Ford 8N or similar older types

[TASMAN17]

Yeah! I know that feeling & there is allot of tractor owners that like to look & reflect on there tractors & I saw the picture You posted , Kind of looks like a Norman Rockwell print & I have 3 classic automobiles that are in my garage that I don't drive that often ,But to me a tractor is a piece of equipment ,Or a tool that calls out to you & wants to be worked & even though I only have 2 tractors I like working them & they seem to like being worked & I love the seat time on both of them. Get the old gal out & just drive it around once a month ,It's better than just letting her sit there & call out to you every time You look at her saying take me out for a ride or some work !!!!!& I was looking at somebody else's tractor on this thread & it made me think of your tractor

My horse has the same complaint

 

[fried1765]

My horse has the same complaint

Yeah,...... but the 8N has 24 horses!
Imagine how much worse it must feel.

 

[TASMAN17]

Yeah,...... but the 8N has 24 horses!
Imagine how much worse it must feel.

 

[wolc123]

If you have enough room, it is very nice to have an old 8n, addition to a modern 4wd tractor with a loader. Most jobs I need a tractor for do not require a loader. Of those, my old 8n works better than my modern CUT, for more than half. For me, that adds up to about an even split, as far as how the hours accumulate on each.

I used the 8n just last week:

 

[bcp]

No mention yet of 8N's with an auxiliary transmission?

I wish mine had had one.

Bruce

 

[fried1765]

No mention yet of 8N's with an auxiliary transmission?

I wish mine had had one.

Bruce

My 1951 8N does have the Sherman Aux transmission.
I have never used it.

 

[bcp]

It changes the 8N from a 4sp to a 12sp.

Gear steps here, at the page bottom:

TractorData.com Ford 8N tractor transmission information

www.tractordata.com

Bruce

 

[JethroB]

23 mph on a well worn 8N steering has got to exciting.

 

[bcp]

23 mph on a well worn 8N steering has got to exciting.

When I sold mine, the buyer towed it home with a rope, with me on the tractor steering. It was so long ago I don't remember why it was done that way.

What I do remember is that he went up to about 30 mph. It felt like 300!

Bruce

 

[TASMAN17]

My 8N has the Sherman - used it once or twice just to see what it would do, but since I don't really run it on roads or till with it never really saw much use for it for me. Pretty much run every thing geared down here for the torque and dealing with hills and very rocky ground. Interesting though how many semi-official and standardized mods like it were made available for the Fords, often from a dealer, probably a reflection how many were sold.

 

[can do]

Totally agree I use mine the same way, They both compliment each other.

 

[JethroB]

Totally agree I use mine the same way, They both compliment each other.View attachment 698418

Have you ever spun your rear wheels outward? It’s been decades since I did it on our
MF 135. 48” to 72” for corn. It’s an attention getter. We did it just using the brakes. I’ve heard some jack them up somehow.

 

[Moxie 15]

as a person looking for his first farm tractor this has been a great read. One thing that I have seen referenced in my research about the N series Fords that has not been mentioned here is that more people have died using an N series than any other series of tractors. Neither writer gave a reason for this, but I would think it is related to the sheer number sold and the absolute lack of built-in safety.

 

[LD1]

It changes the 8N from a 4sp to a 12sp.

Gear steps here, at the page bottom:

TractorData.com Ford 8N tractor transmission information

www.tractordata.com

Bruce

23 mph on a well worn 8N steering has got to exciting.

Yes....23 gets exciting. Especially if the ball sockets of the radius rods are worn (and most are)

The sherman is really only good for road gear. It doesnt make it like a modern 12-speed. Because transmission driven PTO. So it speeds up the PTO too.

 

[TASMAN17]

as a person looking for his first farm tractor this has been a great read. One thing that I have seen referenced in my research about the N series Fords that has not been mentioned here is that more people have died using an N series than any other series of tractors. Neither writer gave a reason for this, but I would think it is related to the sheer number sold and the absolute lack of built-in safety.

I would think popularity too, not just how many were once sold, but how many are still in use today, not that I have any stats to back it up. Bottom line though is all tractors are still dangerous - high clearances, center of gravity, PTO, overloaded buckets etc. Old tractors even more so - no roll bars, seat belt, safety cut off switches, weak brakes etc. Respect the terrain and take it slow is the one lesson I learned. Especially working slopes, picking the appropriate machine for the job, keeping an eye out for large rocks and logs, etc. Common sense goes a long way, but things can turn deadly in an instant so stay situationally aware, including of people, vehicles and things around you.

 

[fried1765]

It changes the 8N from a 4sp to a 12sp.

Gear steps here, at the page bottom:

TractorData.com Ford 8N tractor transmission information

www.tractordata.com

Bruce

Aren't there actually two versions on the Sherman?
One that only improves the low range speeds, but a different model to only improve only the high range speeds?

 

[Egon]

Yeah,...... but the 8N has 24 horses!
Imagine how much worse it must feel.

Put the 8N back to back with two Percheron‘s and see in which direction everything goes!

 

[Egon]

as a person looking for his first farm tractor this has been a great read. One thing that I have seen referenced in my research about the N series Fords that has not been mentioned here is that more people have died using an N series than any other series of tractors. Neither writer gave a reason for this, but I would think it is related to the sheer number sold and the absolute lack of built-in safety.

Three point hitch with no drawbar. By raising the three point there can be a significant increase in traction leading to back flips.

 

[LD1]

Aren't there actually two versions on the Sherman?
One that only improves the low range speeds, but a different model to only improve only the high range speeds?

Actually I think there were three. One was just a step up, one a step down, and one combo that did both as well as standard.

The thing is, with the combo that does both step up and step down.....standard is NOT the same as not having a sherman. It is FASTER than an 8n without.

There was also a howard speed reducer. Less common though

Put the 8N back to back with two Percheron‘s and see in which direction everything goes

And? HP is not a measure of pulling ability. Its a measure of work done over a given time.

Say, how many acres of ground can those horses plow in a day?

 

[can do]

If you have enough room, it is very nice to have an old 8n, addition to a modern 4wd tractor with a loader. Most jobs I need a tractor for do not require a loader. Of those, my old 8n works better than my modern CUT, for more than half. For me, that adds up to about an even split, as far as how the hours accumulate on each.

I used the 8n just last week:View attachment 698409

I would think popularity too, not just how many were once sold, but how many are still in use today, not that I have any stats to back it up. Bottom line though is all tractors are still dangerous - high clearances, center of gravity, PTO, overloaded buckets etc. Old tractors even more so - no roll bars, seat belt, safety cut off switches, weak brakes etc. Respect the terrain and take it slow is the one lesson I learned. Especially working slopes, picking the appropriate machine for the job, keeping an eye out for large rocks and logs, etc. Common sense goes a long way, but things can turn deadly in an instant so stay situationally aware, including of people, vehicles and things around you.

I do have 1 safety feature on my 1959 M-F 50 & you can't start the tractor if the the high/low is engaged on the transmission& this feature prevents you from starting the tractor in gear & you can only start the tractor with the high/low selector in the neutral position. At least they did offer this feature in 1959 as a standard feature ! But common sense isn't so common & there is always going be the person who will take short cuts or think it will not happen to me! Or remove safety equipment. As a retired commercial driver for 44 years safety was taught & practiced on a daily basis just think about it before you start & practice it ,It will come to you naturally. & on my 59 /50 the 1st pages of the owners manual is about operating your tractor safely.