New Toy

[TNIceWolf]

I made the verbal agreement this past week to buy a 1950 Ford 8N tractor from a relative. It would be called well used but still working condition.I am looking for background info and parts on this thing. I am also wondering what an average price for one would be if restored to like new condition. Should make a nice something to pull behind the old F350 if I can come up with a reasonably priced sort of vintage trailer for it.

[bluemoose]

Check out antiquetractor(dot)com. It is a great site and will have resources for parts as well as forums. I used it a bit for some older equipment, but then found a make specific website for parts. They have a classified as well, so do a little research there in regards to value.

Moose

[Ranchero50]

They're fun but very limited in what you can do with them. Not having live hydraulics is a real PITA, non power steering about the same. The hydraulics don't work with the clutch in... They were designed to plow fierlds and plow pretty good for the size once the ground is broken up. They aren't that great for brushhoggin, can't go slow enough in the heavy stuff in first to keep the engine from bogging out so it's in and out of first gear while trying to keep the bushhog going. They're also decent for pulling stuff around as long as the breaks are in good shape. Front mount distributor wasn't one of Ford's bettrer ideas.

Restored price (newer paint and tires and doesn't smoke too much) about $2500, rough and running, complete $500-1000.

Personally I'd look for a mid '50's tractor with live hydraulics and power steering. My dad had a 9n for a couple years, ended up getting a New Holland TC19 to replace it with, diesel, hydrostatic 4wd, live hydraulics and a seat that keeps your butt from going numb...
Jamie

[basketcase0302]

1950 Ford 8N tractor

The very first thing (of any size) I learned to drive at about 10 years old! It was either an 8N or a 9N.
But from Jamie's description I believe it was an 8N! I do remember it not having much of a low for first and the metal seat with the "hand throttle" on the right side of the tractor.
Ahh...the good old days!

[cep62]

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/boards.cgi

Check out this site.
All sorts of information ,plus brand specific forums.

[AlleyCat]

There is still a lot of stuff available for them. My brother bought a 9N about a month ago. It wasn't running and he got it for $250. Some engine work and a clutch later he has a new toy.

[averagef250]

They're neat, but not too functional compared to what else is out there. I have friends that collect and repair old equipment for the fun of it, take it to shows, sell and trade the stuff then I have a friend who uses an M JD and an 8N Ford to maintain his property. The tractors get beat up, he gets beat up, it's a waste of time, fuel and resources, but he feels he's doing good by keeping the old tractors in use. My beat up 80's Ford 30HP diesel tractor will do anything the 8N can do two times faster and where the 8n or M use 5 gallons of fuel the little diesel uses less than 1. He's always pumping bad gas out of the old tractors when they sit for very long.

Just food for thought. Tractors get real expensive real fast when things like transmission gears/bearings/hydraulics and tires need work.

[RTG_RACING]

I use mine to bush hog and finish mow. I think they work great for what they are. Just have to remember it was 23 hp in 1950 so odds are it's less now.