'47 8N I looked at today

I apologize if you see a similar message on the N-Club board, I'm trying to get as many opinions as I can, being a total amateur at this. This is the tractor I mentioned in my post yesterday.

For whatever reason, tractors are thin on the ground here in western Washington, and N machines all seem to be priced from around 2000 for projects to 5000 for nice ones. This one is just under 3000.

It looks to my uneducated eye to be pretty original and straight. It ran nicely, with some blow-by from the crankcase breather. Exhaust looked a bit rich on start-up but no oil smoke or coolant steam. No "goop" in the oil, either. Fuel bowl was brand new but the owner had buggered the threads on it, so it was leaking on the inlet side. Oil pressure was about 20lbs, hot.

Hydraulic lifted and held at the up position, but wouldn't hold in any itermediate position...not sure what that means.

This will be my first tractor, if I buy it, and my main reason for getting it is to mow my 10 acres of grass (there's a photo of my field on the web site below). The owner says when he purchased it there was a huge brush hog on it, but it was NOT happy pulling it. He said after about three passes through his field there was a lot of blow-by coming out the breather.

Tires were pretty much done. They're filled with a liquid other than water...didn't see any rust-out on the wheels, though.

It was a charming old machine, and while I would definitely restore it one day if I get it, it will have to earn its keep first. I'm not absolutely sold on getting an 8N (a 600 or 800 would be fine, too) there just isn't much for sale around here, and what there is tends to go fast.

My pasture IS all grass, no brush. Is there a sickle-type mower that can be fitted to one of these? What's the best way to go?

Thanks for any ideas, answers, or feedback, and thanks for your patience!

• Photos of the Tractor

If you buy the 8N, I would sure like to have some better (close up to show the details) pictures of the air cleaner. I have never seen one like that on an 8N. Don"t think that John Smith has a picture of one like that on his web pages. All the dust jars on the 8Ns are outside the hood. This one is under the hood. I have heard that the 2Ns had ones like that, but I have not seen one. I suppose that someone could have modified the 8N"s air cleaner and added the 2N dust jar. Sure would like to know what the deal is, and pictures would help.

Re: old"s comment about the year, I have 8N1045 which I figure was made the first week of the 8N production. The casting date on the engine is D97 which would mean that it was cast on April 9, 1947. All the authorities on the Ford N series tractors say that the production of the 8Ns began in July of 1947.

Regards,
Larry

My S# is stamped quite clearly. The casting date is readable but not as good. That 2N engine must have been close to the end of the run. What was the full serial number on it - if you can read it all.

I would not be surprised to find that the engines had some over lap. Between the casting and the assembly into a tractor, there would be several stops where the block could get "out of order". Once cast the block would be moved to be machined and probably sat in some sort of "receiving" area. When the block was machined it probably sat until it could be assembled as an engine. Then it would sit again until it was finally assembled into the tractor.

I have seen S#"s and casting dates that indicate that the engine got into the tractor quickly. And then I have seen ones that seem to have taken several months. My 8N1045 block took three months - almost exactly. It would interesting to see the range of time that it took.

Regards,
Larry

It is not in as good of shape as the one you're looking at. Buy it. It's only money. Think of all the fun!

You said "Hydraulic lifted and held at the up position, but wouldn't hold in any itermediate position...not sure what that means." The lift has two modes of operation. They are engaged based on a little lever under the seat on the right side. Read up on how they operate. They are "Position or Draft control" If the little lever is in Draft control mode, the lift will drop when you move the lever a couple of inches from the top. In Position mode the lift will go up and down dependant on where you move the lever.

Anyway, do some more reading and have fun.

Good luck. Important question since you have an english motor bug: Why do the English like warm beer? Lucas builds all the refridgerators! ( I've had five Volvos, I understand the bug all the same )

Jim Cox
SW Missouri

The Mrs. would like to have a place to give the collies their head and right now they disappear into the grass immediately when they get there. This is apparently NOT part of the training program.

I'm also concerned because the neighboring pasture has that grass which can be dangerous for dogs growing in it, and we don't want that to end up in our place.

We're thinking of a few sheep to keep said collies busy, once we build our small little house there, which might make mowing moot on some of it. We live on one of the Puget Sound islands in the rain shadow, or a fringe of it, and so I might try my hand at haying, eventually.

How's that for off-topic? Sorry.

Know what you mean about 8N availablility in Western Washington. I hauled mine up from near Salem Ore 15 yr ago, but it was a Walla-Walla divorce settlement for $2000 cash. But I gott 10 hrs of quality daddy time bouncing down I-5 with my 10yo son and his scouting budddy. He's now 2Lt USAF.

I was more interested in the white MGB, yours?..... ..Dell, head shepherd, RockyRidge SheepStation; 15 awesome acres at the foot of 14K Mt Rainier where I raise and train Australian Shepherd herding dogs

Soundguy

To the original poster:

In any case.. it looks like a decent old machine. I love the wheel weights.

Is the draft/position lever under the right side of the seat flipped 'up' if not.. that may cause hyd issues due to the draft control. Either way.. if it is out of adjustment.. or has a worm cam follower.. it is easy to work on the hyds.. etc.

Soundguy