What to look for when buying a Ford 8N?

[ben2go]

I am going to look at a 1952 Ford 8n later today or tomorrow. I drove on on a farm back in the early 90s. What should I look out for in my pre-purchase inspection? I'm familiar with the hydraulic bleed down problems. Are there any other issues I should be aware of? The seller says the tractor has been serviced. I see the PTO shaft looks brand new. Should I be concern about this? My assumption, bad idea, is that the tractor's hydraulics were serviced and the PTO shaft was replaced as part of the service. Am I off in my line of thinking? Thanks for the advice in advance. I've been away from the forums for a long time.

 

[bcp]

Welcome back.

Many here will direct you to a newer tractor. Depends on what you want to use the tractor for.

No help on what to look for. My 8N days are far in the past. It was mainly used for landscaping with a rear blade. If I remember correctly, I was always annoyed it wouldn't raise the blade when the clutch was in.

Bruce

 

[jeff9366]

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single (1) specification.

The compact tractor era functionally began when Henry Ford licensed Harry Ferguson's tractor and Three Point Hitch design in 1939. The tractor industry uniformly adopted the Three Point Hitch after 1955, when Ferguson's patents began to expire and his tractor and Three Point Hitch design were available to industry participants besides Ford open source.

Ford's first Ferguson TPH tractor:

Ford 9N​

1939 - 1942

N Series

Utility tractor

Ford 9N Power
Drawbar (claimed):	12.68 hp 9.5 kW
Belt (claimed):	20.29 hp 15.1 kW
Plows:	2 (14-inch)
Drawbar (tested):	16.31 hp 12.2 kW
Engine (net):	23.56 hp 17.6 kW

Ford 9N Weight
Shipping:	2140 lbs 970 kg
Operating:	2900 lbs 1315 kg
Ballasted:	3375 lbs 1530 kg

Mechanical
Chassis:	2WD
Steering:	manual
Cab:	Open operator station
Transmission:	3-speed

Lots of grain threshers, well pumps and (laundry) washing machines were run off the Ford 9N PTOs. Ford tractors often preceded grid electrical power on the farm by years.

Horses and mules continued to be used regularly on USA farms right through the 1950s.

 

[ben2go]

Welcome back.

Many here will direct you to a newer tractor. Depends on what you want to use the tractor for.

No help on what to look for. My 8N days are far in the past. It was mainly used for landscaping with a rear blade. If I remember correctly, I was always annoyed it wouldn't raise the blade when the clutch was in.

Bruce

Thanks, Bruce.

Yeah I need a tractor briefly for a few weeks to do some work on a piece of property I finally decided to do something with after 35 years. I found one with fresh service and ready to work for short money. Bout as much as it would cost to rent a subcompact for a week in my area.

I've ran Ford N tractors when I was a kid working on a farm. I'll be dragging a back blade and running a finish mower. It would be nice to have a dirt scoop to pick up loose dirt after dragging the back blade around the driveways and knocked down lumpy areas. I agree with you about the clutch running the pump for the hydraulics. As little as I'll use the tractor, I think I can work around that without to much cussing and swearing. LOL

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single (1) specification.

The compact tractor era functionally began when Henry Ford licensed Harry Ferguson's tractor and Three Point Hitch design in 1939. The tractor industry uniformly adopted the Three Point Hitch after 1955, when Ferguson's patents began to expire and his tractor and Three Point Hitch design were available to industry participants besides Ford open source.

Ford's first Ferguson TPH tractor:

Ford 9N​

1939 - 1942

N Series

Utility tractor

Ford 9N Power
Drawbar (claimed):	12.68 hp 9.5 kW
Belt (claimed):	20.29 hp 15.1 kW
Plows:	2 (14-inch)
Drawbar (tested):	16.31 hp 12.2 kW
Engine (net):	23.56 hp 17.6 kW

Ford 9N Weight
Shipping:	2140 lbs 970 kg
Operating:	2900 lbs 1315 kg
Ballasted:	3375 lbs 1530 kg

Mechanical
Chassis:	2WD
Steering:	manual
Cab:	Open operator station
Transmission:	3-speed

Lots of grain threshers, well pumps and (laundry) washing machines were run off the Ford 9N PTOs. Ford tractors often preceded grid electrical power on the farm by years.

Horses and mules continued to be used regularly on USA farms right through the 1950s.

I'm familar with the Ford N tractors. As stated in my reply to Bruce, I'm not look at a forever tractor. I know the 8N will do what I need. I just can't remember all the little nuance issues the N tractors have. All the upgrades have been done to it and it's been serviced. I'm buying it for short money. It'll pay for itself in a week or two, if we have more rain, and then I'll sell it off.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

A '53 Jubilee or '54 NAA would be superior due to the upgraded engine. A '55+ would be better still due to improved rear wheel seals not leaking all over the brakes.

 

[paulsharvey]

Not an expert; but:
1) 12v or 6v system; 12v will be easier to work with; and check battery tray; good chance it's rusted almost 100% away
2) tires and wheels; tires are obvious; but that age, wheels/rims could be anywhere from perfect, to tubes looking like a hernia, poking out of rust holes
3) not the end of the world; but if they turn the fuel off at the tank; I would turn the fuel on while you BS around, and see if the water separator glass bowl leaks at the seal; or the carb leaks gas
4) I don't remember what config of air filter they have factory; but it seems like there are a bunch of types of aftermarket (if it has one at all)
5) check radiator is full; and no freeze plugs rusted out. If it's empty, I would ask to put water in, and give it 15 minutes to see if it's running out anywhere

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

A '53 Jubilee or '54 NAA would be superior due to the upgraded engine. A '55+ would be better still due to improved rear wheel seals not leaking all over the brakes.

I've had up to 5 of them 8N tractors at once. Never had a problem.

 

[paulsharvey]

The compact tractor era functionally began when Henry Ford licensed (and later outright stole) Harry Ferguson's tractor and Three Point Hitch design in 1939. The tractor industry uniformly adopted the Three Point Hitch after 1955, when Ferguson's patents began to expire and his tractor and Three Point Hitch design were available to industry participants besides Ford open source.


I fixed the part in parentheses My understanding is the judge rules; yes, it was stolen, but the benefit of allowing everyone to use the system outweighed the legality.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

I've had up to 5 of them 8N tractors at once. Never had a problem.

We've had a few ourselves. Still have one 9N and one 8N. They are finicky on startup and are notorious for leaking oil onto the brakes. Glad you found five unicorns that never had these issues.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

We've had a few ourselves. Still have one 9N and one 8N. They are finicky on startup and are notorious for leaking oil onto the brakes. Glad you found five unicorns that never had these issues.

The unicorn is finding one the man bought new and kept parked in a building. I found one of those. It was a front distributor, all original, ran good. Even had the glass on the bottom of air filter. I had a 33 HP diesel, Ford 1900. That 8N would overflow a 6' box blade. The diesel tractor would not. Using both at the same time, same dirt.