Why Buy An N

[Dean]

Folks, I have both 51 and 52 8Ns and love both of them, but if shopping, I would buy this rather than just about any N series.

Not mine, and not associated.

Dean
640

 

[hd6gtom]

I wondered that when I first started running them in 1960 or 61.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 10:03:39 11/21/17) Folks, I have both 51 and 52 8Ns and love both of them, but if shopping, I would buy this rather than just about any N series.

Not mine, and not associated.

Dean
640

I bought my 8N because after maintaining my dirt roads for ten years with a shovel and garden cart, I jumped on the first tractor that came up for sale in my area. It had a Davis loader and came with a rollover box blade and a Woods M5 rotary mower. I paid $4000 for it. I'm in southern California where there aren't tractors sitting in everybody's yard. That 8N is still serving me well after about 12 years.

Another tractor became available right down the road from me about a year ago. It's a MF202 Workbull with the same loader on it. I jumped on that one for $2000.

In other words, in my area, you get what is available. I got lucky and was able to just drive both these machines to my place.

 

[Ultradog MN]

That is a lot of tractor for the money.

 

[cowdog]

That 640 is a real tractor. Far and away better than an 8N. A pretty fair price too. I bought mine 2 years ago for 2250.

 

[8NHENRY]

In our area the asking price would be closer to 3000. I would buy that in a heart beat if it was close by.

 

[52geemsee]

I bought my 640 about 18 months ago for $500. Seller didn’t realize it had a Sherman over and under tranny in it. I did have to put a clutch in it and rebuild the lift cylinder but still a great bargain and much more tractor than my 8N.

 

[pinball]

The ford n tractors are very nice when all redone and painted up. The live power era tractors are so much better to use. The n tractors had a big following and a few years ago would bring a good price. Lot of them around as they made a lot of them and were remembered by people who had lived on a farm as it was quiet a tractor when it first came out. Now the price has came down a lot depending on your location. That 640 is a very good buy for some one needing a small tractor. It will out perform any N tractor by a lot. Parts for those old fords are easy to get so that makes them popular. Don't really need it but if it were close to me I would own it. just saying.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

That is a good deal -most N's average about tat price nowadays indecent running condition. If I could afford it, I'd buy a Hundred Series, a '56 860 i s my choice.


Tim Daley(MI)

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Around my part of VA, hundred series tractors are rare; N's are not. I enjoy my 8N's, both working them and restoring them. But if I had to choose between one of my 8N's or my 740 as a working tractor, I'd choose the 740.
75 Tips

 

[Dean]

I've a good 55 860 that is going to go in a year or two.

Dean

 

[jgriff0728]

I bought my 8n for a few reasons. One, I was wanting/needing a tractor to do food plots; I found mine that ran fairly good, other than burning oil, for $800; finally my grandpa owned an 8n my whole life so there was a bit of nostalgia there.

On that note, I'm still always looking for more tractors and that CL 640 you posted is right down the road from my house. I've also got this 800 series fairly close for the same money https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/d/ford-800/6410590720.html

I haven't called and asked about either tractor, yet. Based on the pics and descriptions what do you guys think? I know the 800 is a bigger tractor but how do I tell if its an 841/861/etc. And are there any advantages or disadvantages to either? Which tractor look like the better deal?

 

[allenlane]

Growing up we always had old JD's around the place, and usually had to pull them to get them started are jumper cables and starting fluid, always diesels. I tool a 30 yr vacation from tractors, and when we bought our current place purchased a brand new Kubota with a FEL. I love that tractor. Change fluids, filters as should, and all she needs is diesel.

She is a long way from my 45 2N (gift from Dad), so I don't have a recent comparison relative to other 40-50's era tractors. So with that background, what are the top 3 or 4 knocks on the 2N's vs others of similar age?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 13:03:39 11/21/17) Folks, I have both 51 and 52 8Ns and love both of them, but if shopping, I would buy this rather than just about any N series.

Not mine, and not associated.

Dean
640

I'm done for life with gas tractors of any vintage, make, or model. The instant I see "gasoline" or a picture of a carburetor in a sale ad I immediately move on. My 51 8N "nostalgia blanket" will remain only because of the family memories that come with it. Someday it may get the spruce up it needs.

TOH

 

[HFJ]

(quoted from post at 16:12:05 01/04/18 )
Growing up we always had old JD's around the place, and usually had to pull them to get them started are jumper cables and starting fluid, always diesels. I tool a 30 yr vacation from tractors, and when we bought our current place purchased a brand new Kubota with a FEL. I love that tractor. Change fluids, filters as should, and all she needs is diesel.

She is a long way from my 45 2N (gift from Dad), so I don't have a recent comparison relative to other 40-50's era tractors. So with that background, what are the top 3 or 4 knocks on the 2N's vs others of similar age?

i have a 2N and a WD. the three things i like that the WD has and the 2N doesn't: live PTO, live hydraulics, and a drawbar that isn't some kind of bad joke

 

[wallytoo]

because it is simple to maintain and work on. i don't run any implements, and likely never will. it is FAR cheaper than any semi-modern diesel tractor with a loader. it starts in all weather conditions, without being plugged in or heated. i don't need live hydraulics. i don't need power steering.

the primary purpose of my 8n, with loader, was to move/remove snow from my driveway. it works really well for that purpose. as a bonus, it came with a 3-point mountable hydraulic woodsplitter that runs off of a remote valve from the 703's system.

if i needed it to run implements, or plow soil, or till, or lots of other things, a different tractor would undoubtedly be better. but for the specific task, and cost, it is very good for my use.

wally

 

[wallytoo]

used my "useless" 703 on my 8n today, to do a project i've been contemplating for several years.

sure saved my back a lot of effort in digging, and then spreading.