A great tractor

RichZ · Dec 12, 2001

Here's my 1951 Ferguson TO-20, with my Landpride finishing mower. Our henhouse is in the background.

Rich

RobS · Dec 12, 2001

Rich, great looking tractor. Help me though. I would have said that was a Ford 8N. What's the difference and how can I tell from now on? Thanks /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RichZ · Dec 12, 2001

Rob, you're right, they look very similar, and that was intentional. Harry Ferguson invented the 3 point hitch, and had a famous handshake agreement with Henry Ford that he would get a fee for each Ford tractor sold with one. When Henry died, his son took over, and said that since the agreement was never in writing, he would no longer honor it. Understandably, Harry was very angry, so he designed a tractor to compete with the Ford "N" series, which was their best seller. The TO-20 had some improvements over the "N"s. The gears of the "N" series make it difficult to use for mowing, because of a high ground speed. The TO-20 has a greater speed difference between the gears, making mowing and other functions easier.
As far as appearance, one of the easiest ways to tell them apart is by the hood. The "N"s have a lid over the battery with a little ornament, and the Fergusons have a solid hood. The grills are also very different, but I don't have pictures to illustrate this. What amazes me, is my tractor is 50 years old, and runs like a top! How will todays tractor's run in 50 years?

Rich

Thomas · Dec 12, 2001

She doesn't look 50 years old,/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gifand well taken care of.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

RobS · Dec 12, 2001

Thanks Rich. I was aware of the strife between the Fords and Fergusons as my in-laws have a '53 Golden Jubilee Ford. I understand it was designed specifically to get around the Ferguson patents. I'll have to pay more attention to the pre-NAA models from now on /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Youare · Dec 12, 2001

Your Ferguson from this angle looks just like my 1952 8N except for your paint is a little better and I have a Wagner loader on mine. You are right about speed the N is a little fast in first gear and reverse is a little high also. Nice looking tractor, mine runs well and I hope my Kubota in 50 years runs as well.

Randy

Jeff396 · Dec 12, 2001

<font color=blue>I hope my Kubota in 50 years runs as well</font color=blue>

I hope so too, I used the "this will most likely be the last tractor we will have to ever buy" thing to convince my wife to lay out all that cash on this toy.....er, tractor!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

beenthere · Dec 12, 2001

Seems the paint is that of the Ford, as I recall the Ferguson paint job was all slate grey. Also, the Ferguson (I had a TO-30) did not have position control of the 3 pt. Either you were going up or going down. Also, the left brake pedal was on the left side, with the clutch. For a hard left turn, one had to be real adept at using the left foot on the clutch and brake at the same time. It could be done, but not easily. The 9N Ford, I think, had the same design, but the 8N had both brake pedals on the right side. Also the 8N had position control for the 3 pt lift. Years ago, I heard that the inventor of the 3 pt system (didn't now it was Ferguson) originally approached John Deere with the idea, but was turned down, so he went to Ford. I don't know if there is any truth to it at all.

jinman · Dec 12, 2001

Rich, your tractor looks great, but the paint is deceptive. One of the easiest ways to spot the difference is that the 8N Ford has a flathead engine, whereas the TO-20 had overhead valves. Also, the carburetor/intake/exhaust on the TO-20 is on the right hand side, but on the 8N (and all Ns) it is on the left side of the engine. Your lift up hood for access to the gas tank is also a unique Ferguson feature, along with the little toolbox between the gas tank and the radiator. Ahhh shucks! Don't get me started. I used to love that little tractor when I was a kid. It made me feel like I could do anything./w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

JimI

RichZ · Dec 13, 2001

You're right about the paint, BT, it's not original, but it's pretty old also.
I've got position contol for the 3ph, I just had to have it rebuilt. Too bad Harry Ferguson isn't alive, or I'd complain to him that it only lasted 50 years!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gifActually it wasn't too bad, just part of the internal linkage cracked after 50 years of stress.
On the TO-20 the brake is on the right, and the clutch is on the left, so it's real easy to operate.
I never heard that Harry had approached John Deere with the 3ph. That's interesting.

Rich