New 8N onwer, rear end/drawbar question

[VABen]

I just bought a 1951 Ford 8N for my first tractor and I am pretty happy with it so far, except that I recently noticed that it doesn't have the correct center housing on it, ie the old 9n/2n style without hookups for a swinging drawbar and loops for attaching limiter chains.
Having never owned a tractor before, I am not even sure that I would need a swinging drawbar, but I now have a little bit of buyers remorse since it doesn't have all of the 8N features.
Is this a big deal in terms of function? Are drawbars even important?
Any help/education on the subject would be nice.
Ben

And for those of you who follow the "Pics or it didn't happen" rule...

 

[motownbrowne]

Welcome aboard. Nice looking machine there.

Drawbars are important for moving trailers and stuff around, but one of these will work for you.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200519383_200519383?cm_mmc=Bing-{adtype}-_-Farm%20+%20Acreage-_-3-Point%20+%20PTO%20Hardware-_-27280

 

[VABen]

Thanks for the link. I guess I meant to ask are swinging drawbars all that important.
I figured the cross drawbar would be sufficient for my current intended purposes of dragging my spike tooth harrow and skidding the occasional log.

I'm just a little confused since there seem to be a lot of different schools of thought on drawbars and their proper usage.

 

[Kirk-NJ]

If you don't have the four holes under the center case to mount the bracket like the 8n center case This guy makes brackets for the 2n/9n center case to mount the later style swinging drawbar.
Windy Ridge Machine
He is also repopping the early style swinging drawbar should you choice to go that way.

Kirk

 

[motownbrowne]

Thanks for the link. I guess I meant to ask are swinging drawbars all that important.
I figured the cross drawbar would be sufficient for my current intended purposes of dragging my spike tooth harrow and skidding the occasional log.

I'm just a little confused since there seem to be a lot of different schools of thought on drawbars and their proper usage.

Well, I guess I can't really answer the question with much authority. I've never owned a tractor with a swinging drawbar. I can tell you this, though: I grew up using 8ns, and I have never found myself thinking, "boy I wish I had a swinging drawbar mounted under the differential right now". The first tractor we owned with any kind of factory drawbar is our Kubota, and it doesn't swing, so it is possible that I don't know what I'm missing. Are there uses for them? Yes. Do you need one for the uses you've outlined? No. Personally I wouldn't buy one just because I didn't have one, but that's just me. My understanding is that their primary usefulness is for pulling large trailing (as opposed to 3pt) implements. Since you have a 3pt, in the vast majority of cases you'll be better suited by using 3pt implements. On something like an old Farmall without a 3pt, it would be a different story.

 

[kydick]

do you have the 2 vertical straps that fasten on both ends of the cross drawbar and into the top link bracket of your tractor? it holds the draw bar from going up and down and from side to side. i use my 1950 8N to pull my tools just like a tractor with a regular draw bar. it being a 8N you will have to keep the PTO turned off and keep the lift lever pushed down so it wont try to lift the 3 point hitch.

 

[TomSeller]

do you have the 2 vertical straps that fasten on both ends of the cross drawbar and into the top link bracket of your tractor? it holds the draw bar from going up and down and from side to side. i use my 1950 8N to pull my tools just like a tractor with a regular draw bar. it being a 8N you will have to keep the PTO turned off and keep the lift lever pushed down so it wont try to lift the 3 point hitch.

This is correct. Good description.

 

[Kirk-NJ]

As stated if you are going to use your 11 hole drawbar the braces should be used to hold your 3 pt arms in a fixed position. There should also be a chain that attaches to the 3pt quadrant that locks the lever. If you raise the lever you will bend your braces.

Kirk

 

[VABen]

Thanks for all of the info. I didn't think I was really missing on anything, but I wanted to be sure.
I currently don't have any type of drawbar so that is why I was looking into them.
When I get the cross drawbar I will be sure to pickup the stay bars too.

 

[MitchellB]

To parrot what I've heard some others say, the advantage of a swinging drawbar compared to a fixed drawbar is the swinging drawbar allows a sharper turning radius when pulling something with it. I have both and seldom use the swinging other than in a fixed position. Mostly I use my fixed 3 point drawbar because I have 2" & 1 7/8" trailer hitch balls mounted on it.

 

[LD1]

The 11-hole drawbar that goes on the 3PH will do most of what you need.

There is tons of reading here about the dangers of pulling with the 3PH, and ways to overcome that danger (like the vertical straps pictured).

IF you plan to put a ball on the drawbar you need to do something to keep it from rotating. There are several things that can do that. There are pieces that go around the drawbar and attach to the lift arm, and there are also vertical pieces that bolt on and you can use the toplink. Or you can just get one of the 3-pt trailer mover attachments.

The only time my factory drawbar gets used on my kubota is to chain it down to the trailer.

 

[motownbrowne]

The 11-hole drawbar that goes on the 3PH will do most of what you need.

There is tons of reading here about the dangers of pulling with the 3PH, and ways to overcome that danger (like the vertical straps pictured).

IF you plan to put a ball on the drawbar you need to do something to keep it from rotating. There are several things that can do that. There are pieces that go around the drawbar and attach to the lift arm, and there are also vertical pieces that bolt on and you can use the toplink. Or you can just get one of the 3-pt trailer mover attachments.

The only time my factory drawbar gets used on my kubota is to chain it down to the trailer.

The three-point trailer movers are slick. You can also weld up something similar using the 11 hole drawbar as a base. Weld a receiver in the middle, and a piece up from there to accept the top link from the three point. that will keep the bar from spinning, eliminate the need for the support stays (which are more expensive than they should be) and be pretty hand in general.

 

[kydick]

there is a draw bar that does fasten under the rear end. it slides into a slot under the tractor and is held by a large pin. also close to the other end there is a bracket that you put your top bar in and put the top bar in one of the 3 point hitch holes. if you had a ford dearborn disk you needed this draw bar so you could use the disk. to make it work you use the cross bar too. the disk has a rod that fastens to the cross bar. let the lift lever down the disk starts disking raise the lever and it quits. very simple.