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Ford 871 Select-O-Speed starting?

4K views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  ralphco 
#1 ·
Have a Ford 871 Select-O-Speed diesel that has been sitting for several years. I've drained old fluids and changed filters and am ready to get it running. But I have no idea which buttons to press and/or switches to flip! There are push buttons on the underside of the "dash" on both sides and a toggle switch on the left panel behind the battery. The toggle turns over the starter but I'm not sure what the push buttons do. Can anyone tell what I need to do to get this beast running? Thanks in advance for your help!
 
#2 ·
The button on the right side under the dash (originally) would have been your starter button. There would have been a key switch under the dash on left side. My best guess is that the key switch was replaced with the toggle switch. When you turn the toggle on it tries to start which means that probably your solenoid is probably shot. The other button could be a kill switch. You will have to sit down and go thru the wiring system to see what's what with maybe using a test light or some other device. Aren't these old tractors fun???

Kirk
 
#3 ·
Thanks Kirk! Your reply will get me started off in the right direction. The under hood wiring is quite a mess with the wires all faded out to about the same color and most of them kind of brittle. It makes sense that either the solenoid is shot or the start button is stick or shorted out. Yep! These sure are a blast! Thanks again, Ralph
 
#5 ·
Thanks again Kirk. As soon as I find a wiring diagram, I'll do that. I have found many diagrams for 12 volt alternator conversions but none for the original 12 volt 871 diesel. I've ordered manuals and hope that diagram is in one of them. In the meantime, anyone know where I could download a wiring diagram while waiting for the manuals?
I did find some posts that explained the 2 different kinds of 4 post starter relays (solenoids) and figured out mine has an automotive type instead of the proper tractor type. That's why the toggle switch turned the starter without pressing the starter button under the right side of the dash, taking the safety switch out of the circuit. Just another thing on the ToDo list!
 
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