Is an 860 right for me?

Hello, everyone.

I have an 8N on loan and I love it all except the non live PTO. I have three acres and need to be able to finish mow. I like that the 8N is smaller, but I just can't live without live PTO.

I was looking at the 860s or even 861 if I ever saw one. I'd love an Oliver Super 55 but they are hard to come by around here.

How different is the size in 860 and 8n? Are they about the same except live PTO and a little more power?

Any suggestions on where to be looking for a tractor? I have been keeping an eye out but the picks are pretty slim on anything decent.

Thanks.

8N is around 23HP. 4 speed transmission Flat head engine.

The 860/861 is around 45HP valve in head engine and has a 5 speed transmission and double clutch giving it live PTO
Either one is really over kill for the land you own. But if your dead set on a full size tractor the 660/661 would be closer to the 8N at around 31HP. But I would also not rule out one of the smaller Kubota's or compact JDs

If you like your 8N, you will LOVE an 860 or 861.

Either is nearly twice the tractor as is an 8N.

Aside from live hydraulics, either an 860 or 861 has live PTO, nearly twice the HP and is considerably heavier.

I have two VERY GOOD 8Ns which I still use for various purposes. My 51 and 52 8Ns both have Sherman combination transmissions and are in excellent condition. That said, they cannot be compared to either my 55 860 or my 64 four cylinder 4000 (same as 8*1 series) S-O-S.

If forced to choose between the 55-57 8*0 series or the 58-64 (yes, I know that the model numbers changed in 63) 8*1 series, I would choose the earlier 8*0 series. The later 8*1 series produced 4-5 more PTO HP, but it was mostly available in the high RPM range, which is of limited usefulness. The 8*1 series tractors also had larger carburetors. As a result, they used noticeably more gasoline at any RPM.

You can do nearly twice as much work in a given time with an 8** series tractor as you can do with an 8N, assuming matched equipment. The 8** series tractor will use more fuel per hour but not more (or at least not much more) fuel per acre.

All said, if you are only finish mowing, there are better solutions than either.

BTDT.

Dean

(quoted from post at 13:18:21 03/16/18) 8N is around 23HP. 4 speed transmission Flat head engine.

The 860/861 is around 45HP valve in head engine and has a 5 speed transmission and double clutch giving it live PTO
Either one is really over kill for the land you own. But if your dead set on a full size tractor the 660/661 would be closer to the 8N at around 31HP. But I would also not rule out one of the smaller Kubota's or compact JDs

Click to expand...

That 8N definitely isn't overkill. I use it all the time. I rake up all the limbs from my 23 pecan trees, I brush hogged the entire back yard with it that was grown up when I got the place. It makes getting round that big back yard so much easier. I drug broken limbs down with it. I can disc my garden and all kinds of other things. Having it to rake up all the fallen limbs is such a big help.

Thanks. No I won't just be finish mowing. Finish mowing is just the number 1 reason i was live PTO. I was going to get a zero turn to mow everything, but that back yard is so massive that a finish mower is the way to go. I'd rather get a zero turn with a 48 deck or so because then I can mow around everything up front near the house way easier then use a 6 foot mower to take care of the back.

I user that 8N for so much. It is so handy. This tree in my back neighbors yard was hanging down and there was a cracked limb about to fall. I pulled them both down no problem. It makes collection all the fallen limbs so easy too. I can get around the place and pick stuff up or even use landscaping rake.

Last night I bladed over a bare section of yard to kind of grade it and drag a bunch of brush and stuff left behind by previous owner. Going to disc part of it and get some grass seed down.

If the 860 is quite a bit heavier I may keep looking for a little Super 55 Oliver.

Thanks.

Just looked at tractor data and realized super 55 isn't much different in weight than 860. I think I'll go with whichever one i can find first in decent shape. Maybe even a Massey 135. Those are my top 3 picks. Thanks again.

An Oliver Super 55 comes in about the same as the Ford 660/661. The S55 is around 34HP and the Fords 660/661 is around 31 so about the same size. The Fords in the 660/661 are likely to be easier to find then a S55 is. I have also been looking for an Oliver S55 for years and have yet to find one. I also like an Oliver Super 44 but those are even harder to find

You like the Fords and everything you use on the 8N should hook right up to the 860 no problem you'd probably be happier with that in the long run.

Thanks everyone. I am on the hunt for a 660 / 61 or 860 / 61. Those are first choices. A 660 / 61 would be ideal but are harder to find because those who had the money when these were new bought the 860.

If you like the 8n, you'd love an 860 or 861.

Not to mention anything NAA/Jubilee and up will also have live hydraulics.
Later models also had, or could have, the added benefit of power steering.

Watch the ads closely and know your Fords.
Many, many people call anything that is Ford an 8N or a Jubilee
when they're really something far different/better.

[b:f809fd03e0]Here's[/b:f809fd03e0] John Smith's excellent site to show you the differences.

Seen this, so stopped back to post. https://rochester.craigslist.org/grd/d/nice-ford-600/6522270533.html

Nice tractors

If your first concern is mowing, I'll toss this out.

I mowed a couple acres of lawn for 15-20 years with an 8N and a woods 60" finish mower. Leaning in towards retirement I wanted to set myself up with something that might take me through the end.

I ended up with a Bad Boy 48" zero turn and cut 30% off my mowing time and have the trimming done as I go.

Of course I kept the N's for garden tractors but after one season I sold the woods and never looked back.

I'd see if you can find an independent dealer that would let you have a demonstrator before you pull the trigger on anything.

If you can find a 135 you'd be way ahead of the Ford or Ollie. For 3 acres though, a decent CUT is probably your best bet. An older Kubota or something like that. I used to mow 8 acres of field with a common Sears garden tractor. 3 acres isn't "massive".

Any of the hundred series tractors are better in every way than an 8N. And the 860, 861 and four-cylinder 4000 are at the top of the heap. For mowing, any of the hundred series will have no problem pulling a mower in tall grass. The 8N is, quite frankly, underpowered for most tasks.

I assume from your handle you're in NE Oklahoma. You'll probably find more Fords to the east and northeast of you. But let's be honest: the hundred series Fords are sixty years old or more; finding a one in good condition at a reasonable price may be tough.