Ford 861 Firing Order

Zlewis3 · Aug 14, 2021

Recently purchased a 1960 861. Original diesel block was cracked and replaced with a similar year 172ci gasser. Gasser block is stamped (D6 JL 6015A) and supposedly out of a articulating loader.

The tractor starts, and runs fine other than needing the carb cleaned. However I did noticed that the firing order 1,2,4,3 is setup with number 1 cylinder being at the rear. Which to my understanding is opposite.

Does this have any effect on performance?

Ultradog MN · Aug 14, 2021

Does the distributor cap have a #1 on it to indicate #1 cylinder?
If so, is that what you are using to determine #1 wire on the cap is hooked to #4 cylinder?
If so, someone has had the distributer pulled out of the engine and didn't reinstall it so #1 on the cap is hooked to #1 cylinder.
Ultimately it doesn't matter as long as each cylinder recieves its spark at the appropriate time.
It's very simple to change it but it is more a matter of convention and does not affect your engine's performance in the slightest. So I would suggest that untill you thoroughly understand the whats and whys of it you remember mantra:
'If it works, don't fix it.'
Welcome to the Ford Board. Those are Very good old tractors.

Sean in PA · Aug 15, 2021

D6JL at the beginning of the casting code says that the casting was designed by the Industrial Division of Ford for the Industrial Division in 1976. By that time they were no longer using the 172 engine in tractors. If it was originally in an articulating loader tractor, then it was not a Ford loader tractor, it was some third party brand that just bought the engine from Ford.

The firing order is 1-2-4-3 with the number 1 cylinder being up front by the radiator. As Ultradog has said, if it's setup with the number 1 mark on the distributor cap going to the #4 cylinder and it runs, then leave it alone. If it were truly setup 180 degrees out of time, then all 4 cylinders would be firing at the end of the exhaust stroke and there would be no fuel/air mixture in the cylindrs to be able to fire when the spark plugs were making their sparks, so it wouldn't be able to run at all.

Zlewis3 · Aug 15, 2021

(quoted from post at 04:50:24 08/15/21) D6JL at the beginning of the casting code says that the casting was designed by the Industrial Division of Ford for the Industrial Division in 1976. By that time they were no longer using the 172 engine in tractors. If it was originally in an articulating loader tractor, then it was not a Ford loader tractor, it was some third party brand that just bought the engine from Ford.

The firing order is 1-2-4-3 with the number 1 cylinder being up front by the radiator. As Ultradog has said, if it's setup with the number 1 mark on the distributor cap going to the #4 cylinder and it runs, then leave it alone. If it were truly setup 180 degrees out of time, then all 4 cylinders would be firing at the end of the exhaust stroke and there would be no fuel/air mixture in the cylindrs to be able to fire when the spark plugs were making their sparks, so it wouldn't be able to run at all.

Yes I believe it is an industrial block. It has a blocking plate over the unused fuel pump port in the front side of the block.

What else was different on the industrial blocks? Ive read that some of the crankshafts were built heavier and have keyways. Ive also been told that some of the industrial blocks were not sleeved. Thanks!

Ultradog MN · Aug 15, 2021

If Sean is correct on the 1976 design date
(and he usually is) then it would have been
built Long after Ford discontinued using
sleeves in their engines. I think they went
to parent bore about 1959 or so.
I also think - but won't swear - they went
from the old canister type oil filter to a
modern spin on filter at the same time. So
if it has a spin on filter it is most
likely parent bore = no sleeves.

Ford 861 Firing Order

Zlewis3

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Ultradog MN

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Sean in PA

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Zlewis3

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Ultradog MN

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