Trying to date my 800 tractor.

mslisaj · Apr 6, 2019

My new to me Ford 800 tractor I was told was a 1958 but a sharp eye questioned that and on closer exam of the numbers I had a 860 which would make it before 1958. So I assumed it was a 1957. Well today I really start looking at the the serial number and between the two parallelograms was what appears is a six position number. The first two digits are definitely a 1 and a 0. The third position or digit is all but unintelligible. It could be a 4 or a 6. The fourth position number is a 0 followed by a 2 and a 2. So looking at the guides five position serial numbers that start wtih a 1 and a 0 is a 1955. But I have six positions between the parallelograms and the first two digits are definitely 1 and a 0. The dating guides show the first six position numbers to start with a 1 and a 1. So what do you think. Quite the mystery if you ask me.

Thanks for your help.

jaxs · Apr 7, 2019

If it is an 860 I'd just do a happy dance and not worry. Unlike 58 up 801s,doesn't 860 have 2stage clutch ?
Housing with #s from a different year might have been grafted.

Ultradog MN · Apr 7, 2019

860s were built from 55 to 57 but they are all the same so other than bragging rights the serial # is unimportant.

RickB · Apr 7, 2019

You can date your tractor, but I think it is still illegal to marry it.

Michford · Apr 7, 2019

The serial numbers are sequential. If you have six digits in your serial number, and the first two are 10, then your tractor is a 1956. The first 1956 tractor built was 77271, and the last 1956 tractor built was 116367. Mystery solved, your tractor is a 1956.

mslisaj · Apr 7, 2019

Michford said:
The serial numbers are sequential. If you have six digits in your serial number, and the first two are 10, then your tractor is a 1956. The first 1956 tractor built was 77271, and the last 1956 tractor built was 116367. Mystery solved, your tractor is a 1956.

There you go!! Mystery solved - it's a '56.

Thanks again for all the help!