grizz665

Member
Whats a ford 850 worth not running been sitting outside for 7 years said it ran when parked.Good sheet metal,tires are fair.starter been taken off.clutch pedal won't stay up.
 
Too many issues to address without knowing the answers. Not sure I would feel comfortable with the 7 years sitting but ran when it was parked explanation. If the engine turns over maybe a thousand where I am and that would be on the high side. What is the seller asking? It's a real good tractor if it can be brought back to life.
 
This could be a gem or a money pit. There are too many Fords available out there to throw very much money at it.
 
It's a good util tractor, but the price can vary widely.

1. Look at the steering arms on both sides. Are there hyd rams there? If yes, it has optional power steering. I would count that as a major plus

2. Is the oil milky? Head gasket at a min. Serious reduction in price.

3. Does it have a vertical exh stack? If yes, is there a top hat on it? If no top hat, don't even bother.

4. Take a couple spray cans of carb cleaner, and a 6V battery. Put the batt on the tractor. Remove the rubber coupling at the air cleaner to carb pipe, and expose the carb intake. Turn ign on, and crank the engine for a bit. Do NOT turn the fuel from the tank on!

If it cranks over and doesn't hydro-lock, set the throttle to 1/4 open and begin spritzing the carb cleaner right into the carb intake. You can do this by standing on the left of the tractor, make sure it's in N and push the button down with right thumb while spritzing with the left hand. It should fire up. Keep spritzing to build oil pressure, and check if it has oil pressure.

If all this works out, and it has PS, depending on rear tire condition I would give $1500 or so. May still have trans or clutch or brake or PTO issues, so it's still a risk. 850 is a good tractor for utility work.
 
Yeah, it's a turkey crap shoot. But you can never have TOO MANY FORDS out there... ; > ) ...sitting outside for 7 years said it ran when parked... means relatively nothing, more of a cliche nowadays, and I, as well as many of you veterans, chuckle when we read that, plus chances are the battery has long since died to begin with unless kept on a float charger. There is a list of pre-inspection items to look at when resurrecting these vintage machines - see left hand column. Don't just start yanking off parts willy-nilly and replacing them - that is a rookie mistake. An 850 has the 172 CID/OHV Red Tiger Engine; 5-Speed Trans; both pluses, and a non-live PTO as standard. Sheet metal and tires matter cosmetically but mechanical and electrical functions are much more important. Is the system OEM 6V/POS GRN or has a 12V switcheroo job been done? Either way, is the wiring correct? Why is the starter motor off? Is it around? I suspect due to a non-starting issue, the owner just assumed it was bad and yanked it off. One can motor test the GEN and STARTER MOTOR or take them to a shop to be tested. A good fully charged battery, clean fresh gas, and non-contaminated oils are first up on my list. Resale prices can be estimated from looking at current ADS and on fleabay to compare with.


Tim Daley(MI)
 
On a non runner I go by what the tires will fetch, Worst case I can sell the tires and get my money back. Anything else I can sell off the tractor is my profit.

I had a good running 850 5 speed with power steering I took a long time to get $2000 for it. That was around 2010 when the market took a dump. A clutch was in its future and the power steering pump was weak. Other than that a strong tractor with a fresh engine.

It did draw the tire kickers out of hiding. I paid 2K for it did some work like replace the complete exhaust system and rear main oil seal, I brought it for the pie weights. What ever that cost me that's what I have in a nice set of pie weights.

I never get a non runner going on the spot you lose your barging power. Its presented and priced as a a non runner its brought as a non runner.

BTDT and got the I told ya so : ( it cost me $1000.

After all that being said I would like a 850/860 to plow with they will pull a two bottom plow like nothing is behind it. They have the power just feed it well. I have a 3000 I plow with now its not in the class of that 850 when it comes to pulling a bottom plow.
 
Hi it's 6 volt still very original tractor. Serial numbers are 123831 it wouldn't start so someone unbolted stater but couldn't get off because oil filter. The oil looks good, and antifreeze to.
 
Rather than carb cleaner, see if you can hook up a gas can above the carb, and some clean gas to the sediment bowl fitting then pull start it. Either way, at a min I want to hear the engine go around for a while with ignition on. If it fires, bonus, if it's not locked up that also good. Pulling will also do a basic check on the trans and 3rd or 4th gear.
 
I will say this, never, ever, work on a tractor in a seller's yard. If it's a non running tractor drag it onto your trailer and leave. If you can't fix a non runner, don't buy it. If you fix it in the sellers yard they may decide to keep it. Happened to us, once! Or if you fix it price could go up. Happened to a friend of mine, once! Lesson learned. I have a pry bar, and a hand crank in my truck, if I can't turn the motor with one of those we stick it in high gear and rock it to see if motor is loose.
 


I paid $800 for a non-running 850 yesterday. He offered to get a battery and start it up. He said that it had run a month earlier. I wanted it just for the transmission and rear end however, and I noticed some extraneous parts were better than some on my runners. I had a pipe wrench with me and a snow shovel and dug a cave in the snow beside it to get under it to check the oil in the transmission and hydraulic and rear end. I plan to sell the engine and hood. As grandpa says don't go turning it into a runner in his yard. He may not want to pay you the $1,000, LOL.
 
All old tractors I've bought I had to work on in the sellers yard. That's the way I've done it, and that's the way I will do it. Seller tells me what they tell me. I confirm that, and advise I'll buy asking price if I get it started.

If one is dealing with a double-dealing backstabber I guess, don't expect honesty. Unless it's missing parts, if all the bits are there, I take a batt, carb cleaner, and some hand tools. So far, no one has backed out. If they said 'ran when parked' then I get to make it run and pay the man.

Woe be it to someone who backs out of a sale once I have permission to fiddle with it and an agreement to pay asking price.

YMMV, objects in mirror, contents have settled, pro driver closed course, and may cause rear end leakage.
 
(quoted from post at 14:50:02 01/29/23) All old tractors I've bought I had to work on in the sellers yard. That's the way I've done it, and that's the way I will do it. Seller tells me what they tell me. I confirm that, and advise I'll buy asking price if I get it started.

If one is dealing with a double-dealing backstabber I guess, don't expect honesty. Unless it's missing parts, if all the bits are there, I take a batt, carb cleaner, and some hand tools. So far, no one has backed out. If they said 'ran when parked' then I get to make it run and pay the man.

Woe be it to someone who backs out of a sale once I have permission to fiddle with it and an agreement to pay asking price.

YMMV, objects in mirror, contents have settled, pro driver closed course, and may cause rear end leakage.


Congrats for being lucky so far!
 

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