ford 8n

[jimlf]

I am thinking of buying an 8n ford and am wondering what kind of hydraulic loader I could put on it that would look decent and come off and on easily.

 

[ooticamitica]

get something a little bigger if you want a loader, they are kinda clumsy with loaders and if you dont have weight in the back to balance the load on the front they are hard to steer and put alot of stress on the front end.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I've got 4 8N's; one trailer queen & 3 workers. One of the workers is a 1951 w/ a Freeman loader. If I could only own one N, it would not have a loader on it. The N doesn't have PS, so a loader makes it very difficult to steer. (my wife can't drive it) Stopping it on a down slope w/ a full bucket is a real joy as well. Maneuvering around trees, etc, w/ that bucket out there isn't fun either. Worst of all, the N wasn't designed to carry the weight of the loader & the load, so be prepared for split radius rods & worn out front end parts.

As to ease of detachment.....it's not going to happen. The old loaders weren't meant to come off & on in 5 minutes like the new ones.

I built a frame to hold the lift cylinders, arms & bucket for my loader. I drive in & 20 - 30 minutes later & a lot of lost fluid, it's off.

Get a bigger tractor if you need a loader!

50 Tips

 

[old]

A loader is ok on an 8N but not all that good as in about 1000lbs of lift and then you have the problem of being able to steer it. I would look for something like an 801 series tractor with power steering or a thousand series tractor again with power steering

 

[HCooke]

I have several N's. For a loader tractor I use a Kubota (power steering plus built for a loader). Do you really need a loader or would a rear scoop suit you. I have a couple of them and use them on my N's when I don't need the full loader.

 

[souNdguy]

off an on easy? a 1-arm laoder.

unfortunately the bracket set to hang a 1-arm loader on an 8n will be super super super hard to find. I've only ever seen one set.

If you are buying a tractor to hang a loader on.. why not get a newer model with a loader perhaps with a quick attach bucket.. or a 1-arm laoder as mentioned. hundred series tractors usually go in just about the same price range as an N.. perhaps a few hundred bucks more at most.

soundguy

 

[Jasper1675]

I purchased a N with a loader on it off of craigslist for 1200 bucks with some other attachments. Personaly i love it don't regret it at all.

Now that said I had a little over a 1000 to 1500 for the tractor budget, I only have a 3 acre flat pasture. Everytime I drive by the tractor dealer I wonder what life would be like with that new 35hp tractor with a loader.

I wouldn't trade my N with a loader for anything cause mainly all I would get right now is a shovel.

If you have a similar situation than any functional n with a loader is great. If not I would buy a bigger tractor. Also a loader that has downward breaking force for the ground would be nice.

 

[souNdguy]

I agree... while an old ford with no power steering isn't the be-all get-all loader machine.. it sure beats a shovel and wheel barrow. In fact.. I havn't used my 10cf wheel barrow in uh.. years now.. it now doubles as a 2nd horse trough after it rains..

None of my loader tractors are power steering.. most of them are trip dump.. though I do have a couple that are hyd dump.

they sure are nice when moving round hay bales.

soundguy

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 13:07:15 06/24/10) I am thinking of buying an 8n ford and am wondering what kind of hydraulic loader I could put on it that would look decent and come off and on easily.

I am no fan of loaders on any N-series tractor. But to answer the question I had a fully hydraulic Sauder loader that was super easy on/off. You simply drove into/out of it - the front sat on the axles - the rear was socketed into a bracket under the diffferential - one pin to remove. No jungle gyme to climb through either - totally out of the way.

That said it wasn't very easy to operate when it was on - too much weight forward of the front wheels. Needed a lot of rear wheel weight to offset that and the steering was pretty stiff. A 3pt counterweight would probably have helped unload the front some. I gave the loader frame and bucket away but kept the subframe - going to use it someday to mount a 7' Myers snowplow I bought....

TOH

 

[Dell (WA)]

Jim.......no argue, loaders are down right handy and beat pick'n'shovels and wheelbarrows enny day. Howsomevers, they turn a right nimble N-Tractor into unwieldy monstrosities. Even removing the jungle gym pipe FEL is a 1-hr exercise, NO eazy-on/eazy-off there. I gitt along just fine with the eazly removed rear 3-point scoop. When I need FEL work done, I hire my neighbor's backhoe to come over ...or... I go RENT a well designed power steering front end loader yammabotadeer tractor. ......Dell

 

[lastcamp2]

Get a small Bobcat. I have a gas 634B and it is a great loader. They have their limitations, of course, as does anything. The neat thing is you can get about anything you can think of as an attachment.

However, they aren't cheap. I would say mine is worth $6K with a 5' bucket. Has about 200 hours on it.

As has been said, 8Ns weren't made for FELs.
I also have to agree that a rear scoop or even a carryall can do a lot of things a loader can.

 

[John (TR)]

I had a loader on my 43 and removed and sold it, basically nearly impossible to use. I've since bought a 2600 with power steering and a loader. Much better setup

 

[Caryc]

This is my 8N with a Davis loader on it. As others have said, as far as handling, it's like climbing onto a water buffalo instead of a gazelle. The rear tires are loaded and they also have wheel weights on them.

But, I wouldn't change it. I live out in the hills and have plenty of dirt roads to maintain. After a couple days of hard rain that bucket comes in handy for filling in the large ruts (like a foot deep and a foot across) before going over it with the back blade and smoothing everything out.

Bottom line? Power steering would be nice. But I've used that bucket for nine years now and have had no problems.