Ford 8N or similar older types

[Buckeye76]

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!

 

[Wakey]

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. 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!

Welcome to TBN and congrats on the land purchase! Take a moment to fill out your profile, that helps us answer some questions you might have.

The 8N is an excellent workhorse!

 

[nybirdman]

There are better choices in old rigs than 8N and 9N's.They don't have a live PTO and the gear spacing doesn't work well.Loaders for them are beastly and with 2 wheel drive about useless.
I have put many hours on both.
Look newer.

 

[Hiptfarms]

I preferred Farmalls myself. I have two friends with 8n tractors and they are always having to fix something. But, for some folks, the tinkering is part of the appeal in a vintage machine.

 

[Buckeye76]

If not an 8N or 9N, what would be a good recommendation for the work I might be doing under my budget of say $6k (listed in first post)?

 

[LD1]

Agree that there are better options in older machines. But the 8n's have advantages many of the others dont. They are simple to work on, simple to operate, easy to get parts for, and there never seems to be a shortage of them for sale. Other people may suggest different machines. Like ford 600/800 series, or MF 135/235, Or any other of countless similar tractors. The issue is finding one for sale. You dont have to look too hard to find N-series tractors for sale just about everywhere.

They do suck for mowing without live/independent hydraulics. But that doesnt mean it isnt possible. I have mowed ALOT with a 8n and 5' rear finish mower. They are a real handy tractor though for a 1/4 acre garden....plowing/discing.....and some light driveway maintenance. But dont expect much for any serious dirt grading. Most blades you see paired withn an 8n will just glide over dirt and never cut in. You are limited on how heavy of a blade you can get because the rear hydraulics arent very strong....and if you do get a blade to bite in....they lack weight/traction to really do much.

 

[dodge man]

Yes they look cool and are simple but for practical use, I’d get something newer. I would recommend a newer subcompact or compact used. With your budget it would have to be a little higher hours but still have a lot of life.

 

[LD1]

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

 

[fried1765]

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

For the OP:
I have owned an 1951 8N for exactly 50 years (I am 80).
I still have that 8N, but have not used it in 10+ years.
Don't quite know why I am keeping it, except for the fact that is a cute old machine, and probably only worth $2500-$3,000.
Bought it when I was a poor B-727 first officer back in 1971.
It was what I could afford,( $800) and I needed to maintain my Minnesota driveway.

The advice given in posts above is good advice!
Since you are an A&P, you should be able to rebuild just about anything.
You might see if you can find a late 80's+ Ford that needs an engine rebuild?
In 1974, I paid for the materials, and had my 8N engine rebuilt by a high school shop class.

Your tractor should have a loader (do not buy one without, and then TRY to find a loader).
I would steer clear of the Ford 1700, or 1710 tractors, as parts are becoming hard to find.
I have a 1989 Ford 1920 with loader, and parts seem to still be reasonably available, but who knows for how long.
The Ford 1920 is a very nice older 32HP tractor, that was built (in Japan) over about 12 years.
I use my (restored) 1920 with FEL frequently, though I do have a much larger Kubota L48TLB also.

I think the secret of available support for older tractors is how many of any particular model were originally built.
The more that were built, the more available the support seems to be.
Case in point: You could assemble a new Model A Ford car today, from new aftermarket parts that are readily available!

Try to take your time, and look for the right deal.
Whatever you do......... try to buy a tractor with live PTO, power steering, and a loader!
You can fix whatever is broken!

 

[Username Taken]

The 8N was a revolutionary design. Best selling tractor evah! But it has serious drawbacks. I'd look into it a lot harder before putting any money on one. Especially if you're gonna kinda rely on it for anything.

Can you modernize the drawbacks? To an extent but then you're gonna have so much money tied up into it, you could have got a new(ish) one!

To me, they're more for hobbyists that already have a functioning, modern tractor and don't really need their 8N to do anything worthwhile around the Farm.

Can they? Sure, I guess so. Sort of. A little bit. Maybe. Sometimes.

Is it worth the hassle?
Heck!
No!

I'd like to have one, too. But just so I could dress it up and drive it in
the 4th of July Parade.
And so me and the boys could lean on it, shoot the breeze and spit on the ground while talking about the good old days.

I grew up operating a Farmall 200 and while I miss the good ol' days (mostly because I was 50 years younger), when I think anout it hard, I don't miss that darned old mule of a tractor at all. About as technologically advanced as a wheebarrow. And the 8N wasn't any better in reality. If at all. Probably not even. whatev

My advice to you would be...... Go into debt or wait until you can do it right. Get mama out there with you liftin' and totin' -- and diggin' in the garden. You'll have a new one before the Summer's through