Ford 2n, 8n, 9n: can someone please explain why...

[Tim Hancock]

The 9N in summer mode.




In winter mode.





My current best weapon for plowing.
(Last year I replaced the clunky lift winch on top of the rack shown with a nicer compact unit mounted just below the front bumper)

[Zeke]

The old tractors have a better cool factor. Like VIN said, I'd buy one just to have it.

[madmmac]

I have an 8n that I work to death. It sits outside all year long and it starts every time....if its been a long time a little starting fluid never hurts.

Whatever model you are looking at or are thinking about buying, you really want to get the 4 speed forward transmission. If you can find one with the high/low box all the better.

[oldE]

Jake,

Good idea, but a couple of observations:
Plowing snow with a backblade can be a real pain in the back & neck. That said, it has been done by lots of folks. Get wheel chains and an top-edge extention for the blade to allow you to push the darn white stuff.
If the tractor you get has a live PTO, a 3PH mounted snowblower is nice for getting the stuff back out of the way and helps reduce drifting.
You'll find a real big difference between sitting in the Suzuki and being on top of the Ford. Visibility is great, wind protection is non-existant.
Work on Mrs. NFN on the 'maintaining the cottage property' aspect. with cart, backblade and a length of chain you can accomplish a lot with one of the old suckers.

Have fun.
Les

[Jim Bremner]

Who woulda thunk that Ford, Porsche and Lamborgini had something in common?

And as far as no heat? man you could take a heater core out of a junkyard car and mount it somewhere close to you! or just braze some copper tubing to the seat and you could get very warm. I would plumb it in before the thermostat to warm up faster

[Superman]

My brother-in-law and sister live in the middle of nowhere, up high where there is plenty of snow. And hills. She drives an Audi Quattro. He's a retired diesel mechanic. He handles the snow plowing duties. He's got a 3/4T 4WD Camper Special Ford pickup with a big white propane tank behind the cab. It's about a 1970 or so. Rust holes everywhere. It doesn't go anywhere. It just plows. In the winter, the bed FILLS with snow. It's got a plow on the front and chains on all four tires. Split-rim wheels. Full of snow, it probably weighs three tons or so. I think the only strategy that would be more effective than this one would be a dozer. This solution is cheap, it would keep your regular car plow-free and it would plow better than those rubber-tired tractors.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by milt

The old tractors have a better cool factor. Like VIN said, I'd buy one just to have it.

Agreed. I've always loved old tractors.

Originally Posted by madmmac

Whatever model you are looking at or are thinking about buying, you really want to get the 4 speed forward transmission.

wikipedia tells me that all the 8Ns had a 4spd box. Do they all have PTOs?

Originally Posted by oldE

Plowing snow with a backblade can be a real pain in the back & neck. That said, it has been done by lots of folks. Get wheel chains and an top-edge extention for the blade to allow you to push the darn white stuff.

Yeah, that's one thing I have to find a way around... I have neck/back issues and just know using a backblade would be a real problem. I've seen a few front-mounted plows and will have to look closer at how they're set up.

Originally Posted by oldE

Work on Mrs. NFN on the 'maintaining the cottage property' aspect. with cart, backblade and a length of chain you can accomplish a lot with one of the old suckers.

That will definitely be my approach. It really would be handy up there, pulling up the docks, yanking trees, taking kids for tractor rides. Plus it would look SWEET parked beside the barn all summer. MIL would actually love it, she's a sucker for farm chic.

Saving $$$ on plowing will be a big angle, but again - I would really have to prove that it could be tucked away neatly in the yard. She does not like "dogpatch".

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

And as far as no heat? man you could take a heater core out of a junkyard car and mount it somewhere close to you! or just braze some copper tubing to the seat and you could get very warm. I would plumb it in before the thermostat to warm up faster

I wonder how hard it would be to rig up a little cab to use in the winter

Originally Posted by Superman

He handles the snow plowing duties. He's got a 3/4T 4WD Camper Special Ford pickup with a big white propane tank behind the cab. It's about a 1970 or so. Rust holes everywhere. It doesn't go anywhere. It just plows.

LOL, if I bought something like that, I'd also need to get an apartment in town. My samurai (RIP) was as close as I'll ever come to owning something that rough. After its untimely demise, my very patient wife made it known she wouldn't have anything like that in the yard again.

[Jim Bremner]

And as far as no heat? man you could take a heater core out of a junkyard car and mount it somewhere close to you! or just braze some copper tubing to the seat and you could get very warm. I would plumb it in before the thermostat to warm up faster

I wonder how hard it would be to rig up a little cab to use in the winter

you use a large DOG HOUSE if your wife finds out that you bought it!

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

you use a large DOG HOUSE if your wife finds out that you bought it!

Nah she knows it's done for now. Once I start doing online searches and making calls, it's only a matter of time.

She'll be in negotiating mode within a week or so... her gears are turning as much as mine. She's probably trying to decide what the "trade" will be.

[BlueSideUp]

Here is the box blade my dad uses, he takes the tines out for winter.



Have you been to this website?
Tractor House

Don't tell Mrs. Notfarnow I have passed along this information. I don't need to be on any ninja hitlist.

[speedracing944]

I have a 1947 8N I purchased last year during the summer. It came with a 6' wide Woods Hard Core belly mower which is great for the yard and the pastures. I use a 6' wide blade on the 3 pt for snow removal. Last winter we were blessed with largest amount of snow ever recorded and there was only 1 time I had trouble getting the tractor through and that was when it was covered with a 5' tall drift. Other that I love my 8N and it has been pretty dependable. I hope I run as good when I am 61 years old. I payed $2400 for my tractor with the mower deck. The one you posted I would of picked up in heart beat at that price. Here is a video of Chitown944 taking my 8N for a ride in front of my house. He is a city slicker but loved the 8N regardless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBh1QcDDi6o

Speedy

[notfarnow]

So...

Mrs Notfarnow knows that when I get something on my mind, I can really put on the hard sell. She knew it was coming. A few hints and jokes. I finally just laid it out, said how I thought it would save us in plowing, would be great at the cottage, would make me a better husband and father, etc etc.

No way. No where. No how. Period. Exclamation mark. We have enough projects, enough vehicles, enough junk to maintain.

But then I showed her a picture. This one.

Let me tell you, she melted. Changed everything.

"Oh it's CUTE. I thought you wanted an ugly boxy thing. That little guy is CUTE!"

ha ha

she's a good girl.

[Rot 911]

Jake, never underestimate the cuteness factor when dealing with women.

[speedracing944]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

So...

Mrs Notfarnow knows that when I get something on my mind, I can really put on the hard sell. She knew it was coming. A few hints and jokes. I finally just laid it out, said how I thought it would save us in plowing, would be great at the cottage, would make me a better husband and father, etc etc.

No way. No where. No how. Period. Exclamation mark. We have enough projects, enough vehicles, enough junk to maintain.

But then I showed her a picture. This one.

Let me tell you, she melted. Changed everything.


"Oh it's CUTE. I thought you wanted an ugly boxy thing. That little guy is CUTE!"

ha ha

she's a good girl.

Isn't that a Ferguson t-20?

Speedy

[targa911S]

Yes it looks like a Ferg.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by speedracing944

Isn't that a Ferguson t-20?

Speedy

Ha, you tell me. It's being sold as an 8n, and I probably wouldn't be able to tell.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by targa911S

Yes it looks like a Ferg.

Well don't tell that to Mrs Notfarnow... or she'll never let me get an 8n

[notfarnow]

mmmmm

Plow, chains, rebuilt hydraulics, tow-behind mower, 12v. $2200



I really like the front-mount plow. think I'd jump on it if we weren't RIGHT in the middle of layoffs here

[targa911S]

that is a great deal for all it has.

[notfarnow]

Yeah, I've got cash in hand too, but I think I'd best wait a bit. Plus, I don't know where the hell I'd put it right now. Mrs Notfarnow says I have to get rid of a trailer before I bring ANYTHING home.