M vs.8n ford

Them 8N's do bring some $$$ here..... ...I often don't understand it though..... ..You can buy two Farmall 300's(With Fast Hitches) for one 8N, but yet those 2 300's could do the same work as 4 8N's(Smile)

I want my beans back! That darned old cow turned up empty and broken mouthed!

At least if I had those beans, I might be able to climb my way outta this one! :>)

Allan

But it also won't fit in my garage, and can't run any 3-point stuff without an expensive upgrade. Since I can buy a lot of M's for 1000, and not many N's for less than 2000, it sounds fair to me.

Like you, not trying to start a color war either.

Take Care
Steve

Yes Sir, I agree. And you guys know by now that I'm just a silly, old opinionated loud mouth.

I'm sure not talking down anyone else's tractor, no matter what the brand or the size. We all like what we like.

Maybe I've been down on the farm a little too long, but I still think the feller that trades away his M for an 8N and gives money to boot, just must have his boots on the wrong feet or some darned thing. :>)

Later,

Allan

I don't wanna start a color war here, but something is way, way wrong. I would really shy away from that one.

Either there is something way bad wrong with that M or else this guy has some very serious emotional problems going on.

He is offering you a Farmall M AND $1,000 for an 8N Ford? He is totally upside down in his thinking; do you guys live in town or something?

Like I say, don't wanna start a color war or anything, but the 8N is nothing but a toy and the M is a bone fide tractor.

The only reason those little Fords hold any value at all is because the city folks can use ‘em to clear sidewalks and mow and little patch of grass now and then.

Just my view and stated as such,

Allan

I and my dad before me farmed for quite a few years. If I go back to finincial statments of that operation, we made more money during the years we were under powered than when sufficiently or over powered. I will agree the 50s and 60s were the golden years of dairy farming. I can also understand old Farmall gassers being around in good shape. Diesel and energy costs did that one. There however shouldn't be a 06, 56, 66 or 86 series tractor left anywhere. They were only viable at a mimamun of 800 hours per year. You multiply that out by the years they have been arround. Single biggest reason North American farmer was finincially against the wall, too damn much horse power sitting in the yard.

So what you are telling me is that given the choice, you would trade a perfectly good M and $1K for a little Ford 8N that barely stands as tall as the rear axle of that M?

Comon', you're not talking tractors Hugh, you're talking money, which is fine considering the overinflated price of those little Fords.

But, take 'em both out to the field and the 8N will be mowing the grass at the edge of the field, plowin' the little garden plot, and settin' there under a big ol' shade tree looking "cute" while that ugly old musclebound M will be out there in sun doing all the work.

We're talking apples and oranges here and the two are not even in the same game.

And I'm not critizing the little tractors either; heck, I own 3 of the little devils.

I'm just saying that they are more or less totally worthless when it comes to accomplishing any real work as compared to a Farmall M.

Allan

I can take you back to when I had Farmalls SA, 130, 300, 560D, 656D, 1066 and an articulated Deere. There were always jobs on my farm better suited to the SA and 130. Now we didn't pull a 20' disk, 25' cultivator or forage harvester with them. We did rake one heck of a lot of hay with them.

At 62 I would still like to have a big tractor around, somewhere between a Farmall 656D and a Deere 8640 would make a good size. But what in the name of blazes would I ever do with it. Allan every tractor has it's place. We should never critize the tractors North American farmers bought 250,000 plus copies of, maybe not even 10% of that figure.

I just don't understand your response. Where I live, a typical 8N will bring $1,000 more than an M. That is why I have so many M's. They are too much of a bargain.

So, if both tractors are in average shape, it looks like the guy is offering a fair deal. If I had an 8N, I would trade straight across to get an M, but I would take the boot as well. Just because I disagree with market economics is no reason to ignore them.

Carlton:

It sounds like a fair deal, but always buyer beware. The seller may just want a three point but doesn't have the gumption to install one himself. I have no use for a three point, but the add on three points work well, and with the right valve setup, you will get up and down pressure.

I disagree that wide fronts turn over easier. They are a little softer ride but not much. I far prefer narrow front for both easy steering and clearance. You can go lots of tight places with a narrow front you can't get with a wide front both because you can turn sharper and don't have that wheel sticking out to interfere. Baling square bales, avoiding the previous round's bales at corners is a snap with a narrow front. With a wide front, you either abandon part of the windrow or stop, get off, move a bale, and get back on.

I knew I'd make some smoke on this one and I should learn just to keep my mouth shut. I sure didn't mean to offend anyone with my big yap either.

But, I'm not talking "market value"; I look at these old things as tools.

Just like my old H. I consider it an amusement, it is not really a tractor; what can it do? Not very darned much. It is nothing but a toy.

However, the guy with the M who wants to trade for a Ford 8N; I just cannot see the logic in it, unless he is just an “iron trader” and is in it solely for the buck. (Haven’t got much use for those guys either). Those old Ms are some serious tractors.

Why trade away a Belgium workhorse for a Shetland pony? And then give money to boot?

Again, just my opinion,

Allan

And yes if you came to New England and thought you were gonna get away without covering your bales in some manner you'd soon learn what rotted wasted hay looks like.

Yep, sure should have kept the old yap shut on this one! (Been out here in the darned desert too long) :>)

Allan