Description

Ford 600, 601, 800, 700, 900 1961 Workshop Manual

I’ve been turning wrenches for 28 years, and nothing gets me hotter than aftermarket manuals with guessed torque specs. You show up with a 1961 Ford 600, 601, or 900 under the hood, you need the factory book. This Ford 600, 601, 800, 700, 900 1961 Workshop Manual pulls no punches – 431 pages of genuine Ford Motor Company service information, scanned from the original press run. Not a reprint from some third-party that copied the wiring diagram wrong. The OCR excerpt you see? That’s the foreword telling you exactly what you need: step-by-step removal, disassembly, inspection, repair, and assembly with the right special tools listed.

Every spec you touch – from the cylinder head torque sequence to the crankshaft end-play clearance – is OEM verified. If you’re working on a 700 or an 1801, this book covers them all. Page 52 has the engine specifications; page 12 walks you through cylinder head and valves. No wasted time hunting down cross-references.

Engine Overhaul: Cylinder Head to Crankshaft

Chapter I of the manual dives into the power plant with twelve sections. Need to pull a camshaft? Section 8 covers camshaft and gear removal. Crankshaft work? Section 6 takes you through main bearings, balancer, flywheel, and crankshaft. The cylinder block, pistons, rings, connecting rods – it’s all there. I count 52 pages of pure engine content including troubleshooting and the full list of Ford special tools. You won’t find that in a generic repair guide. If you’re rebuilding a 601 engine, this is your blueprint.

Fuel Systems: Gasoline, Diesel, and LP Gas – Three Separate Chapters

Four different fuel chapters: Chapter IV for gasoline, Chapter V for diesel, Chapter VI for LP gas. Each one starts with air cleaner and goes through the entire system. The diesel section even has bleeding procedures and injection pump specs. LP gas? Principles of operation, handling, pressure regulators. The gasoline carburetor section alone is worth the price if you’re tuning a 600 or 800 tractor. Troubleshooting charts in every chapter let you find a no-start or rough idle fast.

4 Transmission Types Covered

Part Two – Power Train starts with the clutch (single and double), then slams you with four different transmissions: Four Speed, Five Speed, Sherman auxiliary, Sherman reversing, and the Select-O-Speed. Each gets its own removal, cleaning, inspection, and adjustment procedures. The Select-O-Speed has its own troubleshooting guide and overhaul section. If you’ve ever seen a Select-O-Speed that won’t shift, you know why this manual is essential. Page numbers for each transmission are listed right in the table of contents.

Electrical and Ignition: Factory Wiring Diagrams

Chapters II and III cover the electrical system and ignition. Generator, starting motor, solenoid, lamps, and manifold heaters for diesel. The ignition chapter has the coil, distributor, spark plugs – all with Ford’s original specs. No aftermarket interpretation. If you need to rebuild a generator or set timing on a 700, the diagrams here match what came off the assembly line.

What Makes This Manual Better Than Aftermarket?

Simple: it’s direct from Ford’s Tractor and Implement Division. The original copyright is 1961. Aftermarket manuals often skip the special tools list or guess at torque values. This one lists every single special tool by part number. You get the exact same information the dealer mechanics had. No abbreviations that mean nothing, no generic drawings. I’ve compared this with third-party reprints – the difference is night and day. If you care about your tractor running right, you use the OEM source.

Related manuals you might need: Ford 600-841 Tractor Service Manual for later models, Ford Tractor NAA 501 600 700 800 1953-1959 Parts Catalog for parts lookup, and Ford 601, 801, Fordson Major Diesel 1957 User Manual – OEM Factory Specs for the diesel run.

For context on why factory documentation matters, check the Automotive Industry Overview which explains manufacturer-backed service standards. Also see Automotive Industry Overview for more background. These external sources reinforce what I’m telling you – OEM manuals are the only safe bet.

Can I use this manual for a Ford 601 model?

Yes. It covers all tractor series from 600 through 1801, including the 601.

Does it include the Select-O-Speed transmission?

Absolutely. Chapter II in Part Two has a dedicated Select-O-Speed section with maintenance, adjustments, overhaul, and a separate trouble-shooting guide. If you’re fixing a Select-O-Speed, this manual gives you the factory steps, including the special tools required to do the job right. Without it, you’re guessing on clutch packs and hydraulic pressures – and that costs money.

This isn’t some generic ebook. It’s a scanned, searchable PDF of the original 1961 Ford shop manual. 431 pages, clear text, real diagrams. You can print the pages you need, bookmark chapters, and take it to the workbench. I keep a copy on my tablet and a printed section for the engine tune-up on page 43. If you work on old Fords, you owe it to yourself to have the real thing. Access the Factory Manual and stop chasing aftermarket lies.