Buying Advice Ford 8N - Is it worth consideration?

[Soundguy]

could be many different canopies.. hard to say..

 

[sparc]

so, what did I get?

Model number is a B1123C

B = 2000
11 = L.C.G. ? (Low Center of Gravity??) Whats that all about?
2 = Gas motor
3= Live 540 PTO
C= 8 Speed Transmission

Built May 21, 1965 which I hope turns out to be a good day for tractor building in Highland Park, MI.

Also has a gas pedal in addition to the hand throttle. Was that standard?
Lights work. Neutral safety switch needs fixing which he told me up front.
PTO not bent like some others I looked at. Has a generator on it but ?I though they were all alternators by 1965. He said its been there since he bought it many years ago but who knows.

I have no implements yet to put it to work so for the next few weeks in my spare time I will get to go over everything. cleaning it up a bit is the first order of business to see what it really looks like.

 

[Soundguy]

lucas gen in 65... by 76 and the x600 they went to alts..

lcg.. like golf course machines.. etc...

 

[downslope]

so, what did I get?

Model number is a B1123C

B = 2000
11 = L.C.G. ? (Low Center of Gravity??) Whats that all about?
2 = Gas motor
3= Live 540 PTO
C= 8 Speed Transmission

Built May 21, 1965 which I hope turns out to be a good day for tractor building in Highland Park, MI.

Also has a gas pedal in addition to the hand throttle. Was that standard?
Lights work. Neutral safety switch needs fixing which he told me up front.
PTO not bent like some others I looked at. Has a generator on it but ?I though they were all alternators by 1965. He said its been there since he bought it many years ago but who knows.

I have no implements yet to put it to work so for the next few weeks in my spare time I will get to go over everything. cleaning it up a bit is the first order of business to see what it really looks like.

LCG = low center of gravity, usually municipalities and golf courses. Originally the tractor probably had smaller diameter tires front and rear, could have even had mini-duals in the back. Front spindles would be shorter. If someone just switched to regular ag tires and didn't change spindles the tractor will appear to be running slightly "downhill" and have less ground clearance towards the front and middle because of the short spindles. Sometimes the short spindles can cause the front tires to rub somewheres if the original fronts were replaced with taller tires. Does it have 28" rear tires?

Also an lcg would usually have different (smaller, shorter) rear fenders that wouldn't work with conventional ag tires. Has it been changed to the correct fenders, or sometimes I have seen a bracket fabbed up from c-channel or whatever to raise the small fenders higher to clear the tires?

Another thing is some lcgs had a different ring and pinion set in the rear end to compensate for shorter tires. You would have to look in the parts book to see if this is the case for your model year. I had one of these and when I changed it to 28" tires it ran way too fast but was still usable for most tasks, probably just drop down a gear from normal.

Good luck with the tractor; if you don't have ground clearance concerns it should be fine to do a lot of work.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. lcg tractors make great lawnmowers as long as you aren't cutting uncleaned brush in unknown areas...

 

[man n black]

Hey guys sorry to thread hijack.

I am considering looking at what looks to be (in pics) a very clean 57 601 tractor. Owner reports no leaks, PTO or hydraulic problems says it always starts right away Unsure on model number but it's a diesel, comes with a disc, 6ft. Rear blade, and a implement to raise fence posts for about 4k. Recent replacement of the fuel pump (Simms?) and a few other items. That price seems high.

Near my area in similar price ranges are also: a older restored clean Dexta with FEL , a Major with a box blade, and 2 very clean late 60's early 70's 4000's, one with SOS that doesn't move no implements (it's cheap), IDK Trans on more expensive one which has a mower attached but is 5k.

Again all prices seem a bit high to me but I'm new to tractors. I am very mechanically inclined but a little wary of digging into SOS on an old tractor....

This tractor will be used for clearing our 6 acres, somewhat hilly terrain, some light grading, fence building and gen property maintenance, moving stuff etc.

Any thoughts?
Ch

 

[Soundguy]

my opinion:

1, a 601 means it is a 58-62 machine.. not a 57

a diesel means it is a 59+ machine ( ok.. very late 58 )

pump is a roosa master..

601d are 144ci red tiger diesels and parts are much $harder$ to come by than the more common 172ci red tiger diesels.( but if it runs good? it runs good.. etc.. )

a dexta? i'd overlook that one... unless you own a boat

same with the major!

SOS trans? I'd overlook that one as well.

the late 60's 4000 with a manual trans and mower for 5000$ BINGO! drive over with 5000$ and put 4500$ in one pocket and 500$ in the other. test it out.. all ranges.. hyds, pto, steering, cold starting.. throttle.. mowing.. brakes.. check fluids.. if it's good and tires hold air.. offer 4500$ pull the cash out and flip thru it.... good 201ci diesels ( assume it is adiesel in that one.. OR? if gasser.. make sure it starts and runs good.. etc.. )



soundguy

 

[man n black]

Thank you sound guy.

Both 4000 tractors are diesels. Can't find too much info on them except they are described as bulletproof, as it seems as though all old ford tractors are labeled.

Ch

 

[Soundguy]

plenty of info out there.. ask away.. maybee we can fill in some blanks for you.

 

[sparc]

LCG = low center of gravity, usually municipalities and golf courses. Originally the tractor probably had smaller diameter tires front and rear, could have even had mini-duals in the back. Front spindles would be shorter. If someone just switched to regular ag tires and didn't change spindles the tractor will appear to be running slightly "downhill" and have less ground clearance toward the front and middle because of the short spindles. Sometimes the short spindles can cause the front tires to rub somewheres if the original fronts were replaced with taller tires. Does it have 28" rear tires?

Also an lcg would usually have different (smaller, shorter) rear fenders that wouldn't work with conventional ag tires. Has it been changed to the correct fenders, or sometimes I have seen a bracket fabbed up from c-channel or whatever to raise the small fenders higher to clear the tires?

Another thing is some lcgs had a different ring and pinion set in the rear end to compensate for shorter tires. You would have to look in the parts book to see if this is the case for your model year. I had one of these and when I changed it to 28" tires it ran way too fast but was still usable for most tasks, probably just drop down a gear from normal.

Good luck with the tractor; if you don't have ground clearance concerns it should be fine to do a lot of work.

Yes it has 28s on the rear. and it does not appear to be running downhill as you put it but i double checked the model today and its an 1123, so LCG. How can I tell if the front spindles were changed? I get a pic next time I can but do you have a rough length? I'll measure them too.

Is there any way to know what ring and pinion is in there? Is there a tag or some other marking on the outside with a code?

Thanks for wishing me luck. Buying something almost 40 YO can be a crap shoot; be it a car, a tractor, or a house; but thanks to SoundGuy and others here I learned enough to know what to walk away from and what looked to be worth the time and trouble to bring back to life. If I had not had the advantage of this forum and the great people here it would have taken me a lot longer to find a decent tractor and probably cost me more, both in the purchase price and in repairs down the road.