58 Ford 861 Pulling Trees Did We Pay Too Much

In this video, we bring out our 1958 Ford 861Tractor to pull out some dead tree around the property. I also give a little background on how we were lucky enough to acquire this beautiful tractor.
#countrylife #homesteading #oldford #tractor #tractorvideo #1958 #yardwork #vintage ford #vintage tractor

[@williamramsey6027]

That was a fair deal for a beautiful tractor. Under 3k would have been a steal.

[@reppfarms4493]

I have a ‘58 Ford 861 that was my Grandfather’s, and it has now been in our family for three generations. They are among the best tractors Ford ever made. Anything under $5k is worth it easily worth it, and knowing it’s history makes it that much more valuable. You did well….

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

It's wonderful that you've been able to keep the tractor in the family and I'd like to think the 861 is one of ford's best .

[@georgemillen7925]

What you payed for your tractor you not lost out on it

[@scottsoper]

I would say that $4600 was a good deal. You just had to put a new battery and solenoid and the whole things seems to be working well. Moreover you have good paint!!! The best part is that both you and your wife like the tractor and it has sentimental connections as well. You will own and use that tractor to the day you die just like your friend did.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Yes I believe you're right. It found a good home 🏡

[@simplewoodslife]

Love seeing you bring that tractor out Joe, what a great piece of machinery. Super video, and watching it from all those different angles was wonderful! Looks like Mrs. Long Branch Homestead is having a blast to boot - can't put a price on that! Nothing much better than tooling around on a machine like that on a lovely day. 👏🚜👏I think it's found a great home, that story and the memories alone are worth the price you paid.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Yeah Jay she loves driving the old ford and I also believe it's found a good home 🏡 thanks 👍

[@wcooman1694]

Growing up, we had a '58 841 w/industrial loader. Got a whole lot of seat time on that. The loader was maybe a little heavy for the front end (needed floatation tires?) but did everything we asked of it. Only had the loader off a few times (definitely NOT QT) but without it, that tractor was a little beast.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

It's nice to hear how people used these old ford's and your right about being a beast

[@LittleNokesvilleFarm]

Joe - great video. I bought this same tractor, 1961 diesel version, for $8,000. So I'd say you got a pretty good deal. In my opinion, this is the "Porsche" of tractors.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

When we first set eyes on it we new we'd love to have it someday. We think it found a good home 🏡. Thanks for watching!

[@curlybrownk9]

I absolutely love the Ford 40s to 60s tractors in all the flavors, every week there's a bunch, headed to the scrap yard, for pennies by the pound, it's nice to see someone that sees the value still left in them. Their ease of use, popularity, dependability, affordability, price and parts wise, plus the fact they sold so many they are all over. The fact these things are still doing real work today is a testament to their dependability simplicity and quality.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

I agree great comment 👍 thanks for watching

[@user-pu9ek8je7z]

I bought my 1958 861 diesel for $5500 completely restored and overhauled. Love that tractor.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Nice!! Love mine too. Thanks for watching!!

[@scottolson5285]

Just finished complete overhaul on a 58 ford 851. You can’t buy a good used lawnmower for 5 grand

[@princepa123]

Thank you for sharing the price. Not many people share this type of information. Your place looks gorgeous. GL

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Well you're welcome and thank you for your nice comment 👍 Thanks for watching

[@Supertramp01]

Nice tractor! I just picked up an 860 at an estates sale for 500 bucks( i stole it)..same owners for the last 35 yrs..barn kept. All original..hasnt been restored and everything is still there...runs like brand-new. My plan is to bring it back ti showroom this winter.. I also have a 48 8n and a 53 jubilee.. Cant go wrong with these old tractors.. 4600 is a good price for that condition from i see here in ohio..especially being a powermaster. That thng will outlast ANY new tractor

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

That is a steal! Sounds like you have the start of a nice collection of ford's. It's amazing how many people are still working with there old ford's. From the 40s through the 50s ford put out great tractors that stand the test of time. Thanks for watching

[@Supertramp01]

@thelongbranchhomestead1397 Not only are people still working them, but they are going up value. I think some people realize almost 100 yr old tractors are more reliable than the new stuff, and they can actually work on it themselves. Same rule applies to old cars and trucks. Simpler living doesn't always mean you're poor it just means you have commonsense. Better hang on to that old girl as she'll last you and the next generation to come for many many years.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

@@Supertramp01 so true 👍

[@nigelwinslow]

The 861's and 661's with the live PTO's are my most desired tractors. You may have had feelings of regret or buyers remorse. But that level of regret is nothing compared to the sellers remorse that you feel after you sell one of these.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

No regrets here. Pricing new tractors blows my mind and I fully understand why when you go to a farm auction you see hundreds of people there. New tractors cost way too much!!!

[@Johnlewissawmill]

That’s an awesome tractor

[@MARTILOU]

You did good gott rhe heraitige and made your wife happy.

[@Canopus68]

Looks like a great place to have a vineyard. The first tractor I drove was an 8N.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Thanks for the kind words and thanks for sharing

[@jaycounts4717]

You got a good deal, it looks and sounds like it was well maintained and new tractor with comparable HP is 20 grand or more, BTW your home and property is beautiful.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Yep we think so too and is a nice fit our place. Thanks for watching and for the nice comment on our home

[@bottleboy555]

You did good at that price. Its beautiful. I grew up on an 8N.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Thanks that's good to know.

[@tractormike685]

Good deal on a beautiful tractor! I'm a Farmall guy, but love my Ford too.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

I love Farmalls too growing up from my grandfather's to my father and my brother still today is all RED!! Thanks for watching!

[@jpthedelawarebeeman6239]

Hello there, I'm not a tractor expert but what I have seen on market place you got it for a good price for the condition. It may be worth double that these days but it probably depends on location and whatever someone's willing to pay or needs to have it.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Hello 👋 I guess there's all kinds of variables. Thanks for info 👍

[@ronaldschronce4875]

Looking at one now for 5500

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Good luck 👍

[@anthonyhurtado1131]

Mine was 6500 at auction

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Oh wow what state is that in? How recent was the purchase?

[@anthonyhurtado1131]

@@thelongbranchhomestead1397 SW Missouri at auction.

[@antoinevandamme6506]

Normal price for tractors like that in Europe is somewhere between 4000 to 5000 euro. I have a small orchard tractor it is an eicher 2 cilinder and if I want to sell it would go for 4500 euro. But I like it too much to sell it.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

I think tractors become a part of your soul after awhile and hard to part with. Thanks for sharing

[@n5ifi]

If its in good condition, you cant buy a better tractor than these old Fords. They will outlast everyone of us.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

I'd have to agree with that. Thanks for commenting!!

[@dowdawg]

Great tractor!! But dragging logs like that can be so dangerous!! If it catches in the ground that tractor will flip back so fast you won’t have time to press the clutch!! Numerous people have been killed doing that including a local man doing just what she was doing. Be careful out there and love that tractor!!

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Thanks for your concern. I don't believe the trees were big enough to be of any danger. Thanks for watching.

[@dowdawg]

⁠Not meaning to pry it’s not the size of the tree it if the front of that log catches a root or rock below the surface of the ground. Be Blessed and happy tractoring!!

[@franklinevans519]

Put a swinging draw bar on the 3 point arms. Choke up on your chain. Then just lift the 3 point a tick. Just enough to get the butt off the ground. Then drive away. That's the way I was taught. Keeps from trenching the yard. As for your tractor. Love it beautiful machine. Did you pay too much? 1. Wife's happy 2. Wife's happy. Nope great purchase!! Enjoy!!

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

​@franklinevans519 that's a good idea Thanks for your comment 👍

[@user-ek4zy9ly1y]

You're absolutely right! It has nothing to do with the size of the tree. Longbranch needs to be seriously more receptive to good advice. I have a Jubilee myself so I know how quickly a tractor can flip when whatever you are pulling comes up against a fence post or a rock or ridge of land or whatever. I stood my tractor up one time and scared the snot out of myself. When I quickly put the clutch in, in a panic, the tractor front end slammed to the ground. While his lady was pulling the first tree, she didn't evenlook back once to check her load. ALSO, every time the man hooked up his chain to a tree he had the towing purchase of the chain ON TOP OF THE LOG so it forced the butt of the tree to be constantly plowing a furrow in the ground. Putting the towing part of the chain on the bottom of the butt would help considerably as would a drastic shortening of the chain which would provide lift to the leading end, taking downward force off of it. Longbranch, you should be thanking dowdawg profusely, because he knows what he's talking about. Go to Yesterdays Tractors.com and join the appropriate forum. Find out in record time how right we are about this before you put your lady in any more danger.

[@jhitt79]

$4600 is definitely more than I would pay. But……that’s not what matters: I’ve been buying, repairing, and selling tractors for over 20 years now. I was at an auction yesterday that a similar sized Massey went for $650. The Massey had spark and compression but didn’t run. What that means though, is that it easily could run. Tires were cracked up but had good tread and held air. So assuming I bought that Massey for $650 put a few hundred dollars and a couple weekends into it, I’d have a $1000 tractor that will do everything your $4600 tractor will do….. Well….. kinda. What I haven’t stated yet is that I’m a very sentimental person. I like the idea of having an emotional attachment to things like tractors and currently have several myself. Would that Massey make your wife happy when she was working with it? Would she be proud? Would you feel like you’re spending time with a now passed loved one? Probably not. There’s value in things that give us an emotional response. My 15 year old son has 5 different vintage garden tractors that he cherishes. Why? Because they are all gifts from me. He has no attachment to others that we repair to fix. I’ve seen several people interested in buying one of his. “They’re not for sale.” Is always the response.

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and sentiments. The summer before he passed my wife took pictures of him raking hay out front and gave them to him for Christmas and he just started to tear up and said they were his favorite Christmas gift he had gotten that year. Even after that at his viewing the pictures laid in his coffin 😢 tractors are links to the past and tied with great memories. Thanks for watching

[@jhitt79]

@@thelongbranchhomestead1397 knowing the history of the machine is hard to put a price on. I’ve got an old Case 448 garden tractor that was my grandfathers. It needs plenty of work to get running and functioning again (I never get to my own projects it seems) but I’m not going to restore it. I’m going to keep it as close to how it was when he had it as I can. Complete with hillbilly “fixes” and modifications. That what made it his.

[@jayyoung2586]

Why such a long chain?

[@thelongbranchhomestead1397]

@jayyoung2586 That chain just so happens to be the same chain I used to pull larger trees from a neighbors property measuring up to 30 inches across so the chain could rap around the tree easily enough . I agree the chain is long for these smaller ones.

[@vernonwhite4660]

My 1983 Range Rover does this with ease and is a lot safer