Let me know if these are the casting numbers.

The 310905 is the block casting number for a 134 cid engine block for tractors built during 1958-1959 years, and this number is usually found below the distributor. The 310835 is also a casting number but for a different part and the 3E8 is a date code for the 310835 casting. The 3 in this date code represents 1963. I suspect you have a 1963 transmission and tear housing connected to a 1958 or 1959 134 engine block.