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.