Upgraded my tractor have questions

I upgraded to a Ford 8600 and have some questions.

So I got my book and the power steering reservoir is not up by the radiator like the book shows. I believe it is on right side on engine block. Don't see a dip stick or fill level. How full and what to put in it?

Also it has a cab on it that I am thinking of taking off (if I can find fenders) or just taking out the windows. what do you guys think?

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for an 8600 they could send me? I need to get some lights working.

Thanks in advance as always.
Matt

Just in case you have not found out yet, the single most important thing to do to care for your 8600 is proper coolant service. Get new diesel rated extended life coolant into it ASAP.

The power steering reservoir on my 9000 is right up front top by the radiator. I bet that yours was removed perhaps because a disintegrating belt damaged the line to it. My 9000 steering takes hydraulic (transmission-Hydraulic) oil. Mine had a very rusty old cab. I removed it and was able to get the fiberglass fenders. They are not easy to find, but I think that it looks much better. The old Ford cabs are thought to be the loudest ever made. I have a shop manual, but I believe that there were major differences between X000 and X600 electrical. I had to put my wiring together. I just used a test light to see where to take power off the switch.

My neighbor's 8700(should be the same) ha the Ps pump/reservoir located on the left front of the engine.It's a round coffee can shaped/sized tank with a rubber stopper.My suggestion on the cab is to remove the windows first and try it.the cab top makes a pretty good sunshade.If you do much spring farming,you can always put them back in.Better that freezeing your butt! LOL As was said,fenders may be hard to find,expencive too.

Dumb question: Do most guys leave the windshield in place to deflect some of the engine noise away from the operator, or they take out the windshield to improve air movement?

With the windshield out it'll be a rattle trap. All the noise from the exhaust will come right in the front and bounce around inside the cab.

(quoted from post at 11:26:29 07/26/17) Dumb question: Do most guys leave the windshield in place to deflect some of the engine noise away from the operator, or they take out the windshield to improve air movement?

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I have rarely seen an old cab tractor where the windshield is out. From my personal experience with an old Ford 9000 it will make little difference in noise anyway, because the hood will shield the operator from most engine noise, and the height of the exhaust stack insures that the exhaust noise goes up and over. Most of the noise from those old cabs comes from the vibration and rattling of the cab parts themselves.

I have a pair of fiberglass fenders I took off a 9000 maybe 25 years ago. I also have the steps and some of the floor metal. I put a Hiniker cab on the tractor, it is much more structural than the OEM Ford cab. I'd gladly sell what I have. I am located a bit west of Minneapolis MN. E-mail is open.

Paul in MN

On 8600 power steering res.is on the left side of engine and there is no dipstick just a cap so just fill to bottom of filler. Good luck on finding fenders.

The lighting wiring may go up through a front corner cab post. At the age of your 8600, the wire insulation may be cracked or missing. It was good heavy wire in its day. To get around these problems, we added a fused hot lead to the terminal on the starter, went to the backside of the instrument panel, added a H.D. switch on the instrument panel and went forward along the support rail on the left side of the hood past the radiator and then down to a light bar at the bottom of the radiator's front grill. If you put original fenders on, then the headlights are embedded in the fenders, 2 on each side. We also got rid of the wimpy 20 amp Lucas generator and replaced with a 12 SI Delco capable of about 100 amps. Maybe your tractor with factory cab has the Motorola alternator, a huge improvement over the Lucas genny. Both the Motorola and the Lucas have regulators probably located beneath the battery box, or on a step support. IMHO, the Lucas starter is pretty good, and is superior to the "Lucas" starters sold today, but their generators gave them the reputation as "the prince of darkness". Original wiring diagram not needed, and has probably been altered anyway.

Paul in MN

Paul,
Still new at posting on here but can't find how to email you about fenders and such. Mine should be open as well.

Thanks
Matt

Matt,

I can see your confusion about the email. If I click on your original post and all the replies come up, you see (in Classic format) a blue hot link which says "send email" or "no email". This appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen. But if you just click on one reply, that button does not appear!??????! I just found that out (I think something changed????). So look for that button. Due to concerns about security and tons of spam, most of us will not post our full email in the body of the text. Google and other search engines can be set to hunt those email addys out.

The fenders I have are not restoration quality, they have been in the bed of a PU truck in the tree line for 20+ years. But I do believe they are usable for a working tractor. Maybe you have some trip planned to Mn or the Dakotas this fall and can combine their acquisition with a hunting trip. I don't know where in Ill. you are coming from, if northern Ill. then the trip is not too bad. But from central or southern Ill, then it becomes a different story.

I probably can not hold on to them beyond late fall, as we are in a development area, and the city inspectors are on my case to get rid of stuff. Email me.

Paul in MN