What tractor to buy

rdmcavo · Apr 9, 2016

I want to replace my 8N with another used tractor. The reason is that when I pull my spring tine harrow with 13 Danish Sweeps I get bogged down if I go 6 or 8 inches deep. I thought I needed 4 wheel drive and a little more HP. I ran it this morning and my problem seems to be spinning the back wheels especially if the ground is moist. I did not stall the engine. I thought I needed 4 wheel drive at around the same HP. Now I'm not sure if I would be better off with a bigger heavier tractor with more HP or a 4 wheel drive with about the same HP. Any ideas?

davesl708 · Apr 9, 2016

I am partial to Kubota L-series. Good machines and will last as long as the 8N.

dickfoster · Apr 9, 2016

rdmcavo said:
I want to replace my 8N with another used tractor. The reason is that when I pull my spring tine harrow with 13 Danish Sweeps I get bogged down if I go 6 or 8 inches deep. I thought I needed 4 wheel drive and a little more HP. I ran it this morning and my problem seems to be spinning the back wheels especially if the ground is moist. I did not stall the engine. I thought I needed 4 wheel drive at around the same HP. Now I'm not sure if I would be better off with a bigger heavier tractor with more HP or a 4 wheel drive with about the same HP. Any ideas?

View attachment 464070
View attachment 464071

Just a thought but maybe duals with the tractor you have will give you the traction you need. If you're spinning your wheels that says that you're not lacking HP you're simply lacking traction. I don't think 4WD would help much in pulling that plow as all the weight is on the rear so that's where you need more contact with the ground.

nybirdman · Apr 9, 2016

4WD will certainly help,I could pull that with our 32HP Kubota with no problem.If you get too much traction with that 8N it's just going to go sky-ward.

rdmcavo · Apr 9, 2016

Two things. I'm working just under an acre arena so I don't want to get too big. Also if I use duals I won't cover the tire tracks with the harrow. I do have a loader so that gives extra weight on the front end.

rdmcavo · Apr 9, 2016

What HP would be good?

aarolar · Apr 9, 2016

nybirdman said:
4WD will certainly help,I could pull that with our 32HP Kubota with no problem.If you get too much traction with that 8N it's just going to go sky-ward.

Negative, a tractor will never flip over backwards when pulling off the 3pt hitch.

Foxl3830 · Apr 9, 2016

Hello I have an 8n love it also have a Kubota L3830 all be honest I have tires on both machines loaded with beet juice when I first got the 8n some 17yrs ago they weren't loaded had a hard time pulling a single bottom plow wasn't stalling out just spinning out got the rear tires loaded back then with calcium chloride man what a difference it pulls great thanks hope this helps possibly chains also?

kebo · Apr 9, 2016

aarolar said:
Negative, a tractor will never flip over backwards when pulling off the 3pt hitch.

Does the drawbar count?

8N Ford tractor rolls over backwards - YouTube

aarolar · Apr 9, 2016

kebo said:
Does the drawbar count?

8N Ford tractor rolls over backwards - YouTube

Nope the magic is in the top link...

TerryR · Apr 9, 2016

I don't see a drawbar. If there had been one it wouldn't have flipped.

murphy1244 · Apr 9, 2016

TerryR said:
I don't see a drawbar. If there had been one it wouldn't have flipped.

That is the way I see it too.

motownbrowne · Apr 9, 2016

rdmcavo said:
I want to replace my 8N with another used tractor. The reason is that when I pull my spring tine harrow with 13 Danish Sweeps I get bogged down if I go 6 or 8 inches deep. I thought I needed 4 wheel drive and a little more HP. I ran it this morning and my problem seems to be spinning the back wheels especially if the ground is moist. I did not stall the engine. I thought I needed 4 wheel drive at around the same HP. Now I'm not sure if I would be better off with a bigger heavier tractor with more HP or a 4 wheel drive with about the same HP. Any ideas?

View attachment 464070
View attachment 464071

The loader isn't helping your rear tires get traction, because it's taking weight off the rear axle. Now, a similar HP 4wd tractor with a loader is a whole different animal from an 8n. Superior in almost every possible way. That said if your only reason for upgrading is for better traction, I'd first consider loading your rear tires (unless of course they already are). You could also add weights to the rear wheels.

I've never seen duals on an N series Ford, but I'm sure someone's done it. Duals are for flotation, not really for traction. If you need more traction, you need more weight over those drive wheels. If you start sinking in, then duals come into the picture.

aarolar · Apr 9, 2016

That loader is killing your traction take it off and see a world of difference.

4570Man · Apr 9, 2016

I'd take the loader off and then add as much ballast as possible to the rear. I'd load the tires, and add suitcase weights.

Ken Mac · Apr 9, 2016

I have a New Holland TN 75 2wd to do the farm related work with and think it is as good as they come for that purpose. On my property are several hills that I just cannot go up or down wit the NH. In December, I bought a Kubota B26 FWD TLB. It will go where the NH cannot, and rather easily. I'm now a firm believer in 4wd for any tractor.

Foxl3830 · Apr 10, 2016

As far as a tractor flipping over from ballest in tires or from wheel weights while pulling a 3pt implement gonna be hard to do! The traction gained from weight over the rear wheels really a big difference in traction I can't blame you for wanting to try another tractor but if this is the only reason you are thinking of a 4wd try loading the rear tires and possibly wheel weights. I do have a 4wd Kubota also and I know I'm gonna open up a whole can of worms here but I really believe 4wd drive is over rated! Don't get me wrong it's nice! To have in certain situations for me especially like loader work I just put in a 80 ft extension on our drive way and dug out aprox. 4 to 6" of top soil to put stone in in 2wd tractor just spin but in 4wd and proper loader pressure dug in a cut beautifully worked real nice. And in very wet conditions I have used it. But 90% time my tractor is in 2WD even snow removal I have rear chains and my area is not super hilly so I under stand the need for 4wd on hills also! I'll be honest I love my Kubota 4wd but for what I do where I live if it weren't for resale value I probably would have bought a 2wd but around here trying to sell a small to medium tractor in 2wd is hard.now I don't plan on selling my Kubota but god forbid if something were to happen to me my wife and family can sell the Kubota really fast just because it's a Kubota and 4wd drive!

DK35vince · Apr 10, 2016

Foxl3830 said:
As far as a tractor flipping over from ballest in tires or from wheel weights while pulling a 3pt implement gonna be hard to do! The traction gained from weight over the rear wheels really a big difference in traction I can't blame you for wanting to try another tractor but if this is the only reason you are thinking of a 4wd try loading the rear tires and possibly wheel weights. I do have a 4wd Kubota also and I know I'm gonna open up a whole can of worms here but I really believe 4wd drive is over rated! Don't get me wrong it's nice! To have in certain situations for me especially like loader work I just put in a 80 ft extension on our drive way and dug out aprox. 4 to 6" of top soil to put stone in in 2wd tractor just spin but in 4wd and proper loader pressure dug in a cut beautifully worked real nice. And in very wet conditions I have used it. But 90% time my tractor is in 2WD even snow removal I have rear chains and my area is not super hilly so I under stand the need for 4wd on hills also! I'll be honest I love my Kubota 4wd but for what I do where I live if it weren't for resale value I probably would have bought a 2wd but around here trying to sell a small to medium tractor in 2wd is hard.now I don't plan on selling my Kubota but god forbid if something were to happen to me my wife and family can sell the Kubota really fast just because it's a Kubota and 4wd drive!

My tractor is in 4 WD probably 75% of the time.
If my loader is on the tractor, the tractor is in 4WD.
If pulling a plow or working on hills the tractor is in 4WD.
If mowing wet grass the tractor is in 4WD.
For plowing snow my tractor is in 4WD with chains on all 4.

Gary Fowler · Apr 10, 2016

TerryR said:
I don't see a drawbar. If there had been one it wouldn't have flipped.

Same here, hooking up to a standard drawbar (not one of the bars mounted on the 3 PH lift arms. I know 8N tractors never came with a belly mounted drawbar like most tractors of todays era so the video of the 8N going over backward wasn't from pulling with a standard belly mount drawbar. When pulling from a belly mounted draw bar, if the tractor's front wheels start to come off the ground, at some point before rollover it starts to lift the rear tires thus loosing tractions so the front end tends to yo-you up and down but not roll over.

I agree that his problem is likely the FEL taking all the weight off the rear tires. MY LS P7010 wont back up a 5 degree slope in 2 WD with FEL on and no ballast in the rear tires. 75% or more of the pulling is with the front tires when a FEL is attached.
Either remove it or put lots of weights on the rear tires.