ford tractor

[Bubbas Boys]

So I know that the N series tractors have been talked to death but... I have been wanting one for our little farm out her for a year or so. I didn't think it would be happening for some time with money being tight trying to finish the build. I can across one that I can trade some items for as well as a small amount of money. It is a 2N. I want it to do garden work, pull wagons and help with animal chores, maybe drag the drive and work pastures. Will it do that? I no everyone says the ground speed is too fast for a tiller so can you just disc a garden or no? Thanks.

[Dixie Bee Acres]

2n is a two speed, also, no power steering, might not seem like a big deal, but there are times it is a huge deal.

[COWS]

Never owned an N Ford, but the word is not to get the older ones with a 3 speed transmission, not enough gear selection for field speeds. The later 4 speeds are better.

I have no experience with 3ph tractor tillers and can't advise you on that.

COWS

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by Bubbas Boys

So I know that the N series tractors have been talked to death but... I have been wanting one for our little farm out her for a year or so. I didn't think it would be happening for some time with money being tight trying to finish the build. I can across one that I can trade some items for as well as a small amount of money. It is a 2N. I want it to do garden work, pull wagons and help with animal chores, maybe drag the drive and work pastures. Will it do that? I no everyone says the ground speed is too fast for a tiller so can you just disc a garden or no? Thanks.

I've had a 9N for about thirty years and it has been ideal for my little patch. Of course, you have to be aware that you will be relying on a 70 year old piece of equipment, so you will need the luxury of having spare time and money to fix it once in awhile--maybe more often than you want to. Condition is the key word....oil pressure, and clutch, will be the must crucial issues. If it maintains good oil pressure and doesn't smoke on start up or under a heavy load, it should be okay to work. The clutch can be adjusted--but sometimes it is at the max and to replace it means you have to split the tractor.

I bought a one-bottom, three point plow so as not to overwork it when I do the garden. A six foot three point disc does well, so does a five foot back blade and a five foot spring tooth cultivator. I also have a home built carrier box which attaches to the three point--it is the most used implement.... I have strong arms, so the lack of power steering doesn't matter to me. If you have good brakes(mine doesn't now) you can use one or the other to help on the really tight turns. Mine still has the original six volt system--the guys on Yesterday's Tractors will tell you it is enough, if you keep to the principle, shiny and bright, and 4-0 cable, at least, for the starter connection. Over the years, though, I quit using it for bush hogging--that just seemed too much for the condition mine is getting in. Fifteen hundred dollars should get you a workable one, and you can go up from there....

Sure, I'd love to have a fancy, schmancy Kubotah or John Deere, but they are outta my league--they just don't pencil in. The N-series were made to replace the horse--so treat it like one, and you shouldn't have to shoot it for a long time.

geo

[Bubbas Boys]

Great info Geo, thanks. We are building the entire homestead with our own 2 well 4 hands with no loans or hired help so I am not about to get a loan for a tractor. We are getting it for a good price. I know it will have limitations but I can deal with that. Thanks again.

[1shotwade]

The 8n was a four speed where as the 9n was just three. They will make due but I would keep looking for something newer. It'll have to be kept in good condition as they are "not good enough to keep but too good to throw away". On some of the n series there was an optional"low range" It operated off a lever just in front of your right foot. There were also aftermarket dual range kits that could be installed. Our 8n didn't have the low range so we got a kit and they work fine.
At some point when finances let you , a good option will be a more modern tractor and in diesel. You can do twice the work with half the fuel.Once you use one for a few days and see what they can do at what little cost you'll be hooked too.
AQnother thing you need to know is if you are going to use this to bushhog , do not use it without a pto slip clutch.You can not believe how it will push you where you don't want to go. Very dangerous.


Wade

[moldy]

most times I never notice the lack of power steering as they are still easy to maneuver. get implements made for it and you can do a lot of work, just make sure you have the overrun on the pto to make it safe to bush hog with. we have a flat belt attachment and use ours with a buzz saw to cut almost all of our firewood, much easier on smaller wood than a chainsaw. sure a modern tractor would be more useful but if you are on a tight budget and find one cheep, they can be a big help around a homestead. around here a good n series goes for around a grand.

[rambler]

If you understand its limitations and get it for a working price, not the collector price then it sure Beas owning a hoe and a coaster wagon only.

Few years ago everyone wanted one, everyone thought they were te tractor to have, and price was getting close to $4000 for a typical beater. That was nutz.

If you are less than half that, go get it, use it safely, if you don't like it or find something better you can get your money out of it again.

Paul

[FarmboyBill]

Ive said it many times before, and/but it bears repeating. IF you are a good mechanic, you can keep it running. IF NOT, You will become one, and in the process enlarge your vocabulary of words you cant use in polite company

[Yvonne's hubby]

If you buy a 2 n or 9 n ford or a to20 to30 Ferguson there is a pretty neat trick to vastly improve the hydolic lift control. It involves a small pulley and bracket (easy to make in about any home shop) and a peice of 1/8" cable about four ft long. Total cost is less than twenty bucks and will take a half day or so to build and install. It allows you to set the lift arm highth at any position instead of being either all the way up or all the way down. Pm me if you want details.

[logbuilder]

I have a 1942 9N that I use for brush hogging. It has the hi/low transmission option. I do all the work on it myself. I paid $1,800 10 years ago. I also have a box blade that I use to smooth the driveway. It pulls that reasonably well.

[Waterwheel Farm]

I have three tractors, two are modern diesels, the other is an 8n Ford, it was my first tractor. If I had to bet my life on which tractor I could get running in really cold weather, it would be the 8n hands down. I can fix most anything on it with a screw driver and a pair of channel locks. You can too if you have some common sense which most homesteaders do. Of the things you listed, that 2N can handle those chores with ease, and parts are cheap and easy to find if you happen to need them. I've had the 8N since 1999 and only replaced the starter and fuel bowl gasket in all that time. Just make sure the hydraulics are OK

[RonM]

I've owned both 9N and 8N tractors , both were fine, had their limitations, be careful with the PTO, get an overriding PTO Attachment or a mower could push you somewhere you don't want to be, like in a pond or onto a road.....

[logbuilder]

My 9N was original 6 volt for many years. The 6 volt batteries got pretty expensive and had a hard time in cold weather so I converted to 12 volt. Much nicer. I highly recommend.

[k9]

My wife mows the lawn with her 8n, she likes it. Easy to get on and off of, and she feels it is very stable, which it is. They are good little machines if used as intended. They are a big garden tractor, and can be purchased very reasonably. Switch the 6v system to 12v for less headaches.