Working with my 8N

Southernspeed · May 24, 2024

I’ve got a ‘23 MF that does all the heavy work around here but sometimes it’s just so relaxing and satisfying to run my ‘52. Perfect for tedding! ( Wife took a couple of sneaky photos!)

John0829 · May 25, 2024

Good seeing an N at work

2manyrocks · May 25, 2024

Those are great pictures, too.

Southernspeed · May 25, 2024

2manyrocks said:
Those are great pictures, too.

Thanks, I'll tell her. They were literally just 'snaps' from the kitchen door but she does have nice camera equipment as she does equine event photography as a 'paying hobby'.

2manyrocks · May 25, 2024

The color rendition, sharpness, and composition are all excellent. There is so much sharpness in these that we could probably count the nubs on your 8n tires.

Rockbadchild · May 26, 2024

The N are awesome my dad had a Ferguson I wish he didn't sold it they are tuff as nails... very nice picks, plus you look like a bad ass on it.

Southernspeed · May 26, 2024

Rockbadchild said:
The N are awesome my dad had a Ferguson I wish he didn't sold it they are tuff as nails... very nice picks, plus you look like a bad ass on it.

I saw the photo and said “ look at the face! I was enjoying myself, not pissed!” …. She said something like “ you always look like that “

sixdogs · May 26, 2024

Of the tractors that have come and gone, the 8N is one I wished I kept. Once you understand it's used and limitations, it's a keeper. Plus, you can fix it with a pair of pliers and couple wrenches.

John0829 · May 26, 2024

sixdogs said:
Of the tractors that have come and gone, the 8N is one I wished I kept. Once you understand it's used and limitations, it's a keeper. Plus, you can fix it with a pair of pliers and couple wrenches.

You said it! I also wish I had kept mine or better yet had bought my SIL's, if I had know it was being sold. It was as near perfect as I have seen in years.

tacticalturnip · May 26, 2024

Those are solid photos; set them to grayscale and you would have a hard time dating them.

It really blows my mind how small the N series Fords are, in contrast to the impact they had on agriculture.

Rockbadchild · May 26, 2024

Southernspeed said:
I saw the photo and said “ look at the face! I was enjoying myself, not pissed!” …. She said something like “ you always look like that “

lol yeah lots of men expression are as such...

JethroB · May 26, 2024

Southernspeed said:
I saw the photo and said “ look at the face! I was enjoying myself, not pissed!” …. She said something like “ you always look like that “

Nice N.

Grump face, that’s how I’ve been described. I’m sure my aging sagging jowls enhance the effect. I’ve heard women described with a less flattering word.

Face

Southernspeed · Jul 31, 2024

tacticalturnip said:
Those are solid photos; set them to grayscale and you would have a hard time dating them.

It really blows my mind how small the N series Fords are, in contrast to the impact they had on agriculture.

2manyrocks · Jul 31, 2024

You can tell from the pinpoint image sharpness that this isn't a vintage photo. Would be fun, though, to see it with a color film simulation applied.

Paystar · Aug 5, 2024

Yep, something so satisfying about running old tractors. Nice to see the old Ford at work!

wolc123 · May 30, 2025

sixdogs said:
Of the tractors that have come and gone, the 8N is one I wished I kept. Once you understand it's used and limitations, it's a keeper. Plus, you can fix it with a pair of pliers and couple wrenches.

I took what might be my last ride on my 1951 8n, just anout 2 weeks ago. Maybe the buddy I sold it to (for $300 less than I paid for it, when I bought it from the widow of the original owner back in 1988 or so), will let me drive it again someday after he gets it running properly. It was the first tractor I ever owned.

It wasn’t running quite right when I first got it, with just 1200 hours on it and still all original parts. Those original valves just weren’t hard enough for unleaded gas and one of them was burnt/worn out caused weak compression on one cylinder. The Ford dealer in town that originally sold it (for almost exactly what I paid the lady for it 37 years later) was still in business, and a friend who worked there helped me replace the bad valve.

That made the compression good again for a while. I even added “lead substitute” of some type to the gas for a while, but even that couldn’t save the other valves, when I worked the old girl a little too hard digging a 1/4 acre pond with a pond scoop. That cost me my compression again, and this time, I took it to the best old tractor mechanic in our town, who gave it a complete valve job, replacing all with the hardened ones that could take the unleaded gas.

No more major trouble with it for the next 30 some years, until the calcium finally rusted thru one of the original rear rims. It wasn’t easy beating the old 28” rear R1 tire off, but it still had good tread on it, and just a little cracking since the tractor had always been stored indoors and there were well under 2000 hours on it.

Oddly enough, after I changed that rim on the sod side, the tractor plowed with the factory 2x12” Dearborn plow, better than it ever did. My pull force was now about equal, with the unloaded tire on that side, and I no longer had to ride the break (long since worn out anyhow) on the opposite side to compensate.

I also had to replace the distributer that year since I don’t think that I had ever oiled it, and it was supposed to have been done every 10 hours per the service manual. What a pain it was to get the gear for that back on the right tooth, it took me hours to get the timing right.

The next spring, with four new NGK plugs replacing the old Champions, it ran better than it ever did. It started petering out and getting rough last summer though. I bought a cheap aluminum carburetor, and that didn’t help. Seemed to be a weak spark issue, so I bought a coil and wiring harness but hadn’t got around to putting them in yet. Got tired of working on it so sold it, with the hood still off, to my buddy. It’s his “fun project” now. He’s got it running but still not quite right.