Can you tell me what year it is.

Pooh_Bear · Jan 3, 2005

Not currently what year it is. I know it is 2005 now.
But rather what year this 8n was made.
Model 14-4 Serial # 20072

I found this little tractor for sale and I am thinking seriously of buying it.
The owner wants $2600 for it and it looks in great shape.
It had a 12volt battery in it so it mite have already been converted.
It comes with a bush hog.
I have a large flat open yard (3 acres) I want to keep mowed.
My yard is reclaimed pasture. I just started mowing it.
So I think a tractor with a finish mower would be perfect for it.
And this one is my price range. So I'm thinking of buying it.

Before I go talk to the guy, I am wondering what year model it is.
I want to know how hard it would be to get parts for when I need to.
And how expensive parts for it would be. Such as brakes or a starter.

I have been reading this forum and gaining a lot of valuable info.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear

btolle · Jan 3, 2005

Can't help with the year but if the distributor is mounted on the side of the engine it is a late model. If the distributor is on the front it is an early model.

The last 8N I had used a 12 volt battery but was not converted. Generator was not putting anything out so I just charged the battery every once in a while. I would start for days without the battery going down.

There are numerous websites devoted to the 8N. Do a search and you will find a bunch of them.

They are great machines and parts are still readily available and reasonably priced. New Holland dealers stock the parts.

Bill Tolle

Pooh_Bear · Jan 3, 2005

The distributor was in the front. I did notice that.
The alternator looked like any other ford alternator.
So I think it was 12 volts.

If it runs ok and the transmission is in good shape,
then I am really thinking about buying this one.

How early is an early model.

Pooh Bear

Pooh_Bear · Jan 3, 2005

I think I got the serial number wrong.
From what I have been reading the serial number should be imprinted on the block above the starter.
The number I found was on a tag below the starter.
It said model number 14-4 and Serial #20072.
So I thought that was the serial number for the tractor.
If I get a chance I will go by there and see if I can find another number.

I think it is a 47 to a 50 model.

Pooh Bear

Soundguy · Jan 4, 2005

Here are the beginning sn's for the 8n..

1947 1
1948 37908
1949 141370
1950 245637
1951 343593
1952 442035

Somewhere in 50 the distribuitor moved over to the side... I think it was around 246xxx or 264xxx.. cant remember which.. but am leaning toward 264xxx.

Keep in mind that all 9n, 2n, and 8n, engines are interchangeable.. so while you might have an early 8n engine.. you might have any other model chassie.. liek a 9n or even late 8n.

8n will have both brakes on the right side and 4spd tranny, 9n/2n will have a break on each side, and 3 spd tranny.

If it has some breaks.. starts good, dosn't smoke or leak excessively.. has good throttle/governor response, and the hyds will lift the mower, then it sounds good. Check for oil in the water, and water in the oil.

Check the play in the steering. Early models weren't very adjustable.. and if they had lots of play, it was sometimes easier to just swap out whole steering boxes to a later design.

If you do get it consider picking up an I&T FO-4 service manual as well.

I have crossover oil filter numbers, and lots of data for care and feeding of the N if you need it.. ( I collect ford tractors.. ).

Also.. if it is 12v, and has an alternator check it out. Most likely it is negative ground now as opposed tot he oem 6v pos grnd. also check to see if it has the proper ignition resistors for the ignition coil. If an oem square coil, it needs a ballast and dropping resistor. If a new square 12v coil.. then it will need a current limiter resistor.

Check to see that it charges, and check the oil pressure. Let it warm up.. it should have at least single digit oil pressure when hot, at idle otherwise it is ready for rebuild. Preferably it will keep double digit oil pressure at hot idle. Generally 30w or 40w oil depending on environment.. sometimes you can run thicker oil to help boost lower oil pressure. Not uncommon to seen a worn out old worker running 50w oil just to get it a few years down the road... etc.

It likes metal core spark plug wires, and originally called for ch h-10 plugs.. but we like hotter ch h-12 ( al-437 ) plugs for it with modern no lead gas.

Soundguy

Pooh_Bear · Jan 4, 2005

I went today and took some pictures of this tractor.
Tractor Pictures of 8n

I also found the correct serial number (I hope).
I could just barely make it out and not sure I got it right.
There was a star, then 8n 204740 then another star.
It was imprinted in a boss above the starter on the engine block.

All that is left now is to start it up and try everything out on it.
Gotta wait till this weekend for that tho.

What is that little pulley for under the front of the right side running board.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear

Soundguy · Jan 5, 2005

Well, It's a 49 engine anyway.

I'll go take a look at the pics. So far, I can tell that it has an alternator in place of the genny. Tranny shifter has the small cast ball.. so the chassie age at least roughly matches the engine.. meaning it may/probably is the original engine on that tractor.

Rear lugnuts look black or dirty. Check them to see if it has been leaking oil out the hubs. Perhaps on the insid eof the wheels you may see greasy dirty grime.. this is an indication of leaky axle seals, and weaker brakes. Not a deal breaker.. but keep it in mind.

There appears to be some extra metal piece ahead of the running board. Perhaps this was for a mid mount mower.. or part of the linkage for some front mounted implement. it was quite common to have cable mounted implements either mid tractor or front mounted.. and it used the 3pt lift arms to run cables to lift or lower the implement.

Ok.. that bracket was not oem.. it is deffinately an add on. For instance.. the running boards originally attatched via an 'L' bracket right to the caps the radious rods went to. This is spacing them out at an angle a bit. Deffinately a subframe for some kind of attached implement.. either mid or front mounted.. though could be a side mounted implement.

Looks like the steering box leaks a bit too.

All in all.. looks like a decent old tractor. if it starts and runs good, and you don't mind doing minor fixes or workarounds...etc.. if the price is right.. it should be a decent tractor.

Soundguy

Soundguy · Jan 5, 2005

Ok.. I have more info for you ( ain't the internet great /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.. I'm glad Al Gore invented it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif).

I have a friend that looked at those pics, and says he has the exact same brackets on his, for a cable lifted mid mount sickle bar mower. He says it is a great mower.. just a bear to hook up or unhook. I'll get the model number for you if he can locate the tag on the mower.

Soundguy

Soundguy · Jan 5, 2005

OK, yet again.. more info coming to ya from the tractor information super highway!

Those brackets are compatible with a dearborn 14-3 or 14-4 cable operated sickle bar mower.

Soundguy

Pooh_Bear · Jan 5, 2005

So that is what the 14-4 model number I found was for.
I don't mind a few minor leaks here and there.
Just overall it has to be a good solid tractor.
I plan to only use it for mowing.
I have a 3acre flat open yard. It is just too much for the lawn tractor I have now.

I would love to have a mid mount mower deck for it.
Would be so much easier to mow with it that way.

Supposed to go check this thing out this weekend.
Gonna start it up and run it for a while.
See how it checks out that way.

Thanks so much for the info about it.

Pooh Bear