Starting A Tractor Work Side Business with Ford 8N or 9N

[fried1765]

A neighbor a couple of roads over, has an 8n that he uses to “ grade “ the road with a blade. Usually another of his neighbors has to go back and fix what he attempted to do with his JD 4055. The road is a lot of mud / dirt and gets really rutted. The 8n can barely scratch the surface / ruts. The JD with a 6 ft box blade fixes the road in about a third of the time.

It may have a lot to do with operator ability, but I think the job is beyond the capabilities of the 8n

For many years I maintained my 1700' driveway with an 8N.
I kept it looking good, but it was a time consuming PITA.

 

[K5lwq]

A neighbor a couple of roads over, has an 8n that he uses to grade the road with a blade. Usually another of his neighbors has to go back and fix what he attempted to do with his JD 4055. The road is a lot of mud / dirt and gets really rutted. The 8n can barely scratch the surface / ruts. The JD with a 6 ft box blade fixes the road in about a third of the time.

It may have a lot to do with operator ability, but I think the job is beyond the capabilities of the 8n

That is funny you mentioned that. Grading was one of many things we did with the 8N. I could make some nice lanes with the 8N. I even used it to grade the runway for the crop duster on a regular basis. Could I do a better job with a new tractor? I doubt it. Could I do it faster and easier? Absolutely, without a doubt!

 

[lennyzx11]

I skipped ahead. Sorry if I missed something important.

I have had 4 9n and 2ns.
I don’t think that is the right tractor for what you want to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I love them. But they were made for a different function. (Plowing)

Major reasons not to..

1. Too high geared. (Unless a Sherman equipped.)
2. Too light in the *****. (Will sit and spin with a loaded back blade)
3. No live PTO. (This is a PITA)

An MF35/135 would be a better fit.

My 2 cents.
Lenny

 

[fried1765]

I skipped ahead. Sorry if I missed something important.

I have had 4 9n and 2ns.
I don’t think that is the right tractor for what you want to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I love them. But they were made for a different function. (Plowing)

Major reasons not to..

1. Too high geared. (Unless a Sherman equipped.)
2. Too light in the *****. (Will sit and spin with a loaded back blade)
3. No live PTO. (This is a PITA)

An MF35/135 would be a better fit.

My 2 cents.
Lenny

^^^^^^ what he says !!!!!

 

[Molalla1]

But you're comparing it to that new stuff, look up 9N's & 2N's.

The second one in the list LOOKS pretty nice . . . I know about their ability.

 

[Molalla1]

I skipped ahead. Sorry if I missed something important.

I have had 4 9n and 2ns.
I don’t think that is the right tractor for what you want to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I love them. But they were made for a different function. (Plowing)

Major reasons not to..

1. Too high geared. (Unless a Sherman equipped.)
2. Too light in the *****. (Will sit and spin with a loaded back blade)
3. No live PTO. (This is a PITA)

An MF35/135 would be a better fit.

My 2 cents.
Lenny

Lenny, you are spot on . . . :thumbsup:

 

[Jstpssng]

The second one in the list LOOKS pretty nice . . . I know about their ability.

Mine has a paint job nicer than that one... it's been sitting in the same spot in the field since I dragged it there with my Kubota about 6 or 7 years ago. Someday I may find time to get it running... It was my father's so I don't want to scrap it.

 

[Molalla1]

Mine has a paint job nicer than that one... it's been sitting in the same spot in the field since I dragged it there with my Kubota about 6 or 7 years ago. Someday I may find time to get it running... It was my father's so I don't want to scrap it.

Nooooo, pics sometime?

 

[airbiscuit]

If you have gumption, you can find a way to make it work That said, the 8N or 9N transmissions are geared to fast for my needs
1st gear - Too Fast
2nd gear - Way Too Fast
3rd gear - WTF

Better to find an older Massey Ferguson.
Better yet to find a cheap skid steer

In any case - Good Luck

I skipped ahead. Sorry if I missed something important.

I have had 4 9n and 2ns.
I don稚 think that is the right tractor for what you want to do.

Don稚 get me wrong, I love them. But they were made for a different function. (Plowing)

Major reasons not to..

1. Too high geared. (Unless a Sherman equipped.)
2. Too light in the *****. (Will sit and spin with a loaded back blade)
3. No live PTO. (This is a PITA)

An MF35/135 would be a better fit.

My 2 cents.
Lenny

I think we're saying the same thing :drink:

 

[DerekF]

I want to thank everyone for their responses. In my mind, the only tractor under $3000 was the old Ford N series tractors. I actually found what looks like a 1980s JD 850 definitely a bigger tractor with a heavy duty blade and finish mower for $3900, could probably talk the guy down to $3500 even. Don’t know if my trailer could carry it though. But definitely something to think about. The only thing is I felt like I could justify $2500 on something that could flop big time. $4200 (after all cost to go pick it up do a thorough tune up on it at $3500) is a little more than I’m willing to get into.

I’ve done this “what kind of side business could I start that has the potential to become a solid side
gig” at least 100 times. I have been in blue collar work for many years (relative to my age) before, always hated working for someone else, would like to go into business for myself, but I’m coming up on finishing my schooling (non traditional student). I have worked my butt off to have what I have and be in the financial situation I’m in, as a college student with no debt and a good surplus in the savings account, but I’m going to be in a white collar type of job (teaching, so whatever collar color you give it), and will be paying towards state retirement I surely want when I’m 50 years old. I want to start a small farm for the kids to be busy with/have opportunity to learn to work. I actually plan to move out to the Midwest to obtain this when I’m done with school, believe it or not, AZ land is way overpriced for being worthless.

A good side business is a key to financial success for a teacher in this world (all the teachers with a lot of money I know have good side businesses, many of which are blue collar) this was just another idea to get started on that path. I’d be interested to hear more thoughts on it though with a better tractor, insurance, and some time.

Anyway, thanks again guys. Easy topic to be a jerk about, all responses were respectful for a young guy like myself just looking for some guidance, seems like when you get around any kind of hobby or profession, be it, guns, welding, woodworking, or whatever, there’s always someone to totally shoot someone asking innocent questions down.

P.S. My blue collar work is in plumbing and
HVAC - spent some time in backhoes and skid loaders on the jobs, not a dirt work pro, but I know my way around a tractor. At least enough to get me into trouble