Another one to fix and restore 856

[Thompson1276 256]

Picked up this 856 it runs drives and mows suprisingly it mowed every season since it was new , the brake works on a flat surface but not on hills planning to flip the chassis and make it a low rider since this also has the first year of the rigid frames, was on market place for $700 got it for $500 it was worth it and it’s name is Winnie to match my other wheel horse Wonda the 1276, if anyone can help me on the brake issue that would be nice and I don’t know where the parking brake is too I couldn’t find one , but she’s in good hands and will be just fine, also here’s some pics kinds of eager of getting it so I rented a uhual and got it since my trailer was iced in from the last storm.

[stevasaurus 22,762]

Take a pic of the left side showing the Star wheel, seat lock and anything else there.    That is where the brake stuff is...left side.  The linkage is part of it, but you may need to replace the brake shoe material.  @rmaynard sells what you may need.

   Quite honestly, the brakes are substandard.  It is better to leave the horse in gear to keep it from rolling.  On the other hand, it is worth having the material (for the brake drum ) and linkage adjustments to make the brakes work like they should.  Some pictures would help if you are missing the parts you need.  

[wallfish 17,009]

Nice find

The adjustment for the brake band is right behind the left rear tire. You can get to it without removing the tire but best to get a good look at it. It's common for the brake drum shaft seal to leak putting oil on the brake band.

Not sure what you mean by "it has the first year of the rigid frames". It's a common frame set up on those

[Racinbob 11,084]

Are you missing the parking brake lever? I have a couple from that era.

 

56 minutes ago, wallfish said:

 

Not sure what you mean by "it has the first year of the rigid frames". It's a common frame set up on those

 

That's a question I had too. Same basic frame since 1961. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ed Kennell 38,199]

3 hours ago, Thompson1276 said:

make it a low rider

That looks much too nice to cut apart

[rjg854 11,377]

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

Those 60's short frames are my favorite!

[Thompson1276 256]

2 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

That looks much too nice to cut apart

Not cutting just flipping the frame but I’m thinking on do my it and making it my daily mower

[Thompson1276 256]

3 hours ago, Racinbob said:

Are you missing the parking brake lever? I have a couple from that era.

 

56 minutes ago, wallfish said:

 

Not sure what you mean by "it has the first year of the rigid frames". It's a common frame set up on those

 

That's a question I had too. Same basic frame since 1961. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know honestly I’ll send some pics in the thread but by frame I meant the rear end 1961 - 1965 they was known to crack 1966 being the first of the rigid frames by added the little bars by the transmission 

[Thompson1276 256]

For everyone who wanted pics of the “parking brake” (there is none) or I don’t know how to opperate it I guess but I thought it was a little handle you lift on the right it’s not there and the brakes work now I got it situated just had to drive it a little 

[Pullstart 62,905]

36 minutes ago, Thompson1276 said:

I don’t know honestly I’ll send some pics in the thread but by frame I meant the rear end 1961 - 1965 they was known to crack 1966 being the first of the rigid frames by added the little bars by the transmission 

I’m still u sure if what little bars you mean?  Maybe they were added by a PO, but not factory that I’m aware of.  Cool tractor!  The short frames are fun!

[Thompson1276 256]

4 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I’m still u sure if what little bars you mean?  Maybe they were added by a PO, but not factory that I’m aware of.  Cool tractor!  The short frames are fun!

Thank you it’s a cool little thing it’s name is Winnie but yeah 1961-1965 they didn’t have the ribs by the transmission, all frames after 65 had ribs by transmission bolts for added strength since they was known to crack since that where most the weight was and yes it’s factory check any frame after 65 just little ribs shown instead of it being flat prevents it from cracking 

[D_Mac 8,619]

I dragged my 856 out of the woods where it had been left for decades. New carb, fuel lines, clean gas tank, new battery, rewired, new key switch, replaced rims, tires and seat and it was up and running again. I'm glad I saved it. Tractor runs fantastic. Short frames are my favorites. Good luck with yours. 

[Thompson1276 256]

20 minutes ago, D_Mac said:

I dragged my 856 out of the woods where it had been left for decades. New carb, fuel lines, clean gas tank, new battery, rewired, new key switch, replaced rims, tires and seat and it was up and running again. I'm glad I saved it. Tractor runs fantastic. Short frames are my favorites. Good luck with yours. 

Thank you and that looks cool man and im planning to fully restore and repaint my 856 like I did my 1276

[Racinbob 11,084]

1 hour ago, Thompson1276 said:

For everyone who wanted pics of the “parking brake” (there is none) or I don’t know how to opperate it I guess but I thought it was a little handle you lift on the right it’s not there and the brakes work now I got it situated just had to drive it a little 

 

You're right about the reinforcing ridges. My 854 doesn't have them and I added some bar stock for strength.

Your brake linkage is really screwed up. The brake lever is actually there but installed wrong. What the heck is that spring thingy going up to where it looks like a hole was torched? If it was to assist the belt engagement it was the wrong way to go about it. Has someone got a good picture of the correct way to do the linkage on this model?  

 

 

[Racinbob 11,084]

That spring thingy looks like a storm door safety spring. Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! The lower spring looks to be wrong too. Get a 108035 spring, get the linkage straightened out and go from there. 

[wallfish 17,009]

You can get a bigger spring at TSC

The parking brake lever is missing the plastic knob

[Thompson1276 256]

21 minutes ago, wallfish said:

You can get a bigger spring at TSC

The parking brake lever is missing the plastic knob

Got it fixed thank you, didn’t know that’s how it worked. As for the springs I figure they was wrong 😂 look man I got it from the most Appalachian hillbilly family you can think of like straight of the Beverly Hillbilly’s type stuff. But they was very very nice people but it worked so i won’t fix it until it comes to repainting and rebuilding next fall 

[Retired Wrencher 5,463]

13 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

That looks much too nice to cut apart

Agree 100% Ed.

 

[D_Mac 8,619]

10 hours ago, Thompson1276 said:

Thank you and that looks cool man and im planning to fully restore and repaint my 856 like I did my 1276

I like to keep the paint as found. I clean and shine everything and add a few touches of my own but I like the finish to tell it's own story. 

[Thompson1276 256]

6 hours ago, D_Mac said:

I like to keep the paint as found. I clean and shine everything and add a few touches of my own but I like the finish to tell it's own story. 

That’s nice too but with how many times it’s been repainted and there’s metal showing I’d rather it be like new start off a new life from scratch like it did in 1966 to have another chance 

[peter lena 8,632]

@Thompson1276   simple to  retain the paint,  use an  aerosol penetrating oil  total spray down , let it sit and soak in a day , wipe it down till dry with a clean cloth.  do it again , same  details , you have just retained the paint on that , will have an oiled  look finish , done that for years on my stuff , think for the age / era  that would be enough .  pete

[D_Mac 8,619]

5 hours ago, Thompson1276 said:

That’s nice too but with how many times it’s been repainted and there’s metal showing I’d rather it be like new start off a new life from scratch like it did in 1966 to have another chance 

That's part of the story.

Edited January 2, 2023 by D_Mac

[Thompson1276 256]

5 hours ago, peter lena said:

@Thompson1276   simple to  retain the paint,  use an  aerosol penetrating oil  total spray down , let it sit and soak in a day , wipe it down till dry with a clean cloth.  do it again , same  details , you have just retained the paint on that , will have an oiled  look finish , done that for years on my stuff , think for the age / era  that would be enough .  pete

Will do with this since I’m planning not to repaint it until end of this we’ll now is this year yesterday was next year my god where has time gone 

[Thompson1276 256]

5 hours ago, peter lena said:

@Thompson1276   simple to  retain the paint,  use an  aerosol penetrating oil  total spray down , let it sit and soak in a day , wipe it down till dry with a clean cloth.  do it again , same  details , you have just retained the paint on that , will have an oiled  look finish , done that for years on my stuff , think for the age / era  that would be enough .  pete

Did that with my ol 1276 until I repainted it when I got it it was all kinds of messed up but fixed it by WD40 and some gloss finish detailer before sanding degreasing repainting the whole tractor which after turned out to to the newer looking tractor I guess you can call it which I have to add as a separate thread since it’s too big of a pic