854 tow truck tractor

[WHGuy413 2,769]

Wheelhorse_kid and I started our next project a 854 that we have had here for a while. He got it in a package deal with 5 other tractors and a ton of miscellaneous parts. The previous owner clearly tinkered with it and built a custom tow truck attachment built out of a wheel horse snow plow frame. We knew the engine was stuck so tonight he started taking parts off of it while I made dinner. The mower deck came off and won’t go back on unless we decide to go a different route. Under the head is pretty nasty with tons of rust/dirt on the piston. The cylinder wall at the top is pretty rough. Hopefully we can get it cleaned up and useable. I was impressed with how easily all the bolts came out of the engine clearly the guy had worked on it. Maybe even trying to get un seized. The starter generator was also seized I was able to free it up some what. He discovered that the shifter shifts into all the gears but for some reason the pattern is way to the left it must be bent. It has 5 bolt hubs on it. Was that common on 854’s or did someone swap them? We both like the idea of a tow truck tractor but don’t like how he mounted it. We plan to revamp how it mounts add front weights and maybe doing ag tires all the way around. Everything will be built so that it can come off easy enough if we ever want to put it back to stock. Looking forward to working on this project with him over the winter and into the spring. Hoping we can get it up and running 

Edited January 11 by WHGuy413

[WHX?? 49,606]

35 minutes ago, WHGuy413 said:

It has 5 bolt hubs on it. Was that common on 854’s 

Yes first model/year for them.

Good luck on that top end... sure it will clean up.

A little inspiration 

[ri702bill 8,616]

Nice - the 854 is one of my favorites.

That engine may clean up OK - in your favor, both valves are shut. Mine had a stuck intake from sitting outside - nowhere that amount of moisture inside, and cleaned up fine.

 

 

The 854 is a short frame tractor - The mid-frame stretch job on @WHX??'s tractor makes sense to keep the front end down ( but the reach way back to shift looks like it takes a bit to get used to).

DO check a few of the common wear items.... How ugly is the 4 speed as far as function and is there water in it??? Mine was a complete rusted solid brick. I swapped in an 8 speed from a 1979 C81 - the low range may just be the ticket for you... More on that later....  A Raider 6 speed is an even easier swap AND has a limited slip differential. Ask @Handy Don.

Look at the frame "F" plate where the Unidrive bolts on - it may show signs of cracking at the four 3/8" bolt holes. If so, you need to strip the tractor to the bare frame to gouge, weld & grind it for a quality repair. You do have a cambered front axle - that is a good thing. Ir has a shorter turning radius than the 1961 and 1962 models. ( Think extended cab 4x4 pickup vs. a school bus!!). Check the axle and spindles, along with the pivot for excessive wear - most of those parts can be repaired. Adding weight - put tubes in the front tires, add either Rimgard or winter W/W antifreeze and wheel weights. I made mine from 25 lb barbell weights.

Now the bad news - stopping. Once you have the mass of two tractors moving, you need to be able to stop it too. The 6 or 8 speed low range helps with that .

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 69,273]

Very cool project! 

[Handy Don 12,868]

10 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Once you have the mass of two tractors moving, you need to be able to stop it too. The 6 or 8 speed low range helps with that .

Lots of good points in Bill’s post.

 

As for braking, always remember you have a pulley clutch--you cannot count on engine braking like you can in a fully geared vehicle. When the tractor begins to drive the engine, tension on the belt will cause the clutch pulley to retract and allow for belt slippage and then “Katie bar the gate” you might be in for some unexpected excitement. Thinking you can hold the clutch up with your foot to prevent this? Dream on. And with a single clutch/brake pedal, you have to disengage the clutch to get braking.

 

My 3-speed was in good shape but I wanted the low range and LSD. Lincoln at A-to-Z took the 3 in trade against the 6. The only tricky parts were: 1) making sure I had the right spot for the extra hole for the Hi-Lo shifter before drilling it, and 2) getting the roll pin into the Hi-Lo shift lever (the different fender support tray is in the way). 

[WHGuy413 2,769]

I am not worried about the stopping. The brakes are one of the only down falls to a wheel horse.  This basically will be a show tractor thing. Use around the house on 90% flat ground. With no towing down hill. I think we will be ok. But yes lots of good points. The way we want to attach the lift will make it easy to come off if we decide it’s a dumb idea 😂