Ford 881

kbrooks · Aug 26, 2015

Hello all,

I have a Ford 881 and the other day I was just messing around on the site going through posts about my tractor and the 801 series. I came across a post about the stamping numbers to be able to find out when this tractor was made and also about how some tractors are gold being dealer demos. Well I went home yesterday and looked at my tractor and underneath the blue paint is the red and under the red is gold on all the sections except for the transmission section. That section is just blue and red. So I guess I'm just wondering what's so special about the gold paint? Also I can get the numbers and post pictures. Thanks,

-Kevin

One more thing, I have front hydraulics for my snow plow and I haven't really noticed any other 881's with front hydraulics. Thanks!!

Ultradog MN · Aug 26, 2015

Some of the very early SOS tractors were
painted gold and called Gold Demonstrators
as a marketing scheme when Ford introduced
the world's first power shift transmission
in a tractor.
There is a fairly narrow band of serial
numbers that corresponds with their
introduction. If you do have a tractor that
was built during this time frame it does
add some value as a collectable tractor
though not enough to offset the big nick in
value the tractor takes for being a Select
O Speed.
Ford did offer all the models as Gold Demos
- 601, 801, 901, 501, etc.
A 571 or 581 GD would probably be the most
valuable of them all.

kbrooks · Aug 26, 2015

Thank you! I guess I'll keep using it and down the road do a restore but not a full complete. I use this tractor year round, its still a workhorse. Pulls a two bottom plow, then disk and also have a 6ft roto-tiller! From my knowledge my great grandpa purchased the tractor used for 1500 in 1975. And its been a great tractor besides being a little leaky!

Ultradog MN · Aug 26, 2015

Because of numerous problems with the early SOS transmissions Ford recalled most of them and replaced the transmission with an upgraded version. Generally they would have been Red and likely left that color.
Some dealers faithfully restamped the original serial number on to the new transmission but many were not stamped so authentication can be difficult if not impossible.
For more and better info on SOS and GD tractors you should ask on the Ford Board.
This is the N Board.

Ultradog MN · Aug 26, 2015

The big thing on those transmissions was
periodic maintenance. Many of them did not
get it which contributed to their early
failure and lousy reputation. I believe on
those pre 1965 models you even had to open
the transmission to replace the filter in
them, plus adjusting the bands and checking
servo pressures requires some study so many
of them were never maintained.
That tractor with the ground speed PTO
would really shine as a rototilling
tractor.
I recently purchased my first SOS tractor.
But haven't decided if I really like that
"Jerk O Matic" transmission yet.
It, like yours has the Deluxe SOS with
ground speed pto which I'll likely never
use.
By the way, the front mount hydraulics you
mention is most likely a standard remote
valve which is very common

Dean · Aug 26, 2015

I would advise that you change the transmission oil and filter, which is once again available from Dennis Carpenter.

I would strongly advise that you NOT remove the transmission top cover to change the filter until you have read and understood the service procedures in a proper Ford service manual.

Dean

Kirk-NJ · Aug 26, 2015

When the demo's went in for the recall they should have returned with a tracking number in the same location as the
serial number but on the opposite side of the tractor.
Here is my Gold demo now being stripped for repaint. A couple of degreasings and powerwashing reveled most of the gold.

Kirk

Ford 881

kbrooks

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Ultradog MN

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kbrooks

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Ultradog MN

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Ultradog MN

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Dean

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Kirk-NJ

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