8n or Farmall M

now as far as HP, I have a 2N, and can pull a 5 foot bush hog through any tall grass just fine. A lot of guys try a 50-60 year old tractor with a worn out engine and think that's what they have. My engine is fresh, and pulls a 2-14 plow through hard, rocky ground all day. What more does one need? I use it to pull a landscape rake, 3 point scoop, 6 foot finish mower, backblade for plowing, post hole digger, and a nice big utility trailer. What more do you need?

Finally, there is the issue of storage, and tread marks in your lawn. Get an N or Jubillee, a 600 series Ford, or a small MF. Leave the M to real farmers.

Take Care
Steve

Not saying which is right for you, just that there are a _lot_ of m's out there, and lots of parts!

If you like Ford, a good 100 series (600, 800) is a whole lot more tractor than an N.

--->Paul

As others have said, the 8N is underpowered and overpriced. Depending on how hard the soil is you're going to plow, it may not be able to do the job.

The M is a great tractor, but it's very big and didn't come from the factory with a three point. On the other hand, its maneuverability in the tricycle configuration is second to none.

My personal preferences would be either one of the Fordson Major series, or the Ford 600/800 series (including the 601/801 and four cylinder 2000/4000 tractors). These all have plenty of power, three point hitch, live hydraulics and are reasonably compact. I'm sure there are many other tractors of various colors that will suit your needs equally well.

What would be wrong with the newer 2000-4000 Fords with the 3 cylinder engines. Arent the ones with the 4 cylinder engines just glorified 600-800 series tractors.

Cracked blocks on the Fergusons was because of abuse or neglect by the operator. We ran 2 Fergusons for years and never cracked a block.

steve

I like the N's. I have a 2N. I have also owned a farmall H. I like deeres, but only the ones earlier than 1940. My opinion is this: The 8N, like the 9N and 2N before it, had features that were not available in other tractors at the time. The 8N had not only a three point hitch, but also draft control AND position control built in. It's low stature and easily adjustable tread width made it poor for row crop cultivation, but great for hilly terrain and other close to the ground chores.

The N's are two bottom plowing freaks! THat is what they were designed to do. I think they are comparable to the M as far as drawbar horsepower. You can convert the N to live hydraulics for about $80 and give it a more-or-less live PTO with an ORC for about $65. The M never had a 3 point, and you'll spend $500 for a conversion and you still don't have a live lift, or live PTO. You just have a lift. Just like the N. People say they are overpriced, but price is based on demand and a lot of people love these little machines. They refuse to die and parts are available everywhere and at low cost. You run into the same boat with the John deeres as you do the H and M of the same time period....and look how much THEY set you back compared to an N.

I went to a junk yard down the road from me to find some 2N parts. This place has acres and acres of tractors. In the whole place, there were about 4 N's combined. On the other hand, the Fergusons with the OHV engine were populating the junk heap nicely. A guy that worked there said that their OHV engine just didn't hold up like the old flathead ford did.

Again, this is just opinion. I like the N's. I like the deere's and Farmalls, too but mostly for nostalgia purposes. I like the N's for versatility. Somebody commented that you don't see a whole lot of N's at tractor shows because they're all still out in the field working...

For what it's worth.

Jeb

I did think that the M had more "grunt" to it, but I never saw the stats on them. If it's brute pulling force you're after, I would favor the M. As far as wanting to plant, plow, cultivate, mow, etc. I would favor the N's. JMHO.

Jeb

M got more muscle and I know they'll be a lot of argument but get a wide front, better on steep terrainan more stable with loader if you need one.

CH