need info on ford 8600

[Soundguy]

I may ride out to look at a ford 8600 with a buddy of mine.

Any info I can pass along. I'm not at all familiar with an 8600. ( though have done a bit of research on the 8000.. etc. ) I hear this unit has an 8spd.. etc, and is a 6cyl.

Any info available is appreciated, including pro/con, problem areas, and advice / priceing. etc. I'm just their for moral support.. but wouldn't mind being armed with a fact or two.

Soundguy

[Robert_in_NY]

If I recall, some of the 8600's had dual power which is a great feature (does your 7610s have DP?). As for any issues, most of the 8600's I see now have been beat hard. Just look it over carefully if it has new paint on it and take it for a ride to see how it runs. I have been looking for an old 86/8700 or 96/9700 to add as a tillage tractor but so far all of the 8600's I have found are priced way too high for their condition. Have fun.

[Soundguy]

Pain it not good. I guess the steering motor needs to be checked.

Suposedly no dual power.

( no my 7610s has no dp.. just 8spd... which i like... the 8spds seem pretty solid. ).

Soundguy

[whitetiger]

Check the steering cyclinder in front of the radiator for leaks and a loose piviot bearing. Big problem area and parts are NLA. These tractors also had a big problem with shift linkage hanging up and not shifting. Also look at the remote valves for leakage, they are mounted on the right hand pump cover. We service a lot of this model tractor, personaly I would not own one as I do not need another job. The internals of these tractors are great but the external parts are a mess.

[Soundguy]

Thanks for the info, I'll pass it on.

PS

I looked at a 72 ford 5000 RC today. It's a much different beast than my 75 utility chassie 5000. Different op platform, and power steering setup.. dash and some other doo dads.. etc. I much prefer the utility chassie....

Soundguy

[Opti-Mist]

That Saginaw steering gear was a little too "sophisticated"?