Bringing back an 854

[Handy Don 12,232]

After an intro to round hoods via the Lawn Ranger, I've been kinda sorta on the lookout for one of the taller models. Three weeks ago, on a quiet Friday night, a tired non-running 854 snuck out of Pennsylvania across the Delaware River into New Jersey, continued on over the Hudson River into New York, and ended its trip in my garage (displacing my car)! 

 

Since my spouse's response to my plan to convert a storage area in the garage into a heated work area to work on tractors was met with "Don't you already have a nice shop in the basement?", I needed a new plan. 

 

First, I realized that the 854 is only 31" wide (vs. 42" for the 520). Then last week I asked for and got a lot of good advice on trailer-mounting a winch so I went ahead and built a quick and dirty trial version. Lastly, I added ramps to my exterior basement stairs. Today, it came together.

My son and I chained the trailer to the Lawn Ranger (as a counterweight!), hoisted the 854 up onto the trailer, backed the trailer up to the stairwell, and then winched the 854 down the ramp and through the 32.5" wide basement door. We were both surprised at how smoothly it went.

 

I won't get to work on this machine for a couple of months as I've got several other projects in the works, but when I do I'll post progress to this topic.

 

So, on to the pictures!

 

Here's the 854. PO says it was running as a plow tractor in 2020 until its lift cable broke trying to lift a stuck plow, sidelining it. Seems the backup tractor became primary and this one got parked at the back of the shed. I'm fairly sure it had an HY unit (cleaner paint area on the hoodstand) and probably ag tires that got swapped off for its original tires before it was put up for sale (these tires are practically new and the lug bolts have recent marks on them while the fronts are on their last legs). Its ignition switch, voltage regulator, and some other bits are probably on other tractors as well so I'll be doing some shopping once I get a full survey done.

 

 

And here's the "deep dive".  (I took off the hood for the transit to avoid risking it being damaged--the air cleaner is MIA at the moment.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by Handy Don

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

That's quite the descent with that steep angle! But hey, you made it work 

Are you going to do a full restoration on it?

[ebinmaine 67,502]

Excellent execution of the tractor to basement workshop plan Don. 

I'll be looking forward to seeing the progress. 

 

[ri702bill 8,322]

Don

Now I see the interest in the 8 speed conversion.... tractor looks almost complete air cleaner housing as mentioned and the left cover over the brake are missing.

Looks to be a solid start - check the frame "F" plate for cracks where it mounts the Unidrive.......... this one was from an 854

IF you do the 8 speed conversion you can probably DRIVE it up the ramps in 1st gear, Lo range !!!! IF you can get enough traction.

Bill

Edited January 5, 2022 by ri702bill

[WHGuy413 2,683]

I lowered a electro 12 into my basement one winter. Used my dads jd 4100 utility tractor to lower it down. It was pretty tough being a hydro.

[squonk 41,118]

That pic from the top of the stairs reminds me of the day we lowered a 600lb. chiller compressor into a basement. Some plywood, a tree and a bunch of guys! 

 

Save yourself  a couple of 6-12 rear wheels and tires. Then you can mount them on your bigger horses and fit them into your basement for cold weather work as well. I have 2 tractors stored in my back shop using the skinny wheels. You can also fit more tractors on a trailer this way.

[Pullstart 62,884]

Glad to see the winch ideas help up!  Fun project Don!

[953 nut 55,230]

9 hours ago, Handy Don said:

My son and I chained the trailer to the Lawn Ranger (as a counterweight!), hoisted the 854 up onto the trailer, backed the trailer up to the stairwell, and then winched the 854 down the ramp and through the 32.5" wide basement door. We were both surprised at how smoothly it went

          Gravity was your friend going into the basement,                      may need to eat your Wheaties when it is time to bring it back out into the world.                                      

[JPWH 6,033]

That 854 will climb a telephone pole if you can figure how to give it traction.

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

It will have enough power and traction going up.

But how you are going to keep the front end down? 

[squonk 41,118]

Use the winch along with the engine. It will walk right up.

[Ed Kennell 38,178]

Kevin coulda drove that down w/o ramps or com-a-longs.

 

[Pullstart 62,884]

Hold my beer, watch this!

[Roger R 448]

Why worry about getting it out now?  "Sufficient for the day are the troubles there of" The inventive ability of getting it down means the reverse will just be another fun challenge at the time.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,560]

1 hour ago, Maxwell-8 said:

It will have enough power and traction going up.

But how you are going to keep the front end down? 

Go in reverse… it’ll walk right up…

[SylvanLakeWH 25,560]

23 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Hold my beer, watch this!

We won’t be holding your beer… we’ll be drinking your beer… 

[Pullstart 62,884]

20 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

We won’t be holding your beer… we’ll be drinking your beer… 

 

“Lemme finish this, and watch this!”  Better?  Well not for you.

[Handy Don 12,232]

Thanks for all the responses, all y'all!

 

7 hours ago, sjoemie himself said:

Are you going to do a full restoration on it?

Good question. This is far from an "untouched barn find". I'll do whatever it takes to get it mechanically sound for sure. I'm intending it as a utility worker (It'll replace the Lawn Ranger--will post a classified for it soon). I'm becoming more comfortable with the "this is an old tractor" look after doing a lot of cosmetic work on the 310 and 518/520. This 854, though, has already had some paint added over poor preparation somewhere along the way so likely it'll get a partial prep/paint job--wheels and tins for sure and I'll have to see what's what with the engine, transaxle, frame, etc. Also, depending on the condition of the transaxle, cost, and what mods are needed, I might entertain an 8-speed upgrade.

 

5 hours ago, ri702bill said:

check the frame "F" plate for cracks where it mounts the Unidrive.......... this one was from an 854

Good point. Since I know it was worked I intend to give it a thorough mechanical and electrical exam (PO did say that it never had a mower or front plow--it came to him as a plow tractor and that was its twice a year duty for many years). It has a slot hitch which seems like it'd be good for pulling but I'm not sure about lifting. A front attachamatic adaptor may be in its future as well.

 

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Glad to see the winch ideas help up!  Fun project Don!

Yes, they did. I am very glad I did a prototype as a test. The "over the spare" bridge style will be a win but I definitely identified some design changes that will be needed when I do it in metal instead of wood. For one, I will need a removable roller at the rear lip of the trailer to guide the strap and for another I'll need more clearance for the handle swing (too easy now to skin knuckles!) 

 

3 hours ago, 953 nut said:

may need to eat your Wheaties when it is time to bring it back out into the world

. I'll stock up.

 

3 hours ago, squonk said:

Save yourself  a couple of 6-12 rear wheels and tires. Then you can mount them on your bigger horses and fit them into your basement

Yep, compared to turfs, they do narrow the width a lot--widest point is the front wheels! The 520, though, has the swept front axle and heavy spindles so its width at the front wheels is 41"--no finessing that fellow.

Initially I was ready to just put a wider door in the basement but to get more than another 2" would have meant rebuilding the house's foundation 😬! I binned that idea quickly.

 

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Go in reverse… it’ll walk right up…

Probably would, but I'm "inclined" to go with frontward and keeping it on the winch to keep the front down . Certainly not a question of power, only traction and balance.

 

2 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Kevin coulda drove that down w/o ramps or com-a-longs.

 

I seriously considered just "bumping" it (a la "The Italian Job"). I think going down it would have worked but coming back up would be a real PITA and put unnecessary strain on the winch and the tractor.

[ebinmaine 67,502]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

might entertain an 8-speed upgrade.

Research that one carefully.

It WILL bolt up with slight modifications. Several of us have done it.

 

I tried it with a 1267 that I attempted to make into a plow tractor. I found two things.

1. Getting the brake to line up and be functional as a parking brake is possible but it needs to be adjusted OFTEN.

2. I found that I just could not get a proper grab on several different belts of several different sizes. When I'm plowing snow I go back and forth a LOT. 

I wore out three belts in about a season. 

 

I eventually gave up and dismantled the tractor.....

 

 

Above issues noted, if you're going to use it as a tiller or want to put it in reverse and back a trailer around the corner I HIGHLY recommend low range.

 

 

[pfrederi 17,739]

59 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Thanks for all the responses, all y'all!

 

Good question. This is far from an "untouched barn find". I'll do whatever it takes to get it mechanically sound for sure. I'm intending it as a utility worker (It'll replace the Lawn Ranger--will post a classified for it soon). I'm becoming more comfortable with the "this is an old tractor" look after doing a lot of cosmetic work on the 310 and 518/520. This 854, though, has already had some paint added over poor preparation somewhere along the way so likely it'll get a partial prep/paint job--wheels and tins for sure and I'll have to see what's what with the engine, transaxle, frame, etc. Also, depending on the condition of the transaxle, cost, and what mods are needed, I might entertain an 8-speed upgrade.

 

 

 

 

Just a thought... as you get older it is a lot easier to hop on and off the low slung Lawn Ranger... That is why my l-107 is my go to chore tractor.  i ain't getting any younger...or more flexible..

[Pullstart 62,884]

As for the 8 speed idea… a 6 speed transmission would be easier.  Similar brakes as a 3 speed.  Bonus, limited slip! 

[Handy Don 12,232]

3 hours ago, pfrederi said:

Just a thought... as you get older it is a lot easier to hop on and off the low slung Lawn Ranger... That is why my l-107 is my go to chore tractor.  i ain't getting any younger...or more flexible..

That is a good point and it is darned easy to get on and off the LR. And the LR is already running and just needs a little extra TLC. 

Reality check: Don, you don't even have accessible storage for ONE tractor, let alone two.

Suspicion: Will next suggestion be "Hey, I'll help you out and take that grubby 854 off your hands" 

 

34 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

As for the 8 speed idea… a 6 speed transmission would be easier.  Similar brakes as a 3 speed.  Bonus, limited slip! 

That makes good sense. Do you know off-hand how to identify the two types? I'll start doing research on that.

[Handy Don 12,232]

Hello @gwest_ca. Can you please suggest the easiest way to identify 6-speed vs 8-speed transaxles (and which tractors had them)? Thanks!

[ebinmaine 67,502]

7 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Hello @gwest_ca. Can you please suggest the easiest way to identify 6-speed vs 8-speed transaxles (and which tractors had them)? Thanks!

@stevasaurus

Would be a great source for that too. 

 

I can give you a rough idea.  

6 speed were the hi/low range models in the late 60s. 

 

1967 867, 1067, 1267. 1968, 69((??)) Raider. 

Not sure what else.   

 

[Pullstart 62,884]

Look at the shaft of the brake drum.  The 6 speed will be on the 3 speed drum.  The 8 speed is on a different shaft