Ford 871-D Fuel Tank & Radiator

Hi everyone,

I am starting a new project!! This is my first time ever working on something like this. I picked up a Ford 871-D with the Select O Speed transmission. It has been sitting for a number of years and needs a little love.

The first thing I noticed was there is no fuel tank! I have been doing some research and can only find units for gas models. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated! Thanks!!

Any chance you can find WHY it was parked? I have two Ford tractors apart now with the SOS transmissions, both have stripped input splines..

I asked when I picked it up and they don't know why it was parked either. The tractor came with the property when it was purchased so I don't have a way of contacting the original owner.

My plan was to try and get it started and work from there. Is there anything I can do without it running to help diagnose if it was transmission related?

You won't know how the transmission works until the engine will run, and there's a good chance it won't run until the injection pump is repaired after setting any length of time. I repair lots of pumps that have set unused for a year or more, water in fuel or bio fuel will stick the valves and rotor plungers..

Dieseltech there's a archive post on the fix for that using a deepwell socket.

In the words of a long time now deceased friend, " HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT!!!! with a project like that you need to start at the inside and work your way out. Don't even think about any extraneous external parts until you are sure that the core expensive parts are workable. As dieseltech said you should plan on getting the pump rebuilt. Plan on $700.00 for that. I sent one out to a low cost place, but it came back no better. After two more years of pain with it I took it to the local conventional shop and $700.00 later the tractor runs great. Understand that the SOS can be problematic, or it can give you many years of service. You have no way of knowing on a non-runner if it needs a lot of work. If you share where you are you may find out that there is an expert nearby that can help you evaluate it. The motor itself can be evaluated fairly well by just dropping the pan and checking for a evidence of water in the oil, spun main bearings or overheated rod bearings. In summary evaluate the expensive parts before spending significant money. While it is good to be optimistic, the likelihood that all it needs is a "little love" is not great.

Link to SOS input spline and clutch repair.
Worn spline repair.

Do you know if the engine is loose?

If it's loose, have you tried to turn it over? After checking the condition of the oil, you can use a lawnmower fuel tank and try to get fuel into the pump. Make sure you have the fuel return line going back into the your auxiliary tank. It's unlikely that the pump will be any good, after sitting for such a long time.

Where are you located? There's an excellent fuel pump rebuilder here in Central Minnesota who is quite reasonable. There's also a very good shop in Iowa who does service by mail. I can give you the contact info for either if you would like.

If you get to this stage, the replacement fuel tank from S teiner Tractor Parts fits with a bit of monkeying around. The fuel outlet was the hardest part, as the clearance was very tight. The tank is much smaller than the OEM, but the 172cid diesel is so thrifty on fuel that it makes very little difference for the average user.

Good luck!
Colin