Ford 9N - Retrieve it or Leave it?

[lman]

I hope he is paying you to take it.

 

[nybirdman]

Just had a local guy killed with one of those;fell off and into a cutter on the back(no seat switch on those 8N or 9N's.)
Spent a lot of hours on them and DON"T miss it at all.

 

[wolc123]

I am planning on buying a non-running 9n myself. A nieghbor pushed it out to the road a couple weeks ago. He said it "ran when parked", 2 years ago. While it was running, he replaced the clutch and changed all the fluids. 3 of the 4 tires & rims are good. One of the rears is loaded and has some corrosion around the stem, the other rear is not loaded and has a new rim.

My first tractor was a 1951 8n, which I still own (picture below). I like using it with its original Dearborn 2 x 12" plow, and for planting corn with my JD 246 planter. i bought it from the widow of its first owner, with only 1200 hours on it. It has always been stored inside, and still wears the original paint. One of the original, loaded rear rims rusted thru this year, right after I finished my spring plowing.

My plan for the non-runner is to take the loaded rear off and put it on my 8n. I will use it for cultivating this year and for plowing next spring. Over the winter, I will spend about $ 200 on a new rear rim and tube. I will also get the 9n running. I dont believe that will take much effort

The guy is asking $ 1200, but hasn't had any action on it. I plan on offering him $ 900 and not s penny more. When and if I get it running, I will put the two marginal loaded rear tires/rims on it and try selling it for $1500.

The $400 profit ought to cover my pain and suffering, breaking loose all them rusty 5/8 carriage bolts that hold the back wheels on. With two new, rear unloaded rims, my 2000 hour 8n ought to last me another 40 years or so.

 

[pmsmechanic]

If you want a project go for it. I would sell the front end loader to someone who thinks they have to have one. I worked one one with a front end loader and as mentioned the option makes them horrible to drive

 

[4570Man]

I’d scrap it. The effort to turn it into something useable would far exceed it’s value and it would still be junk.

 

[lennyzx11]

I’d go for the yard art. As a kid, we “drove” a lot of imaginary miles on a tractor sitting in the back 40.

1. After having 3 of them through the years, I’d pass on restoring it unless you want a hobby. Perfect showroom restorations are going for 5k these days.
2. Always were too high gears for brush hogging or other work I wanted to do. I coveted the Sherman under drive but never got to get one.
3. That loader and no power steering is going to be hard to live with. Yes you can he man it but I bent a steering linkage once doing that. Without a loader just trying to turn in a tight spot in mud.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Be always suspicious of a bargain, but it's hard to argue with that word "free"! You can always part it out.

 

[marhar]

A hobby is a hobby. Don't need anybody else's opinion, don't need to justify it, don't need permission.

I don't understand the OP. If you want to do it because you want to do it, then just do it.

I used to be a fisherman. Had the price of Grouper down to about $60 a pound. Maybe closer to $75

But it was fun. Didn't save any money on fish, though.

The OP asked, "Is it worth it?" No, it isn't. Neither was my going 30 miles offshore and trying to catch fish worth it.

But I enjoyed it at the time. Would I do it again? Yup. If I were young enough and in good enough shape, no doubt about it. Was it 'worth it'? Depends on what you call 'worth it'

But that was my hobby. I think doing resto work sucks a big green one and you may feel that way toward fishing but it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.

Well said! I do a little wood working and could have easily bought what I have made for the price of the equipment. I, however, enjoy my hobby and seeing progress on projects.

 

[sunandsand]

Got a neighbor who seems to collect derelict stuff like this. He keeps on saying he'll get to it, but somehow he never does. At least it is a harmless hobby, it keeps him off the streets and out of trouble.

It is very easy to pour lots of money and time into something that won't be worth it when it is done. If you are doing it as a hobby, that's one thing, but if you expect to USE it, go buy the best one you can afford because it will run and not be busted all the time.

This is not limited to tractors, there is a saying that a cheap Mercedes is the most expensive Mercedes you can buy. I've done this both ways, and it is true, if you want to use it, spend the money, if you want yard art, buy something that "ran when parked".

 

[fatjay]

Any loader on an 8N is a very bad idea!
There is no power steering on an 8N, and with any weight in the bucket you need to be Charles Atlas to steer, unless you are driving on a glass table top.
I would haul it away, but would get paid $500+ to do so!

I can attest to the accuracy of this. But man was I ripped afterwards.