8n Upgrade

I am pretty new to tractors. I have owned a Ford 8n for approx. 2 years that I use mostly for bush hogging. I have an opportunity to purchase a 1958 851 Powermaster (6 Volt)for $3100.00. This tractor has never been restored. Is this worth the upgrade? Is this a good price? Thanks

The price seems high to me. It would be an up grade from your 8N but not that much. Mainly a five speed transmission. I would look for a Ford 861. There you gain the five speed plus Live PTO.

Well first off an 851 is almost twice what an 8N is and has live hyds but not live PTO. It also has a lot more weight to it and a much slower low gear. The price on the other hand unless the tires are almost new maybe a tad bit high. I have an 841 which is the same series but a 4 speed and it has a loader and came with a plow and also has a Sherman combo and we payed $3250 for it but the loader adds $$ and the plow was worth at least $250-300

Local market will do a lot in market price. Here locally I have seen several of that size tractors advertised in the $2500 range. Since you are used to a tractor without live power: the 851 not having it would not be a big deal. I just think if you look around a bit or are willing to drive a few miles, you can get a better price.

(quoted from post at 12:22:40 04/30/17) I am pretty new to tractors. I have owned a Ford 8n for approx. 2 years that I use mostly for bush hogging. I have an opportunity to purchase a 1958 851 Powermaster (6 Volt)for $3100.00. This tractor has never been restored. Is this worth the upgrade? Is this a good price? Thanks

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You will defiantly appreciate a live PTO when bush hogging. As others said you will not get that with 851 and may be not worth upgrading to.

I ran my 850 for 11 or 12 years on a rotary cutter on 10-12 acres depending. Never bothered to put an overunning clutch on it either. When stopping, it would creep forward a bit, but you can lower down and use the ground like a brake on it. Just push in the clutch and cut power to the pto. If safety is any question on stopping, just install the overunning clutch. With my old Rhino SE-6, the pan would rub when lowered all the way, no harm or shock loads, and it stops quickly with the clutch disengaged. Never do this with full power to any mower like this and certainly don't do it if the blades will dig into the dirt, I lucked out with mine, just the stump pan would rub.

By the same token, starting and stopping with this mower on, in tight areas, is a real pain, but for open areas, just fine. Areas you have to back in, change direction a lot, you will want live pto or similar. In this area, that's a fair price for an 801 series that is in field ready condition. People ask that for N series in decent shape, though most of those sell for half of that. Lot more power than an N. Th 801 will use a bit more fuel too, but you can run a 6'-0" mower on one, though you may need some front ballast, depending on how heavy. It will run a 5' mower in the heaviest of vegetation up hill and have no trouble with it. I ran a 5' mower behind a '64 4000 for years, about the same tractor as an 800/801 series. Not much would bog it down, but I can recall thick burdock patches placing a heavy load on it. This tractor had the select-o-speed transmission, independent PTO, you could stop the tractor until the mower RPM's come back up. Live pto would allow you to do this too, just press the pedal down half way, and you will want to make sure an 860, or 861 model clutch works properly before buying it.

My Jubilee is an upgrade to an 8n, live hydraulics and 50% more horses.
I wish I had bought either an 861 or 961. Way more power and live pto.

As for what it's worth would depend on condition of tires and rims. I bet if you bought 4 new goodyears tubes and rims you would go into sticker shock.

(quoted from post at 12:39:28 04/30/17) Well first off an 851 is almost twice what an 8N is and has live hyds but not live PTO. It also has a lot more weight to it and a much slower low gear. The price on the other hand unless the tires are almost new maybe a tad bit high. I have an 841 which is the same series but a 4 speed and it has a loader and came with a plow and also has a Sherman combo and we payed $3250 for it but the loader adds $$ and the plow was worth at least $250-300

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Just wondering, does the 851 have the dual clutch setup for live pto?

Location and condition are everything.
I bought a running 851 a few weeks ago for $1000.
Is it a step up from an 8N? Definitely.
Mine has power steering too, which is a big plus.
Of course, this one needs work at that price. Leaks everywhere.
But other than leaks, it seems to be mostly minor repairs.

(quoted from post at 22:13:40 04/30/17)

(quoted from post at 12:39:28 04/30/17) Well first off an 851 is almost twice what an 8N is and has live hyds but not live PTO. It also has a lot more weight to it and a much slower low gear. The price on the other hand unless the tires are almost new maybe a tad bit high. I have an 841 which is the same series but a 4 speed and it has a loader and came with a plow and also has a Sherman combo and we payed $3250 for it but the loader adds $$ and the plow was worth at least $250-300

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Just wondering, does the 851 have the dual clutch setup for live pto?

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851 would not have the dual clutch. 861 would have.
Same tractor otherwise. Unless modified later, of course.

(quoted from post at 16:22:40 04/30/17) I am pretty new to tractors. I have owned a Ford 8n for approx. 2 years that I use mostly for bush hogging. I have an opportunity to purchase a 1958 851 Powermaster (6 Volt)for $3100.00. This tractor has never been restored. Is this worth the upgrade? Is this a good price? Thanks

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Pretty high priced.