Ford 8N or similar older types

[fried1765]

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


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?

I have heard it said that the Howard was the best of the bunch, but as you suggest, very rare.

 

[LD1]

I have heard it said that the Howard was the best of the bunch, but as you suggest, very rare.

No experience with anything other than the Sherman combo. But have read that the Howard was fragile. Never made for full torque pulling hard. It was made as a speed reducer for things like spraying or mowing.

But that Howard learned this wasn't gonna work....being so weak.....so on the hundred series and up tractors they made it bulletproof

 

[Egon]

Take 24 horses and hitch them to plow’s. Check out the actual work done at the end of the Day!

 

[wolc123]

I was able to knock off 3/5 of my spring plowing with the old girl this morning. I have a couple more acres yet to do but that spot is still too wet. Maybe I can get another year out of the original rear right side, calcium filled rim. I nearly lost the left rear tire on an antler today, but fortunately I spotted it out of the corner of my eye on the previous pass.

Plowing with this tractor is fun now, but probably won't be so much when I get old and loose some arm strength. You got to keep a pretty good grip on the wheel staying in the furrows.

It looks like I am needing a new seat cover:

 

[LD1]

Take 24 horses and hitch them to plow’s. Check out the actual work done at the end of the Day!

I was not the one trying to make the crazy comparison of 2 horses to an 8n. Now its 24?

Wonder which one is higher maintenance and more expensive to keep working....betting it isnt the 8n.

Nothing against horses or people that like nostalgia. Heck the 8n is nostalgic. But things evolve for a reason. IF I had a few acres I wanted to plow for a deer plot.....I'd take the 8n hands down over a couple of horses

 

[wolc123]

The last team of horses left our farm in 1950 when grandpa bought a brand new John Deere model M. My dad still uses that now and then in his garden.

I found this horse shoe (hanging from my concrete clydsdale's collar horn), while I was planting corn with my 8n. It had to have been lost over 70 years ago. My buddy, who is now divorced from his "horse woman", always referred to horses as "hay burning sh...t makers". No wonder that marriage didn't last. I only ever knew one man who was able to satisfy a "horse woman".View attachment 698619

 

[Buckeye76]

Yea, Ive spent a fair amount of time researching between yalls advice, youtube, and visiting 3 dealer lots (JD / MF / and Kubota). I think I have it narrowed down to a MF 1835M / 1840M and the JD 2032R / 2038R / 3038... I still got plenty of time, although it probably will be an advantage to buy the 2021s when the 2022s hit the lots. Keep the advice coming! Im leaning heavily toward a MF though!

 

[dodge man]

Tractors aren’t like cars and pickups, there is usually no difference in cost buying “last years” model unless they had a major redesign..

 

[Ishkatan]

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.

Agreed. I have mine set at 70" wide and it is only about 42 high. CG is below 32 inches. But when I mow across my 15 degree hill, it gets bouncy if I go in 3rd gear. Even 2nd can be bad if I hit a big woodchuck hole. I occasionally stood to absorb the bucking with bent knees. Once, the spring seat launched my butt up above my head so that hanging onto the steering wheel was the only thing that kept me from going off. Had to twist a little to land my feet on the foot boards and the hump helped. After that I slowed down and don't use 3rd gear. So it's not tippy if set up right but can throw you off. Also, no protection from branches and won't stop if you fall off. Go slow.

 

[Ishkatan]

Yea, Ive spent a fair amount of time researching between yalls advice, youtube, and visiting 3 dealer lots (JD / MF / and Kubota). I think I have it narrowed down to a MF 1835M / 1840M and the JD 2032R / 2038R / 3038... I still got plenty of time, although it probably will be an advantage to buy the 2021s when the 2022s hit the lots. Keep the advice coming! Im leaning heavily toward a MF though!

I'm so tempted by the RK37H... only thing is i don't know if it can handle my 15 too degree hill and how wide I can set the tires. Also, it is loud.

 

[Unclewillie]

New member here! I have a question and looking for advice! We have bought a 5 acre plot and plan on building a house, pole barn, long gravel driveway. And maybe have a few animals. The land is almost perfectly flat as it is currently a farmers field so no serious grades. Im a gearhead car / truck guy, so I really like the older retro Ford 8Ns and they seem to have a good reputation. Im also an Aircraft Mechanic by trade, so Im not afraid of having to fix it if needed and also the simplicity of it also played a factor in this choice and plentiful parts from what I can see. I plan on mowing, grading (a spot for the pole barn and my driveway annually or more), plowing a small garden area maybe 1/4 acre, and using the PTO Auger but other than that, just general work. What are yalls opinions on these older tractors for general work? Thanks ahead of time fellas!

Keep or getting a 8 or 9 n I'm good working order can be the task and like another stated a rotary cutter can sure raise the front wheels in the air, personally I invested in something with a good sitting platform and lower to the ground (Mahindra emax25) it's a safer tractor and best I recall them old 8n were 25hp gas where this smaller emax is right about the same. It depends on if you want to invest in a diesel engine (I recomend) and four wheel drive will help keep garden rows straight ,haven't tried an auger on the subcompact tractors so don't know how well that works. We always had trouble with the rear axle leaking.and that single nut stripping out that holds the tire on so if you enjoy repairing tractors the 8n would be the one to start on. But if not an old 8n in good shape you'd do ok and it will do some fine jobs for ya. Has engine tractors there always is something to fix.

 

[Ishkatan]

I used eye bolts to hang two old brake rotors taken from a pickup on the front axle of my 8N. Really helped with keeping the nose down when mowing uphill, though it still feels underpowered going up hill. I may add another rotor or two. An 8N will do a lot but no front loader is a big minus. I wish new tractors used the old wheel setup where you could adjust the width of the wheels.

 

[Handloader109]

If you want to row crop an acre or two get an 8 or 9n, or MF 135 or similar row crop tractor. But if you want to use it, not work on it, then get a new cut or scut. The 8n was a fine row crop tractor in 1950, but not really that good now. And diesel is way easier to deal with than gasoline in a tractor. Grandpa had one and my dad got rid of it soon after he was gone, wasnt big enough for even a small farm.

 

[Sonny580]

I use IH utility tractors here. 340-u, 504-u, 574, they are great general tractors as long as you dont go hangin a loader on them----they then become useless!
IF you need a loader---get a skidloader or small crawler loader---way more usefull.
I have bigger tractors but rarely ever use them. also you could get and older loader/backhoe like an old Case 580ck. I have 2 of them and when you need to do serious work---grab one of them and go to work.
You would be disappointed with the N's ----trust me on that! lol!

 

[familyman]

Buckeye76,

Only 5 acres, maybe some gardening on 1/4 acre, build a pole barn...

It sounds like you have a path to walk to find out what life on that property will really be like and what your needs will be.

I'd consider starting with something like this: TractorData.com Ford 1200 tractor information

You could always sell it for close to what you bought it for and it will do many tasks without being too big or breaking the bank.

I'm looking at possibly buying a Super A I found in NJ. It's a different animal than a modern CUT so my 3-pt. implements would not be usable. Mostly as a toy for me to tinker with but also for dedicated garden work on about 1/4 acre. My wife wants to start a flower business and she might find the A more appealing than the L3800.

 

[fried1765]

I use IH utility tractors here. 340-u, 504-u, 574, they are great general tractors as long as you dont go hangin a loader on them----they then become useless!
IF you need a loader---get a skidloader or small crawler loader---way more usefull.
I have bigger tractors but rarely ever use them. also you could get and older loader/backhoe like an old Case 580ck. I have 2 of them and when you need to do serious work---grab one of them and go to work.
You would be disappointed with the N's ----trust me on that! lol!

The Case 580ck is good machine, but is a monster TLB.
I kinda doubt that the OP would want a machine that large.

 

[k0ua]

By KY3 Staff
Published: Jun. 9, 2021 at 6:50 AM CDT



NEAR AURORA, Mo. (KY3) -The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Burl Baum, 69, of Crane was killed in a tractor accident Tuesday afternoon.
The patrol says Baum fell off the tractor and was run over after it started to roll backwards.
The accident happened five miles south of Aurora on Farm Road 2012.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com
Copyright 2021 KY3. All rights reserved.

While it doesn't say it is an 8N or 9N, you can bet it is one of those or some other ancient piece of crap without a proper seat, no seat belt, no ROPS. How would you fall off of a modern tractor? You would really have to work at it. Pretty easy to fall off of a metal seat pan at the back of an ancient antique POS tractor.

Something to think about for sure.

 

[k0ua]

Took a while, but internet research says it was an old Allis Chalmers. Likely one of the old tricycle tractors with a nice seat pan on the back of the tractor you can fall off of pretty easy. Death traps.

People will say, "I operated that tractor for decades and I am still here" Yeah I rode on the back of one of those exact same tractors at about age 13 or 14 while the neighbor kid hot rodded it down the road to the fishing hole. I survived. Tell that to the poor fellow from Crane who is now dead.

 

[rScotty]

With a 6k budget....I'd be looking to the 1980's. Ford 10-series like a 1710.....something like a deere 750/850/950/1050, Massey 230.

You can always find a little older, little newer, or bigger/smaller in your budget. But $6k opens up more doors. A typical "budget" for someone shopping for a N-series is usually like $1500-$2000. Which really limits you to just the N-series machines

Gotta agree with that reply. 6K will buy a lot of good older tractors. Those old Fords and Masseys are classics and will run forever..... but the following 10 to 30 years saw enormous improvements in the utility size tractors - many are available today in that price range.
Those aren't as classic, but they are still from an era that emphasized good long-lasting design for tools of all types.
Instead of Fords built in the early 1950s, take a look at JDs - or any of the major brands - built from the 1970s and 80s. You will get a lot better and more usable tractor for your money.

And here's a hint when buying a used tractor: It should start easily, all the controls should work fine, and it should do some work at 2/3 throttle for half an hour without anything important changing at all. That means no major change to the temperature, pressures, sound, transmission, clutch, brakes, or gauges. And no leaks.

If it will start easy and run like that for half an hour to an hour...., chances are very good that it will do exactly the same for the next ten or 15 years.

er...except during the depth of wintertime.... About half of the good old tractors need to be warmed up to start well when the temp goes below freezing. There are a variety of block heaters for that purpose. That's not a defect, just as long as it starts well from cold on a summer morning.
luck,
rScotty

 

[fried1765]

Took a while, but internet research says it was an old Allis Chalmers. Likely one of the old tricycle tractors with a nice seat pan on the back of the tractor you can fall off of pretty easy. Death traps.

People will say, "I operated that tractor for decades and I am still here" Yeah I rode on the back of one of those exact same tractors at about age 13 or 14 while the neighbor kid hot rodded it down the road to the fishing hole. I survived. Tell that to the poor fellow from Crane who is no

Gotta agree with that reply. 6K will buy a lot of good older tractors. Those old Fords and Masseys are classics and will run forever..... but the following 10 to 30 years saw enormous improvements in the utility size tractors - many are available today in that price range.
Those aren't as classic, but they are still from an era that emphasized good long-lasting design for tools of all types.
Instead of Fords built in the early 1950s, take a look at JDs - or any of the major brands - built from the 1970s and 80s. You will get a lot better and more usable tractor for your money.

And here's a hint when buying a used tractor: It should start easily, all the controls should work fine, and it should do some work at 2/3 throttle for half an hour without anything important changing at all. That means no major change to the temperature, pressures, sound, transmission, clutch, brakes, or gauges. And no leaks.

If it will start easy and run like that for half an hour to an hour...., chances are very good that it will do exactly the same for the next ten or 15 years.

er...except during the depth of wintertime.... About half of the good old old tractors need to be warmed up to start well when the temp goes below freezing. There are a variety of block heaters for that purpose. That's not a defect, just as log as it starts well from cold on a summer morning.
luck,
rScotty

Everyone here is essentially saying the same thing
Hopefully for his sake, the OP will take note!