Maybe I need a Howard?

[markdtn]

I have a '50 8N with a flathead V8 conversion. I actually built it 10 years ago as a 2N but it revved too high on a road ride so I bought an 8N with a Sherman combination auxiliary about 2 years ago and swapped it. Taller tires, aux trans, taller 4th gears all help at speed in addition to other 8N improvements. I don't do any pulling. I just go to shows, drive around the yard, on/off the trailer, and once a year a roughly 15-mile tractor ride. Here is my want. Two of the shows that I go to have "slow tractor races". I have competed 3 times with the 8N and lost twice. First loss was to a new John Deere with a cab so I don't really count that. Second was to an Allis Chalmers WD. Last weekend I won by about an inch against a young lady on a John Deere-I think it was a 5020. I was going so slow that the alternator light was blinking (it has a 10si Delco alternator wired with all 3 wires). I can't go any slower than that. I really think she could have dropped speed and taken the win though. So I need something else to lower my ground speed. It has the taller 12.4-28 tires and I know I could go smaller 11.2-28 but these are new so I can't go that direction.

I was looking at a Howard, I see that they will not take any abuse in low. What about direct? I have no intention of pulling with it, but don't want to break anything on a road ride. If you don't abuse them are they sturdy enough in direct? The best gear I have found for a road ride is step-up and 3rd gear to keep the RPMs in a good range for engine cooling.

Any thoughts? (and yes, I know I have a leaking axle seal, that is a project for this Winter)

Thanks!

 

[R Geiger]

A Howard would work great . I have one in an 8n and it is very slow. Mine has damaged teeth but i think it was done when someone tried to engage it while moving. They can be hard to find tho!

 

[OldBlue61]

I've won a few 'slowest tractor' competitions at local county fairs with my 8N. Stock 4 cyl w/ a Howard trans. I use low range in the Howard frequently and have not had any issues, though I don't work it hard. It's used on our property for maintenance and pulling a trailer around cleaning up debris after storms, using my boom to clean up fallen trees, etc. No real 'farming' (i.e. plowing and the like).

 

[markdtn]

Good to hear. I just want to be sure that the Howard is robust enough in direct that being behind a V8 won't hurt it on a road ride. Stock 8N 4-cyl is 92 lb-ft torque while an 8BA V8 is 194 lb-ft. The I-6 in a Funk was 180-185 lb-ft so close to V8 power. Wonder if anybody with a Funk also has a Howard and how it held up? The low range in the Sherman is 1.55 I think so that helps, but it's not quite enough.

 

[R Geiger]

Good to hear. I just want to be sure that the Howard is robust enough in direct that being behind a V8 won't hurt it on a road ride. Stock 8N 4-cyl is 92 lb-ft torque while an 8BA V8 is 194 lb-ft. The I-6 in a Funk was 180-185 lb-ft so close to V8 power. Wonder if anybody with a Funk also has a Howard and how it held up? The low range in the Sherman is 1.55 I think so that helps, but it's not quite enough.

You would not be using all of that torque trying to go slow.

 

[markdtn]

You would not be using all of that torque trying to go slow.

Agree. I know I will not hurt it idling unladen on flat level ground, but fast or maybe climbing onto the trailer without ramps is where I would be worried about it. I'm more concerned about the robustness of direct drive than low. I have watched videos and I still don't exactly understand how it works in direct. Looks like it transmits power through to the differential using 4 gears and not a sliding collar or similar. I suppose that it should be able to take whatever a stock N could dish out in direct though?

 

[MeanGene1]

I have one in my '50 8N, and it is indeed a creeper in low. I used it with a 5' rotary mower, and low range was handy working around the buildings, and in very heavy grass or vines would let it chop stuff up very well