This tractor had been sitting dead under a shelter for years. I replaced the battery, topped off the fluids, drained the old gas and it fired right up. Unbelievable. They don't make them like this anymore.


Well the body-off part was easy enough.



I'm guessing at the year because the engine is from an old pre-war 9N, and I can't find another serial number. It's definitely an 8N though(4speed transmission, both brakes on right side, no Ferguson System emblems). If anyone can spot anything that would narrow it down from '47-'52 let me know.

This won't be a restoration as much as a quick paint job to stave off rust for another decade(while fixing a few dents along the way). I intend to have this thing axle deep in mud again very soon, I'll post more pics as I go.

Haha, this is another option:

You know, if I happened to have a flathead 8 sitting around...


[Edited on May 17, 2005 at 12:50 AM. Reason : .]

5/17/2005 12:32:12 AM

That's the correct engine for the 8N; Ford didn't use an overhead valve engine until the Jubilee and 600 models.

What sucks is that the 8N, though very reliable (as long as you put lead substitute in your gas), ain't too powerful...what is it, around 18-20 drawbar horsepower?

I noticed that it's been converted to 12 volts.

5/17/2005 8:35:15 AM

yeah that aint no pre-war alternator

5/17/2005 8:48:57 AM

It's weak alright, but it'll pop the front wheels. It also doesn't have a live PTO: to raise your equipment the PTO has to be spinning. Other than that I think it'll be fine as a garden tractor and a mower.

What threw me about the engine is the serial number starts out "9N*********" so I'm assuming the block came out of an older model, though it's the same L head engine.

I washed it with a powerwasher this morning. I wrapped up the distributer/alternater/intake/etc tight with plastic, but water still found a way into the ignition. Six hours of sunshine later and it cranked again.

5/17/2005 12:56:34 PM

You mean it doesn't have live hydraulics...

That's wild. I wonder what kind/where the hydraulic pump is on the 8N. The 600 has it right on the bellhousing.

5/17/2005 1:05:20 PM

^^That's fucked up.

^^^^^Someone spent some serious time on that one. Those are so fun to look at. Seen one with an old Caddy engine in it one time.

5/17/2005 1:10:47 PM

Did some more body work tonight. Pulled the exhaust system off to patch a couple holes.

5/18/2005 11:45:52 PM

my uncle has the kit to put a flathead in an 8n, they were originally used as aircraft tugs way back when. The swept axle design is a stroke of genius, you can change the track width without changing the tie rod length which saves a shitload of time. fergusons of the same time (35) didnt have it, but the next generation did(135)

5/19/2005 7:35:27 PM

Degreased and painted the chassis and rims today. I'll finish the bodywork on the hood tomorrow. The back fenders need a little work too.

Running nothing but the exhaust manifold right now, but it's not all that loud. It just blows up a whirlwind of dust everytime I crank it.

The oil-based air filter was gunked up like crazy. But it was still working, even after years of neglect in a dusty environment. I'm telling you, this thing is tough.

5/19/2005 11:01:48 PM

know where I can find one cheap?

5/19/2005 11:43:55 PM

tractors that size don't come cheap. the worst thing about the 8N is that low gear is not low enough. we used to use one as a fill in tractor sometimes to pull tobacco drags, and it was not geared low enough.

5/20/2005 8:22:22 PM

Doesn't the 8N have a high and low range? It is either that one or the 9N or 2N...I can't remember, but one of 'em does.

5/20/2005 8:48:16 PM

Nah, it's just a 4-speed. You must be thinking about a 9N.

Man this bodywork is taking forever. I fix one dent and see 5 more. Maybe I'll have more time on Sunday.

[Edited on May 20, 2005 at 11:39 PM. Reason : .]

5/20/2005 11:37:53 PM

I don't think the high/low range came along until later- unless it was a 2 spd high/low like some of the really old John Deeres

5/21/2005 12:41:15 PM

It would be cool if we had a parade of power right through campus or Hillsboro Street some time, or during the homecoming parade every year. That would be sweet.

5/22/2005 12:51:00 AM

I could bring our old 175 Massey Ferguson and spray the crowd with oil. The way it blows it out, I don't know how it has enough compression to run.

5/22/2005 8:49:54 AM

Finished the bodywork tonight and put a base coat of paint on the hood. I fixed some dents in the fenders and the headlights as well. The exhaust system was beyond repair so I dropped it off at my local shop to have a new one made...nothing fancy really, just a bent, flanged pipe with a muffler on the end.

Anyone know where I can get a Wix 51010 old school oil filter? It has a handle and pulls straight up out of a vat of oil.

[Edited on May 22, 2005 at 10:18 PM. Reason : .]

5/22/2005 10:15:37 PM

Absolutely. Car Quest can get it for you. So can NAPA.

The Car Quest number is most likely to be 85010. It's a Wix in disguise.

5/22/2005 10:17:51 PM

awesome

5/22/2005 10:18:37 PM

FOR SALE:

Might go up on eBay soon!

http://www.thewolfweb.com/photo_photo.aspx?user=18102&photo=406968

http://www.thewolfweb.com/photo_photo.aspx?user=18102&photo=406969

http://www.thewolfweb.com/photo_photo.aspx?user=18102&photo=406970

5/29/2005 3:29:59 PM

How much for the 35?

5/29/2005 4:05:21 PM

what do you need for both of them? Have cash will travel.

5/30/2005 7:02:59 PM

M.S. 35 :

NOTE: ALL LARGER PICS OF THE ITEMS CAN BE FOUND IN MY PICTURE GALLERY

Here are all of my posted pics of it.












PRICE : Was $5,500, been for sale for +1 year, now $5,300.



FORD REDBELLY :

Here are all of my posted pics of it.












PRICE: $3,200



SCRAPE :




PRICE: $75



For more pics of any of these, please PM me your email address and they will be sent to you within 24hrs.





[Edited on May 30, 2005 at 11:53 PM. Reason : na]

5/30/2005 11:27:58 PM

bump

5/30/2005 11:53:20 PM

again

6/1/2005 7:44:17 PM

This was posted in my other thread, and needs to go here, so I am copying it:



jebaroni7
Veteran
367 Posts
user info
edit post



I've just spent the last year and a half restoring my grandfather's 1944 2N and have done extensive research on these tractors. To answer some of your previous questions from the other post:

The 8N (definately an 8N), is a 1950 or later model due to the fact that it has a proofmeter (tach/hourmeter) on the dash. The line started in 1947 as a 1948 model. Just for your info, the naming convention for these tractors works like this: "N" was ford's in-house project code/designation for all things dealing with tractors. That way accounts were kept separate from the car stuff. The number refers to the last digit of the year in which that model went into production. The 9N started it off in 1939, the 2N in 1942 as a wartime version of the 9N, and the 8N in late 1947, but as a 1948 model year.

ALL 8N tractors had engines with serial number beginning with "8N XXXXXX". All 9N and 2N tractors had engine serial number beginning with "9N XXXXXX". Both 9N and 8N engines will bolt up to each other's transmissions and are easily swapped. That sounds like what has happened with your tractor. Very common. Probably has had the govornor carried over from the 8N, though, as the 9N and 2N never had proofmeters and had a different governor linkage setup.

Yes, the 9/2/8N's have a fairly high ground speed, even in first gear. This is why they don't make good rototillers. There were optional, aftermarket transmissions that could be installed, most made by the Sherman brothers in either an Underdrive, Overdrive, or Over/under combo and was a gear box in front of the standard tranny effectively doubling the number of gears.

With regards to being underpowered, i strongly disagree. Think back to 1939 when the line started off. A lot of folks still had steam tractors lying around or at least a team of horses. 21 bhp was a lot for them and is still plenty to get a hell of a lot of jobs done today. My 2N only makes about 19 hp at the rear wheels, but it'll do anything I ask of it. We have been spoiled by today's larger, enclosed cab, turbocharged diesel engines. Gotta use some historical perspective when it comes to this stuff.

Same thing for the Hydraulic lift. The 9N was the first tractor that EVER had a 3 point hitch. Period. And it has served as the blueprint for today's hitch system. You can still hook up a 9N tractor to any category 1 implement right now and that says a lot about the impact that it made on agriculture. The pump is driven off of the PTO shaft in the belly of the rear end housing and is a 2-stage, 4-piston pump. Again, remember that with the advent of the 3-point hitch technology, farmers no longer had to rely on hydraulic plumbing to run to the implement to raise/lower wheels to get it off the ground so live hydrauics didn't come out until later models. Same thing with position control...not a feature until the 8N. Most designs have simple beginnings and improve as they go along. The hydraulics on these tractors will still lift the front tires off the ground and you don't want any more than that! I love all of the N-series tractors and would be happy to talk to anybody about information pertaining to them.









I'll say one thing about this though;

He says

Quote :

"The 9N was the first tractor that EVER had a 3 point hitch."

.

Unfortunately, being a ford freak, I will have to disagree with this. It was the first Ford, but Ford stole it from Ferguson when they split. This was well documented b/c Ferguson had a patent on it and sued Henry Ford over it when they split and Ford continued to use it. It was the biggest WON law suit ever to that time.



[Edited on June 2, 2005 at 11:03 PM. Reason : last]

6/2/2005 10:56:08 PM

^That's clean.

In that case mine is definitely a '48 or '49 model, since it has no tach, no script "Ford" on the sides of the hood, and the engine was either one from a 9N/2N they had left on the shelf or a replacement. Man if I can ever get some free time I'm going to finish fixing the front fenders, slap some paint on it and take a few photos.

Ferguson and Ford had a handshake agreement. With the 8N, Ford just conveniently stopped calling it the Ferguson System and subsequently got their asses handed to them in court.

I heard that Ford's tractor division was bought out by New Holland a few years back, but I don't know if there's any truth to that.

I stopped by my uncle's today and took a look at a '49 John Deere(M, I believe) he's restoring. The fords look like a powerhouse compared to that little antiquated two-cylinder. But truth be told I'd imagine they're about equal. Anyway, he's got it stripped, and if he ever stops plowing the garden with it long enough I'm sure he'll have it looking sharp.

Example JD M:


[Edited on June 3, 2005 at 1:38 AM. Reason : .]

6/3/2005 1:34:38 AM

Well, yes, you are correct about the hitch being Ferguson's idea. What was meant by my comment is that the Ford 9N was the first tractor that went into production with the 3 point hitch. Since all of Harry Ferguson's stuff was prototypical and he didn't have the resources to build the tractors, that's why he and Ford got together in the first place.

Those little JD M's are good pulling little tractors. I got to drive one a long time ago in GA and was surprised at how much they can lug down and keep going.

Pyro; if you look on the bulge behind the starter, there are some raised letters/numbers in the flywheel housing that are a casting code. The letter stands for the month (A=January, B=February, etc), the middle two digits are the day of the month, and the last digit is the last number of the year in which the flywheel housing was cast. Although not entirely accurate, this will at least help you narrow down the year of your tractor when the serial number is not readable or the engine has been swapped out. Ford's tractor division was absorbed by New Holland a long time ago and there is no longer a Ford tractor. Now, New Holland is part of the Case/New Holland (CNH) conglomerate.

6/3/2005 4:11:13 PM

Quote :

"Ferguson and Ford had a handshake agreement. With the 8N, Ford just conveniently stopped calling it the Ferguson System and subsequently got their asses handed to them in court. I heard that Ford's tractor division was bought out by New Holland a few years back, but I don't know if there's any truth to that. "

All true, and I believe it was 1995 when NH bought Ford, but not sure.

6/4/2005 5:17:44 PM

^^I'll check that.


I swear a couple of these guys look familiar. Are they any relation to Surles'? Maybe all us rednecks just look alike.

6/4/2005 10:25:30 PM

I have that picture printed out and taped to the side of my filing cabinet at work! I know (sort of) one of the guys in the picture and he was part of my inspiration to get my tractor done.

Also, as a side note, the dissolution of the handshake agreement came about in 1947 largely due to the fact that one of the two partners in the agreement (henry ford) died in 1947. Ford's stance was that a contract between two people is no longer valid when one of the two parties is dead. Hence the ugliness in court. Also, the lawsuit was never "won". it was settled out of court. One witness testified for 40 days straight and another comitted suicide rather than take the stand. It was kinda like the OJ case of the '40s. I still think they are great, really strong, durable little machines and will do a hell of a lot more than you would think.

6/5/2005 9:47:36 AM

Before: After:


It's running well now and looks a whole lot better than it did. It's not show material by any means, but it's to the point now I wouldn't feel bad towing a parade float with it. Anyway, as soon as I sharpen my bushhog blades it'll be put back to work.

A few more photos...

6/7/2005 10:43:36 PM

Was cutting a field with the 8N and it started skipping. Before I could drive down the road back to the barn it knocked off and wouldn't crank. I drained the fuel bulb and carb(I'd had some trouble with trash in the fuel line after I cleaned the gas tank) with no luck. Stuck a screw driver in a plug wire and I got a few intermittent sparks then nothing. Towed it back to the house and found the distributer cap contacts are worn away to practically nothing.

Eh well, there was a crack in that distributer anyway. You could spit 20 feet away and the moisture would be enough for that thing to quit firing. So now my problem is finding parts. Maybe Senter Sanders in garner can order something for me.

8/4/2005 9:47:57 PM

That was easy...and pretty cheap actually:
http://ford8n.com/f8shop/index.cgi?ID=3RZEAT&task=show&cat=Electrical%2dIgnition

Is there any easy way to test the points, coil and condenser? I know the rotor cap is cracked and shot(it's the front mounted variety, engine is from a 9N).

I'm pretty much a complete n00b when it comes to non-electronic ignitions.

[Edited on August 4, 2005 at 9:58 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2005 9:55:18 PM

Replace it all. I can get the parts for you reasonably. Any Car Quest or NAPA can.

I've gotten parts for old Allis Chalmers "spider" cultivator tractors and Massey-Harris, Cockshutt, you name it.

All points do is act as a contact switch. The condenser absorbs transient "spikes" which can cause misfiring and hitching and bucking and whatnot. A bad condenser will kill your fire.

Points and condensers are cheap as hell, and you should replace them. Gap the points at around .022" to .024" when the points are at the top of the distributor cam.

There is no easy way to test the condenser, but the contacts on the points shouldn't be too pitted or burned. If there's a noticeable "tit" on one of the contacts and a crater on the other, definitely replace.

[Edited on August 4, 2005 at 10:21 PM. Reason : replacement guidelines.]

8/4/2005 10:20:19 PM

Had to pull the hood/gastank and radiator off again to get a good view of the ignition system. I'd like to sucker punch the guy that thought putting a distributer on the front of the engine was a good idea.(in fact, it's mounted on the side on 8N's, but I've got an old 9N engine, remember?)

Anyway, while I had all that off, I more or less rewired the entire tractor. I also changed the plugs, plug wires, distributer cap, condenser, points and rotor cap. I pulled a plug wire to test the spark with a screw driver and the damn thing cranked on 3 cylinders with gas left in the carb.

It's all back together now and feels 25% stronger. I'm hoping that'll be it for a while.

8/29/2005 8:17:17 PM

FYI in case anyone is looking, these tractors will be auctioned Saturday Oct 1 in Coats NC(intersection of NC 55 and NC 27)
Ford 9n

Ford Super Dextas in the background



Also a few trucks:


[Edited on September 29, 2005 at 8:24 PM. Reason : .]

9/29/2005 8:19:49 PM