regarding 661 tractors

Tom in Mo.

Well-known Member
Most 134CI tractors have the four speed trans and sometimes the Sherman hi/low with the four speed but rarely do I see a five speed behind the 134 engine.
The opposite holds for the 172 tractors that seem to have the five speed way more than the four speed. I've only had one 840 and it was the only one I ever remember with just the four speed.
I just thought that was interesting. Since they rolled down the line all mixed up there isn't any production numbers.
 
The 600/601 do have the 4 speed transmission more often than the 800/801 that often have the 5 speed or in the 801 possibly the SOS. Both tractors are physically the same length and width (depending on wheel setting) but the hood on the 600/601 is set in the lower mounting holes. I think buyers concerned with price and a little fuel economy opted for the 600/601, the 4 speed was the least expensive transmission option so most common on the cheapest of the 2 models. I'd much rather have the 800/801 with the additional 10-12 hp in the same size tractor, and they often came with a transmission choice that offered live pto as well. Be interesting to see the new price difference from the 860 to the 840 or 641 to the 861 and 871. Some literature I have introducing the "new" 600 and 800 series have the 800 only offered with the 5 speed transmission. The "new" 600 came in 640, 650, or 660 models.
 
The 6xx tractors were the low price point models, and the 8xx were what you got if you could afford them, so most folks shopping for a tractor back in the day that didn't have a lot of money tended to go with the lowest priced options on the lowest priced tractors, and those that could afford just a few hundred more would go with the higher priced options on the higher priced tractor. There wasn't a large gap between the price pf a 640 and an 860, but it was enough to make a difference for poor farmers back in the day. The manufacturer simply built more of the models that sold better, and the 4 speed on the 6xx tractors were being purchased more than 5 speeds, and the 5 speeds were being purchased more on the 8xx tractors than 4 speeds. It's simple supply and demand.
 
The 800 series wasn't offered with a four-
speed transmission until the 1957 model
year (and I believe part way through the
1957 model year). My 840 has a very high
serial number 144875, just prior to the
switchover to the 801 series. What's the
serial number on your 840?
 
Most folks willing to pay the added cost for the 8 series were also willing to pay the added cost of the LPTO 5 speed.

Most folks trying to keep costs lower, bought the 6 series and less expensive transmission.

Of course, there were exceptions.
 
That 5 speed was also popular as a loader tractor, due to the easy straight forward/straight back for shifting, and the associated speeds.
 
I think the breakdown is more with the needs of the task and location where the tractor was purchased as well as availability. However, Ford did seem to favor the 4-speed for loader/backhoe over the 5-speed. To this point the 5-speed was not included in the industrial line. The *20 were mostly 5-speed but the *21 were mostly 4-speed, and they were often loader/backhoe tractors. **note that all 1821 were 4 speed tractors.
 
I have a 650. I like the transmission shifting setup and
matches my 961 transmission.





Vito
 

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