my tractor-photos

The likely scenario is this: the tractor was originally an 871-D or 881-D (diesel engine, Select-O-Speed trans). Somewhere along the way, the SOS tranny crapped out and the owner swapped in a 5 speed tranny from a junkyard 900 tractor. Therefore the tractor inherited the junkyard tractor's serial and model numbers.

Oh, and the fenders look like 8N/NAA units. If the tractor works and is more useful to you than the motorcycle was, then none of the above matters much. It looks like it should do the job.

Here's John in La' photo bucket site which has the date codes. It will at least help determine when the major components were made.

• Date Codes

The engine and hood assembly are definately 1958 or later, because that is when diesels came out and that is the 58 or later sheetmetal. The trans is from 1956 based on the serial number(if I read it right)and it is from a 950. The "9" indicates it was a high clearance row crop tractor; the "5" indicates it was a five speed with 3 point and non-live PTO; The "0" indicates it is from the hundred series which were made between 1955 and 1957. The fenders, based on the photo, appear to be from 1955 hundred series as that is the only year they made that particular mounting bracket. Unless they are earlier, more pics would help.

I would by a Ford Shop Manual that covers from 1955 to 1960 and a Master Parts Catalog for the same years. They sell them on E-bay or this site.

John in La has a site that shows photos of the casting and date codes. I don't have that information. If you do a search of the archives for casting ccodes or date codes you'll be able to find it. I'd look for you, but I have to leave for awhile. Have fun.