What is an 856?

It doesn't say farmall on it anywhere.

What does it have above the 856 on the emblem om the side?

custom.

custom. I thinking it falls into to category of a farmall.

serial number tag says international harvetor.

From an older post here: (I know I will forget something)

The "Custom" models were not as fully equipped as the "Farmall" designated models, therefore they were sold at a lower price.
Custom models had fenders. One headlight in the fenders. No rear work light, only a red tail light and amber flashing light.
Not equipped with ether starting aid. Mounting step and grab handle on left side only. One auxiliary hydraulic valve with two
simple connectors on the rear ( no check valves or breakaway connectors ).No sheet metal hydraulic valve coverings in front of
or in back of the seat. No full coverage battery covers. Never had hydraulic adjustable seat or tilt steering wheel. Three
point hitch or two point fast hitch ( whichever dealer ordered ). Two speed PTO and TA were usually standard equipment on
Customs , however they could have been ordered without ( as any Farmall model could have been ). Clamp type rear wheels ( no
wedge locks ).Commonly equipped with 9.5L-15 front tires and 16.9-38 rears however one could have other size tires depending on
dealer order. Tractors with 38 inch rear wheels were lighter 8 lug centers common to earlier 706 with 38 inch wheel centers. If
34 inch wheel centers they were heavier 12 lug style. 856 Custom has 33 gallon fuel tank as compared to 41 gallon on 856
Farmall. 856 Custom has single element air filter ( same as used on 806 ), whereas 856 Farmall has a different filter housing
with two filter elements ( outer and inner safety ). The above descriptions are as the tractor came from the factory. If you
see a "Custom" model with anything more than the "bare bones" equipment listed above, someone added it at a later date.

im trying find out about the serial number. If the 856 was classified as a Farmall or an International.. when buying parts. Both are listed but have different serial number listings. The iptoshaft falls into a parts break on the serial number.

Beats me, maybe someone with more knowledge of that series will chime in.

Pretty sure the 856 Custom would be a Farmall. As John said a more plain jane Farmall 856. Yes all say International Harvester .....lol!!!

Was not the Farmall the row crop version and the International was the industrial/utility version?

Look on the aluminum tag LH side of clitch housing, model would start with F, W, or I for farmall (row crop), wheatland, or industrial

I looked on Messicks parts,and The pto shaft looks hard to figure out.I believe caterpiller guy is right-the international would be a lower profile wide front end maybe a swept back front axle.And the farmall would be taller,narrow or wide front,but should say farmall on the hood side panels.Mark

I believe that some where about that time the Farmall was dropped and only International was on all of them also.

Here's one. Ben

The Farmall model designation was the row-crop style. The International model designation was the "standard" or Wheatland style. Pictures I picked off the internet show the two model types and IH literature about the 856 Custom model. If you have a Custom 856 it is a Farmall model . Serial number tag will show F 856D CU . Description of Custom models in a post below is a post I authored a few years ago.

my 856 custom falls in to the Farmall coding system. Farmall codeing system 1926-1971. However IH was using anther coding system. Post 1971. Some of the models fall into both coding systems. That why I put the wrong IPTO In my tractor. Now has winding noise in the middle.

Thanks, I I know. When I Order parts. Just wished I knew before I put the wrong IPTO shaft in. Live and learn. Education is never free.

In 1972, with the advent of the 66 series, IH stopped making separate row crop and wheatland/industrial versions of their tractors. They weren't selling enough of those style tractors to warrant producing a separate model anymore.

The model designation of 856 tractors, be it an 856 Farmall, 856 Farmall Custom, 856 International or 2856 International Industrial has nothing to do with the part number of the IPTO drive shaft that is in a tractor. What does make a difference in the part number is WHEN the tractor was built , hence the serial number break in both the Farmall and International models. IH changed the angle of the cut on the gears in the transmissions while the 56 series tractors were in production.

I believe that you are referring to the IPTO drive shaft illustration number 31 in the first diagram above. That drive shaft meshes with driven gear illustration number 41 in same diagram above. Parts numbers and serial number breaks are in parts number listings. When replacing the drive shaft, the correct shaft must be ordered according to serial number of tractor. Both the drive shaft and the driven gear have to have matching gear angles or you will get the noise that you say you have.