Older Pettibone Mulliken 859

I recently bought this unit. I figured I can use it around my small Veteran-related farm here in Helena, Montana, to dig trenches for irrigation (has to be 6 feet or so, deep due to frost and sub-zero temps in winter), and move dirt, manure, snow in the winter, equipment, or whatever.

It does run, but does need repair for certain areas. I searched around for the parts manual online, even contacted the people who have some parts for older Pettibone items. They could not help without more information. Problem is, I do not know the year for this thing.


When I bought this, all I got was a bill of sale notarized from the seller with the model and VIN number on it, no year. He didn't even know the year. He just said "it was a 1960s-ish Wheeled Dozer". I did do a little research and found one that looks like mine, but has a number off of the model number. The plate on mine says 859, and the one that looks like it was an 858 with no backhoe attached to it. Mine, the 859, has the backhoe and loader. As you can see by the picture posted above, it does not give any more info to it. It is all faded and weather worn.

I figured I would join this forum to pick your amazing people's brains for stuff you may already know. One thing I have learned, even after 13 years in the service of my nation in the US Army, is there are people out there smarter then me. My father-in-law said he used one in the military when he was in Vietnam.

1) I need to know the YEAR,
2) what brand, if different, is the backhoe, and year if that is important as well.
3) Parts schematics of where all parts go, in paper or PDF form and
4) if there are any sites that may have the parts manual, in paper or PDF form.
5) on the picture of the plate, what does the "HA" mean, because i seen another where the letters were reversed to "AH".

The unit is getting its brakes done right now, so this is the only pictures I can provide at this moment.

Any help from you all is greatly appreciated. I did what I could on my end, so now I turn it over to our heavy Equipment community.
~BetGamer

Good luck my friend. IF there is anything available for any type of part breakdown, it is more likely to be in microfiche, at the bottom of some rotted box out in BFE. It seemed like Pettibone had 100 divisions that built all kinds of crazy things back in the day 90% of those companies didn't survive. You might try Pettibone in Tiffen Ohio, but they only do crane parts last I heard. Maybe they can point you in a direction!?

Vetech63 said:

Good luck my friend. IF there is anything available for any type of part breakdown, it is more likely to be in microfiche, at the bottom of some rotted box out in BFE. It seemed like Pettibone had 100 divisions that built all kinds of crazy things back in the day 90% of those companies didn't survive. You might try Pettibone in Tiffen Ohio, but they only do crane parts last I heard. Maybe they can point you in a direction!?

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I did already speak to them and they have said nothing about this. they needed more information, so, I sent them the plate and image like what I show in this forum. Maybe they are diligently looking for what I need. I can wish, right?

P.S. I will gladly settle for microfish.

BetGamer said:

I did already speak to them and they have said nothing about this. they needed more information, so, I sent them the plate and image like what I show in this forum. Maybe they are diligently looking for what I need. I can wish, right?

P.S. I will gladly settle for microfish.

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Pettibone has been sold several times, has gone through 2 bankruptcies that I know of, and has a new president every 3-5 years that changes everything. There are very few even alive that will know much about them. Your best bet would be to fabricate or modify your parts needs as they warrant.

BetGamer said:

1) I need to know the YEAR,

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No you don't. What is the year going to tell you? You think autozone is going to look it up for you?

The backhoe model might come in handy, but again, autozone is not going to be able to get anything for a "Bob's" backhoe from 68.

Is that an IH gas engine? that will be where you'll want to know the model #, and the serial number might be the best place to get your year info.

The axles and transmission are the only other hard to get parts, hard to research and know where to look that is.

All the rest is crude enough for torch and welder work, or take it to a machinist.

Delmer said:

No you don't. What is the year going to tell you? You think autozone is going to look it up for you?

The backhoe model might come in handy, but again, autozone is not going to be able to get anything for a "Bob's" backhoe from 68.

Is that an IH gas engine? that will be where you'll want to know the model #, and the serial number might be the best place to get your year info.

The axles and transmission are the only other hard to get parts, hard to research and know where to look that is.

All the rest is crude enough for torch and welder work, or take it to a machinist.

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My thoughts were to know the year to help in searching for the book I need for necessary parts. You would be surprised what you can find on the internet with the proper info to back it up. Not saying it will be there, but sure worth the try. I have seen harder cases.

Yes, this is a gas engine. I have not had it long enough to see what brand. It is in the shop getting brakes done as we speak.

Maybe someone here has knowledge on what carburetor fits on here, and if that cannot be replace, what engine would fit this still? It would be ideal to have the parts book. Is there someone who knows how to get that either, even if it is on microfiche?
Seems we have some pretty knowledgeable guys in here.
Hope it pans out to more of things we CAN do, as opposed to what we cant. I already know what I cant do, which is why I brought this task here with other professionals.

YOU can do whatever you want. I wouldn't waste a second trying to find the year it was built, if Pettibone doesn't get back to you, then the engine serial number is the best bet I'd think.

Kinda looks like an IH, they also used Chryslers, and Detroits, among others probably. Once you get the carb off it should be pretty easy to identify, I'm not an IH engine expert. If you want to know more about the carb, go to redpower and compare it to other IH engines of the era 221, 263 etc.

The books are out there somewhere if you want them bad enough. I have some old pettibone books, the parts manual is exhaustive, but a mess, it has so many variations it wouldn't tell me anything without looking at the part in person, and they have the delivery instructions and serial number on so they're not from another model. The "operators manual" includes rebuild instructions for everything but the engine... kind of assumes a higher level of competence of the operator than they would today.

If you can find a military reference, or military version, then you might find the military manual online.

Why wouldn't it be a 125 like these? http://www.tpaktopc.net/pettibone.htm

Where'd you find the 858? was it the purplewave auction listing?

there is a youtube video of a 125 ha that sure looks like yours I came across the same info as Delmer did . It's all out there somewhere with a little digging. Good luck, Steve

Yeah Steve, there's all kinds of stuff about similar looking 125's, especially original sales brochures. Only 858 was one purplewave auction listing, and I have my doubts that they knew more than any of us do

Also, loaders at that era seemed to be 50's, 75's, 125's, they didn't get anywhere near an 858 unless it was some Over the top left handed metric log stacker, no wait, that was the 713

td14steve said:

there is a youtube video of a 125 ha that sure looks like yours I came across the same info as Delmer did . It's all out there somewhere with a little digging. Good luck, Steve

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The lead about the numbers "125" seems to come up with a lot more then the "859".
Thx for the info. I think I am onto something now. I already bought the manual, and the year?
Seems this unit is more of a 1950's unit from what I am digging up about the 125. Still wondering what the HA/AH stands for.

Thx Delmer, and td14steve. U guys are awesome. Now to find more info on that backhoe.

Glad to help do you have any other pictures of the backhoe from the side ? might help with the ID. Steve

BetGamer said:

The lead about the numbers "125" seems to come up with a lot more then the "859".
Thx for the info. I think I am onto something now. I already bought the manual, and the year?
Seems this unit is more of a 1950's unit from what I am digging up about the 125. Still wondering what the HA/AH stands for.

Thx Delmer, and td14steve. U guys are awesome. Now to find more info on that backhoe.

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I believe you may find this item informative in a general way for sale to add to your library https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Petti...183103?hash=item287d60babf:g:AaQAAOSwohVcG8KT Appears to have been printed in May of 60. The same seller is also offering this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Pettibone-Speedall-125A-Tractor-Shovel-Sales-Sheet/352665467457?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20131003132420&meid=477276ee3f0f46a883394d008ec6680 Also seems worthwhile to purchase for info on your unit.

Mother Deuce said:

I believe you may find this item informative in a general way for sale to add to your library https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Petti...183103?hash=item287d60babf:g:AaQAAOSwohVcG8KT Appears to have been printed in May of 60. The same seller is also offering this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Pettibone-Speedall-125A-Tractor-Shovel-Sales-Sheet/352665467457?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20131003132420&meid=477276ee3f0f46a883394d008ec6680 Also seems worthwhile to purchase for info on your unit.

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Thx for the info on the backhoe. I still do not have the dozer in my possession. It is getting the brakes worked on and parts are not easy to find. The lines were clogged so they needed to be flushed and it may need a master cylinder replaced, but we shall see. I did catch that sales sheet on eBay and on other places online when I was searching around, but could not see any use in buying a sales flier for an item that provides no parts, or schematic about the backhoe. If it were a user manual or parts manual, I would snatch that up in a heartbeat. I think we are on the right track. I really do appreciate the help you guys are offering. Really, you guys have been a great help. ~Cheers

BetGamer said:

Thx for the info on the backhoe. I still do not have the dozer in my possession. It is getting the brakes worked on and parts are not easy to find. The lines were clogged so they needed to be flushed and it may need a master cylinder replaced, but we shall see. I did catch that sales sheet on eBay and on other places online when I was searching around, but could not see any use in buying a sales flier for an item that provides no parts, or schematic about the backhoe. If it were a user manual or parts manual, I would snatch that up in a heartbeat. I think we are on the right track. I really do appreciate the help you guys are offering. Really, you guys have been a great help. ~Cheers

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May look again for the manuals on there seems like I saw a 125 parts book

Mother Deuce said:

May look again for the manuals on there seems like I saw a 125 parts book

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If you see any parts manual for this loader, PLEASE CALL ME @ 336-776-8004.
I need it. So far, all I keep hearing from Pettibone and Teppin parts, is they have NO items for this rig.