Can The Ford 8N Do Any Real Work? 6ft Heavy Duty Box Blade and 5ft Grading Blade with 1952 Ford 8N

[@frederickjeremy]

I’ve never run an 8n, but I’ve owned a 1941 9n for about 13 years now. In those years that machine has done an insurmountable amount of work. I work away for months at a time so I initially got it to mow down 5 acres of 3-4 foot tall grass that grew up when I was gone. It ran a 5’ bushhog for that with no problem. It did so well I actually started taking care of several of my elderly neighbors properties with it as well. And after I got married the list grew to my mother and father in laws 10 acres, 2 sister in laws places that come up to 5 acres between the two. I also cut shooting lanes and trails on 4 different hunting leases. Then I got a 6’ I believe grader blade. The hydraulic system on that tractor is beautiful for doing dirt work. I maintained 1/4 mile of defunct washed out neglected red clay private road I live down so my elderly newbies could actually drive up it when it rained, and to save wear and tear on vehicles. I then fixed almost a mile of similar but more tore up road on my hunting lease. I’m talking tanker semi trucks, sliders, and log trucks tearing up muddy red clay road infused with gravel. They looked at me like I was crazy.... and maybe I was,but I like playing on my tractor and everyone thanked me for it. Then I acquired a disc from a friend who had it laying around with no use for it. I went a little overboard with that. I disced up roughly 4 acres of my property, used the blade to level out high and low spots,and planted it with various crops. I did this couple years before I came to the conclusion I could not count on the rain to take care of it while I was gone and neither could I. But I still used the disc to tear up ground for food plots on those 4 leases,and a much smaller garden every year at my place. Then I came across a 25kw pto driven generator. Being 12 miles out in the pine trees of East Texas,I loose electricity every time the wind blows or the sun does or doesn’t shine. The 23 hp doesn’t yeild but 12kw,but that is just enough to run my entire house for countless outages, one lasted2 weeks for snowpacalyps. I also powered my mother in laws house for a week and a half after a hurricane went over their head. Then I got a2 bottom plow. Friend of mine had it and his new John deere3032e hydrostatic wouldn’t budge it. In talking to him about it I believed his tractor should absolutely pull that plow asi believed my older lesser hp 2wd tractor would pull that plow. One day curiosity got the best of him and he brought it over. Told me if mine would pull it I could have it as he couldn’t use it. 30 min later I had that years garden tore up and a brand used plow. Lets see. I also used the blade to add 4’ to the top of the dam on my pond. The dirt scoop I now have would have been a far better choice, but the blade did it, just took time, and I didn’t mind as I love playing on that thing. It has lifted countless heavy items around the place,engines,transmissions, 55 gallon drums of fuel to carry into and out of disasters zones, uprooted old fence post, shoved up brush piles. Heck I used it one time to recover my motorcycle that had a flat couple miles down the road when I didn’t have my trailer. Just picked it up with the gen pole and carried it back to the shop dangling off the back. I initially paid $1000 for the tractor that was tired. Used it tired first year. Spent 800$ on parts over the winter,rebuilt engine, both transmissions,tuned up the hydraulics, new fuel tanks and front tires. Converted it to electronic ignition. I’ve had to replace 3 front mount coils,several sets of light bulbs, and one alternator. I think all told I’m still not into it for2000$ yet. These are absolute workhorses and still very much so viable to this day. If you need a tractor and are on a budget, or just like messing with older non throw away stuff... get one. Parts are cheap, and readily available. Even if you don’t know how to mechanic. There is no finer machine to learn on. There are forums with endless knowledge about these machines at your disposal. I have loved mine and will always have it in my shed as it is part of the family now. Pick you up one sitting out somewhere, clean it up and bring it back. It will repay the favor many times over throughout the years you use it

[@FourthWayRanch]

How do you lift thinks with it?

[@desotofiresweep58]

I have a '48 8N. It used to have the dearborn rear high lift attachment which lifts high enough to load a single axle dump truck!! It mows it, digs post holes, pulls a plow, cultivators, grader blades, I even have a 4" chipper attachment for mine, my friend has a 6' snow trower that fits his. The 8N and the ferguson T20 plowed and planted more crops than any other tractors in history. Parts are still readily available everywhere. Using it involves a little manual labor, no you're not going to climb into an air conditioned, or heated cab, but only men who squat to piss need all of that anyway.

[@benjamincresswell3713]

Like my story, I had an 8N for a - real long - time. I lived 8 miles north of Detroit, Michigan. My grandfather got an experimental 8N in 1947 off the Dearborn Proving Ground as a gift from Henry Ford for helping with the Ford/ Ferguson Hydraulic 3 pt hitch system debacle. We always referred to it as a 48 even though the engine serial # is preceded with a star *. It went to a farm near Mt. Pleasant, Michigan for a very rough beginning of private life. My Aunt Peach, had a 99 acre farm right near the western edge of the fertile Saginaw Valley, Michigan. Between her husband, my Uncle Fred Best, and their two boys, Dicky & Dougie, they put that 8N through its paces for about 12 years working that 99 acres. They did everything farm with it. In the late 50's their barn burned down and right about then the U.S. Dept of Transportation was building the expressway US 27, which passed right behind the farm. My uncle went into excavating sand for the highway build and gave up on farming. So, Dad brought it home in about 1959. We only had 5 acres so it went into semiretirement. Although it was pretty worn down Dad made 2 1 acre gardens with it. He used a Dearborn 16" moldboard plow adjusted to pull 20'', a disc and a spike tooth drag. Dad bought a dirt scoop bucket and a dirt grader blade to carve a ditch across our propity. The grader blade, although all cast iron and very heavy, doubled as a snow plow. Dad purchased a 2 row horse drawn corn planter, (I guess we ate a lot of corn) a 2 or 3 row lift cultivator, a 16 foot wide spring-tooth harrow and a Mott 6 foot wide Flail Mower. I came along and rescued it from the extremely abusive use by my Dad and older brother Bill, in about 1965. By then the engine had so much blow-by it looked like a steam engine puffing crankcase fumes out the breather. And my brother had connected a 12 volt car battery to it IN REVERSE POLARITY. (I can testify the starter knows which way to turn even with NEG to chassis ground, but it ruined the generator & regulator) I got a sleeve kit for it and it came back life. I used it pretty much by myself for the next 10 years or so. Dad bought the Mott Flail Mower model C-72 early on and by the time I got it, it was almost worn out. I had to weld new hangers on the blade axle where some were torn off. Then I put new knives and new bearings on the blade axle and on the roller. It got a new belt and for the first time it got a tensioner pulley and spring. I tested the revived Mott 72 inch mower on an acre garden plot that had lain fallow for a 5 or 6 years. I was absolutely stunned how easily that Mott mower took down weeds taller than the hood of the tractor. It took them right down to 3 or 4 inches. And the finished product was mulched up so fine, it was ready for landscaping material or compost. When I flew the coop and tried marriage Dad built a house on 10 acres of farm property in Allenton, Michigan, 20 more miles north of Detroit, out by Romeo, (Allenton OBR) where he and my older brother tortured that experimental 8N again tilling the 10. About 3 years later, after overheating it and beating it half to death, they had it burning oil so badly it'd foul a sparkplug in 30 minutes. (hmm Dad & Bill at it again) I needed to do some serious landscaping with that scoop bucket and grader blade, so I was going to borrow the 8N. Befor I could figure the logistics of getting it the 75 miles over to my new house, Dad called to ask for help with a newer tractor he had bought. It was late winter 1981and Dad said he had gone out to plow snow with it, a 1963 Super Dexta 3 cyl Perkins Diesel, but it started up and over revved on starting fluid and now wouldn't start. The new tractor was quite a lot bigger and heavier than the old 8N with much larger rear tires and it was supposed to be 44 HP. Plus all the 8N implements fit it, so he'd stopped using the 8N. When I got there he said he'd started the Super Dexta on starting fluid and it revved up real high then stalled and now won't start. I, being the Super Mechanic that I am, determined it had no compression right away. So I pull started it. But the blow-by it had was atrocious. The 3 cyl Perkins Diesel is over head valve and the blow-by coming out the rocker cover breather was so voluminous the rocker arm lube oil could not return to the oil pan and was being kept on top of the head and literally blowing out the breather. Spewing jet black oil onto the snow. It turned out he had broken the compression ring lands on all 3 pitons due to the pitons (purposely spelled with no s) being cheap junk cast alu mini um made in England. It ended up with 3 new pitons from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Dad went ahead and gave me the old and neglected, basically SHOT 8N. I did my landscaping with it, and used it for many many years to push snow, pull cars out of ditches, and plow and disc my little 50' X 100' garden. I even mowed with the old Mott some, but Dad and Bill never lubed the roller bearings and kept using it until the roller completely opened up on one end and the knives started hitting it. That 8N was a very useful tractor, if you took the time to learn how to use it and what it's little idiosyncrasies are. It's only supposed to be a row crop tractor, so it only weighs about 2,300 Lbs, and makes about 25 HP. Keeping it tuned up right and knowing how to use a high hitch point SAFELY makes a lot of difference in it's ability to do much more than expected for it's size and HP. Although I have known several people who were killed on an 8N, if people took the time to learn it, they might know you can push the limits of an 8N like I did by a very long ways safe enough. To me it was worth every bit of the fan fare it got early on. Over 1/2 million built and sold kind of tells the story. Shoot, there were 5 in my little sub including an all Gray colored one that was probably a 2N or maybe it was a Ferguson. In my opinion the only thing the JD's of the day had over it was size and weight. Unless you liked hearing the misfire sound of the odd fire 2 cyl. And I can relate, the Harley guys adore theirs. Given my druthers I'd have an 8N any day. I only wish it had a lower speed 1st gear so it could rototill. At 73 yrs in March, I am going to refurbish my Experimental 1947 8N one more time. This time I am thinking about putting shorter balloon turf tires on it to lower it some and make a mowing machine only out of it. I'll rebuild the old Mott which really does golf course quality mowing with new knives and it's even Red, albeit a little darker Red than the "Red Belly." And this time I'm even going to paint that old 8N. Rangoon Red and Wood Smoke Gray by Ditzler paints if I remember right. (I used to work in an auto parts store, we mixed paint for bump shops in the area) Just befor Dad died, he gave the Super Dexta to my son, so I bought a 4 Foot wide Rototiller for it and it will work up 9" deep in one pass on the back of it. I also have the last tractor Dad had, about a 1967 Massey Ferguson 165. It has a 4 cyl Perkins Diesel and makes 58 HP, but not all the tools for the 8N and Super Dexta will fit, it's just too big. OK, long story, but I guarantee every bit of it is true, within reason. I am losing memory. That's why there is a statute of limitations. ben/ michigan

[@d.brownjr.4845]

I own a 50 model. If you take care of it. It'll take care of you. Don't be fooled by dealers and what not. That 8n. Is still the most popular tractor running today. A set of stabilizers would make your blades more controllable. You could use a scoop pan. Or a log dragging as well. With the right attachments you can do anything with an 8n. I've plowed with Taylor's way hires. Or a bottom plow.. you can use a smoothing hires and planters with that tractor. You can also dig post hole with an augers. Boompole to lift. You cut hay or raise a barn with one. We did. You'd be amazed how that little no good tractor helped build America. It's as American as apple fuckin pie. It had EARNED it too. No sir. It don't need to be in a museum. It needs to in the field working with someone who's willing to take the time and learn. It's an American ICON. It only needs a job to do..

[@peacetruth3074]

My husband is considering getting a 8N. We are new to this. Could you use it to pull trees out of the woods for logging? We have a few trees in our woods that we could sell. Thanks for any suggestions.

[@JerryWick]

​@@peacetruth30748N does great on both. My 9n is a champ on my 4acre property for both.

[@d.brownjr.4845]

@@peacetruth3074 Yes , I made me a small boom them you buy at tractor supply are med strength can break. I added a hand crank boat wench with a cable. Plus some pull hooks from a school bus to wrap my chains too. Then put a set forks on it. No matter how tall the tree cut it up in 16ft lengths or shorter. 14 12 10 etc. Wrap the chain around the tree or take rail road spike drive in half way hook a cable to it drag them out. Or Use the folks lift them out.

[@DarkElfDiva]

Can confirm on digging post holes. My grandparents 8N did that all the time.

[@100texan2]

When those fords were new they were a great improvement over any tractor in its day due to the three point hitch. It used to take half a day to bolt on the implements under the belly of tractors in those days. Big farmers would buy several of these tractors and work them in tandem to plow several hundred acres back in the 1950’s.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I understand they somewhat standardized the 3 point hitch.

[@dirtyshame2444]

Farm/Ranch I grew up on had 9 of these tractors. Cowboys hated them because they would have to plant/cultivate cotton. In a day those tractors could cover many acres.

[@Hotrodford]

The three point hitch was the brainchild of Harry Ferguson who talked Henry Ford into installing them on his tractors. ​@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects

[@raymondpetrovits2336]

I inherited a 1953 Golden Jubilee from my wife’s granddad. He bought it new and worked it every day on his 200 acre farm. He lived to be 92 and said keep my girl in the barn and change the oil religiously. Pops past on but his beloved Ford still looks new and purrs like a kitten.

[@d.brownjr.4845]

You can get a slip clutch for your pto. You can bushhog with the best of them. Just make sure to not allow the grill get too full of debris. Don't allow it to run hot. It's nothing to put a temp gauge on one. Or just watch your radiator cap. Keep a 5 gallons of gas with you all the time. To keep you going. Check the oil regularly. Don't allow water in the transmission or rear end. If it looks milky, change it. Wash it out with kerosene and put new back in it. 10w30 oil fine for that tractor. That lift can hold 1.500 lbs. I've logged with mine with snaking dogs and chains. Or a boom and grappler. If you keep the 19in wheels on front that best as plowing. Drop to 16in to do other work. Wider is better. Some use windshield washer or antifreeze in the tires. Here in the south we can use just water. Done it for years. Keep it greased. Protect that clutch. Keep the lock on your back wheel bolts. Don't allow them to shake loose. Mine still the 6v. System. Hadn't had a reason to change it over. At least once you understand what it can do what it can't at the end of the day it's paid for. No big note to pay. If they're a will they're a way to make it happen. All I can say if find it.

[@jarvisfamily3837]

Suggestion for box blade work: put the three-point hitch into draft mode instead of position mode, and move partial loads dirt at a time instead of loading up the box blade with a full load every time. That's how I grade and level my driveway and it works great - I set the 3-point to near minimum draft load and the box picks up gravel from the high spots and lets it drop into the low spots without digging the box in and loading up too much. One thing to keep in mind - if you're going to do PTO work with any of the old tractors that don't have a live PTO, get yourself an overrunning clutch that mounts on the back of the PTO shaft. That way if you're running something like a brush hog and you want to stop, you won't have the mower continuing to push you forward when you slow down. Might save you from having the mower push your tractor through a fence or a wall or up a tree.

[@bige6247]

When the ford tractors first came out they were one of only a few tractors to do Americas farming. The 2N did a lot of the work back then. There is a video out there showing a bunch of these tractors side by side plowing hundreds of acres. We've come a long way, but the small tractors of that time did the work for America and the world. I restored one and learned a lot about how they were designed. A great piece of American History.

[@Vize_Iron]

My grandpa has a very nice 1950 ford 8n tractor. It runs great and has done its job for anything we've ever needed it for. In my opinion, it's very handy to have for moving large things. Me and my grandpa unloaded a 3-400 pound wood stove from his car with the tractor. Would have been a pain without it. Grandpa use to plow his garden with it every year and still does sometimes. For someone who has decent size land and enjoys growing gardens and stuff, it would be handy.

[@tomr3074]

My new to me 8n does it all. I rely on it too much.....fire wood, driveway , garden duties, bush hogging, deer dragging. ...I'm getting another since the local adds have them weekly. My life is complete now that I've got mine.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It's a versatile and still usable little tractor. Thanks for sharing!

[@knuckle47]

Same for me…. It took me 69 years but it’s here and I love it… I can get the same work done now as when I was half that age. It lifts, it scoops ( has a loader) it levels, it works!

[@cspfitch]

I just bought a 1952 8n I’m doing the same things plush bush hogging and the 8n has no problem with it. I bought it to give my big tractor a break. I love mine and thank you for posting this!!!

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Good idea, thanks for watching!

[@radamson1]

One thing a lot of people don't realize is the difference in weight. All of the extra weight comes from the heaver castings of the motor, transmission, and rear-end housings. My 8N is over 70 years old and still going strong, MY New Holland is a 2008 model bought new and is done...forever. The engine block has a crack due to the extensive loader work I do. Broken in half, done after 14 years, the 8N is as good as new after 70+ years. One I paid $1200 for one I paid $15000 for.

[@johndowning2231]

Back in the 50s and 60s, my Maternal Grandpa bought an old farm in central Wisconsin and with it, a Ford 8N. As a teenager, I was taught to use it to tow a small trailer to take our hunting group out west of the farmhouse. It was a great little tractor and even though I really have no need for it, I am getting the bug.

[@wilhelm_iron2359]

Our 8N Jubilee was used to haul trailers and brush hog. Very nice, reliable little tractors

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Yup, I like mine a lot!

[@tripler3724]

Great post from D.Brown Jr. to which I will add, keep thumbs outside rim, kick-back is a bear. using a box scraper effectively and efficiently takes time and to a point weight is your friend. To get best results adjust your top-link for the proper cut. For final smoothing, extend it so the leading edge does not contact the ground and the trailing edge will not pick up dirt, just ride over like back dragging with a front end loader in float. I use a Land Pride HR3584 on bigger tractors and LMC etc. on the smaller ones, no use paying for the name brands on the smaller ones. The 3-point hitch was patented in Britain by Irish born Harry Ferguson and he partnered with Henry Ford in theto market the Ford-Ferguson, essentially a gray Ford 9N Series, essentially a Ferguson-Brown Model A. You can guess who came out on top of this hand shake deal. The early models were pretty slow, so plan ahead

[@nedflanders620]

8 n is a hell of a tool

[@zyenathalous]

i've had my '47 8n since '83 or so. bushhog, driveway grating, moving logs/dirt. still runs like new. :)

[@jacklabloom635]

I have a 1952 8N that I use to grade my gravel road. I used to pay between $500 to $700 to have my road graded. One day I saw an 8N tractor with a scraper blade and finish mower for sale. I have easily paid for the tractor by doing my own road grading. I can now grade my road anytime it needs it, instead of once a year to have it graded. I plan to sell the finish mower and purchase a box blade. I’m going to try a used five foot box blade.

[@jadonlikesgreentractors6167]

I still use ford 8n on my almost 600 acre ranch

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It's a good tractor.

[@spudhut2246]

If you ever look to stabilize your rear implements get a pair of stabilizer bars. They connect under axle perch with pins and pin in place on cat 1 pins with lower arms to implement. Takes out all the left to right sway. I have some on a Ford Dexta Diesel I own and they work great

[@WhoDaBoss-dc4or]

That blade will work better with stabilizer bars.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I need to get my hands on some. Found some for cheap at a local farm supply store!

[@mmielcarek3046]

Don't know why more people don't use the stabilizers. Saves the lift bars from left to right moving. Don't use them for plowing with a garden plow. But is controls the side movement with a disc or rotary mower or a snow plow.

[@Kristian_Saile]

We had a couple of old 8n’s that were either free or super cheap. They were super useful, easy to work on and I really enjoyed running them. I had the same 5k’ blade and excavated a whole slope to make room for a new building, snow plowed with it, brush hogged with it, and used it to water animals out in pasture as well as move our eggmobile. I sold them and bought a new tractor and having a bucket and 4wd is amazing, but at the cost of a payment and that was something the old Fords didn’t have. There was definitely more sense of pride doing a job with an old 8n and getting the dance down of shifting and operating the clutch efficiently to run the non live pto and read lift. Plus they are just so cool.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Ya definitely not a perfect machine in the modern age but seriously hard to beat for the money they cost!

[@adiamondforever7890]

I'll second the use what you own, my brother gave me a 631 after he took the front end loader for his 860. Over time, I now have added rear wheels, power steering, a different front end loader, and a sickle mower. Previously someone added the PTO. I do not have enough power to run his 16' land pride mower when the field is wet or heavy. Engine has blow by when run hard, but the engine doesn't even seem to be working with the mower in operation. Have fun

[@dustindavy4319]

Cool old tractor still doing some work. And it looks nice, too.

[@KitchenAlpha]

I'm getting ready to buy my first tractor and I'm thinking an 8n will be a good place for me to start. Need it mostly for grading work and a little but of farming. Great video!

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I think it's a good starter tractor. Easy to work on.

[@Machi74005]

When I was a kid, my grandfather had an 8N then an NAA. My personal recommendation is to try to find an NAA or Jubilee(same thing different year). The Jubilee/NAA's had overhead valves and just better overall performance with a 4 speed transmission.

[@Vize_Iron]

I don't think you'll be disappointed unless you have a big farm. But even then, you'll still get it done!!

[@jameswilliams977]

In September of 1968 I bought a 1941 Ford 9N when the neighbor sold his farm. That winter I rebuilt the engine and bought aa loader for it. When I got the tractor I also bought the porthole digger, and the home made buzz saw for cutting firewood. Within the next year bought a two bottom plow and a 8 foot sickle mower. Used the tractor for several years till I left home my dad continued for several more years till he quit farming. I did plow our 20 acre field with it one year and after that would mow that field every year for two crops of hay. We also had a John Deere H and an A. Raked hay and pulled wagons with the H. The A pulled the 8 foot double disc and the hay baler. Wish I still had those tractors and the family farm.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

What happened to the family farm?

[@jameswilliams977]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects After our father passed my brother and his wife bought the property from our mother. When he got divorced he had to sell it to settle the divorce. I was deployed and there wasn’t much I could do from overseas.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

@jameswilliams977 That’s really too bad. Im sorry. I have grandpas on both sides of the family in agriculture. One is a cattle rancher here in my area. My uncles are taking that over here when he passes way (any day now) as my dad hasn’t been nearly as involved as them. But I’m bummed about it. My mom’s dad is a citrus farmer. He has 10 acres of citrus groves about 4 hours away from where I live just north of Mesa AZ (a suburb of Phoenix). He could pass any day now too. That’s much more of a toss up but most likely my mother won’t see a drop of it either. It’s a little slice of heaven where they live. So both living grandpas are farming and I’m likely not going to ever have an opportunity at either one. So I feel your pain just a little. But I imagine losing the family farm you grew up on is far more painful.

[@jameswilliams977]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Yes it was. Now that I’m retired I’ve been thinking I’d like a small farm. Just can’t do the winters in northern Wisconsin anymore. Hope you enjoy your little tractor.

[@ryandienes6526]

I recommend staying with a 6ft box. I have an 8n and love it for the grading work I do with it. Yes a 6ft box pulls more dirt/weight but it covers the width of the tractor which I needed. I have the TSC 6ft box and I'm very happy with the combination

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

The 6ft box stalls the tractor out in any gear at any RPM for me. The 6ft I had was nearly 200lbs heavier than the TSC 6ft and had a greater capacity so a 6ft blade might be right fromTSC, but I still think I might go with the 5 footer. Someone earlier say it was the operator, AKA me, that it stops and peels out, and I’m pretty doubtful that it’s my fault, I’m not the most experienced heavy equipment or tractor operator but I’m not a complete idiot you know. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.

[@ryandienes6526]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjectsrunning the correct 11.2 tires over the 12.4s that a lot of ppl run helps out with that a lot. I made a switch recently to the smaller tires. Just can't let the box dig to China or it will stop almost any tractor. To me having a box that covered my 8ns width was way more important especially grading stone. Your not wrong if you think the 5 ft will work better for you.

[@rmcjr5206]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I'm no pro, but it looked to me like letting out the top link a bit may have helped. Looked like it wanted to mine for coal as much as level the ground.

[@adoptdontshop9378]

Have a 1950 8N with the Sherman Trans. New to old machines, slowly restoring it. This machine is a beast. I've graded, pulled giant downed pine trees and spread tons of dirt with it. It's a solid machine with tons of parts available. Hard to beat for the cost.

[@scrapeyhawkins5299]

Having a Sherman really helps...

[@jvin248]

My maternal grandfather ran his dairy operation with a Ford N-series tractor. My father used a Ferguson TO35 (live clutch and a bit more horse power) on the farm when I was a kid (but we had more for a few specific jobs). We ran the baler, manure spreader, silo filler, grain drills, corn planter, and more with that Ferguson. When you can buy a working N-series tractor for less than the down payment on a modern tractor it's a great deal. Otherwise you've got dozens of months of payments. Parts are pretty easy to find for these old tractors because so many were built and so many are still out there.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

That's what I understand is that these N series tractors parts are readily available and cheap for most pieces of the tractor, I have found that to be true. Really happy with it.

[@oldretireddude]

Any work that uses the drawbar or 3pt hitch or a loader when available and within the engine HP limits, it is and will continue to be a wonderful tractor for the price. They will probably still be running when many modern tractors are rusty piles. That being said, as your only tractor, a tractor without live PTO would never be on my radar for consideration. The 600/800 series Ford's would be the earliest I would consider.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I intend on getting a SCUT with a front end loader that will be the main PTO work horse for my property when I finally get on it. I’d like to keep both around for a long time for but grading and leveling ground, creating roads, etc… on the property the Ford is going to do the job. The post hole digger didn’t really work out but more due to my land being rocky more than the tractor, but I did learn the problem with not having a live PTO when I used it. It would work, but not great. But that’s okay, cause most holes I dig will have to be Jack hammered out anyhow.

[@oldretireddude]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects As many will point out the "live PTO" can be worked around but it does get annoying. If the tractor is a family heirloom, I get it, but I just have to throw a red flag when someone suggests the 8N as their first and only tractor. Mine is the model 860 and is effectively an 8N with some MY updates and live PTO but that's a huge difference. I grew up in the '60s and the both models were around, the 8N was not anyone's first choice.

[@ericnoney3770]

@@oldretireddude The 8N is my first and only "real" tractor (as opposed to things that would be better classified as a glorified riding mower). I've had it for years, and have never once hooked anything at all to the PTO, nor can I think of anything I'd ever use the PTO for. The PTO could fall off the tractor, and other than the gaping hole left behind, I wouldn't even notice it missing. Never once has the lack of a live PTO ever even crossed my mind as a reason to get anything better than this old iron...

[@rcclassiccrawlers4368]

If you consider the fact that those 8n’s weight is mainly at the front end they do a good job on most tasks. You don’t need a ton of engine horsepower when you have gears. That being said, you should consider either adding wheel weights that mount to the wheels/rims or adding fluid inside the tires. They use or used calcium chloride back in the day but that stuff would eventually rust out the rims. Now they use beet juice which works just as good as calcium chloride but doesn’t cause any wheel damage.

[@jamesgerrald9047]

Used mine today to tear down hills fill in a low driveway and build it back up even at an “idle” thing is a beast

[@Derekmartin20]

Have had my 1950 8N for 30 years. Definitely a little American work horse . Easy to work on.

[@fordbailey8173]

Great camera work ! Excellent video- thank you.

[@bubbacomputer]

I have a '52 8n that I've owned for 30 years and a B2401 series Kubota I bought a year ago. The Kubota does all the loader and blade work, but the 8n is better at running the 5' rotary cutter. Great little tractors, I've been around them for almost 60 years. The Ford has much larger rear tires and weighs almost a thousand pounds more than the Kubota, so there are certain jobs (like running a rotary cutter with fixed height chains or picking up something with a lift pole) where it still does a fantastic job, and the larger wheels and extra weight means it rides better when mowing all day long.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Great insite! Good to know!

[@JohnHBatte]

If you have and proper use the overrunning clutch, almost any job without hydraulic cylinders is doable, and with a front mount pump and modified drain plugs can have live remotes. We did most of the farming on 750.acres with two 9Ns and a Ferguson TO30 in the 1980s and 1990s before that they did all the work since bought new. Move 4x4 rolls easy, while 5x4 can be really tricky. Pull 125 square bales on a wagon, mow hay, rake, bale, cultivate, plow, blade, haul manure, use rear manure fork, Post auger, 6ft harrow 7ft is doable but at very limit of front end weight, moderate, rotary cutting, snow removal, etc. I’ve used the heaviest rhino 6ft blade, 7ft lift harrow, and a double hitch of hay 160 bales all at the limit. So yes they will do real work and do it well just not as easy but way more fun.

[@stanleyspurgeon5339]

The 8 N For it’s size Can perform lots of work with the equipment that it was designed for. I would rather own a Ford 8N then a Kabota Of the same size, I live in Wisconsin and I have seen those tractors in plowing contests and they work very well with the plow that it’s designed for then if you want the diesel equivalent you go with the Jubilee

[@d.brownjr.4845]

That box blade is fine. When you lift it the front wheels don't jump up. Now, with all you said, do you have water in your tires? That gives the back weight. To use that blade learn to control the blade with the lift or or your drag. The little arm under your seat. That tractor can work the hell out of that box blade or anything else you got. Majority of it is the operator and NOT, THE TRACTOR..

[@jansonharris2937]

Stabilizer bars would make it so much easier! They're not expensive and they give you a much more precise grade!

[@toddcarlisle7909]

I have a 52 8n that I've owned for 15yrs and I love it. It handles my gardening needs plus cuts and bales about 10acre hayfield. It's cheap to run and easy to maintain.

[@SF-fm7ov]

Just to help you. You should tighten the sway chains so that the implement doesn't swing back and forth for most jobs. I never had an 8n but a Massey Ferguson 65 has draft control that automatically lifts the 3 point according to load so that you don't spin out. Also, many tractors have an adjustment for the rate of drop so that the implement doesn't fall so fast when you lower it. Hope this helps.

[@jerrymiller8313]

I( have an 8n that is the same year as me. only thing added were sway bars and an overrunning clutch. Makes brush hogging much safer.

[@PaulWhitedWoodStoneIron]

Better than a shovel and wheelbarrow.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It’s a pretty dang good tractor in my opinion.

[@PaulWhitedWoodStoneIron]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I love them. For the age and ability to get parts. Can’t beat it for a lot of work.

[@newenglandhuntingfishingan4429]

Get yourself sway bars for the hitch. I love my 8N, if your patient with it you can do anything.

[@pondacres]

That's a classic man, good looking tractor.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Thanks 👍

[@briancupp6767]

Great tractor. Labor savor that don’t break the bank

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Definitely. Used it the other day that could have been borderline a hand done dirt project and it only took about 30 minutes with the tractor. Makes it go quick.

[@reedbreneman9443]

I have the wheel weights on the inside of my wheels on my 8 N and I have a full hydraulic loader on it and it handles all jobs well and I bought it for $700 at auction and put about $300 more in repairs ,Way cheaper than that $20,000 Kabota my neighbor has and does more work than his can.

[@tomhalver3]

It would probably handle that box blade if you had fluid in the back tires for additional weight, years ago they would have used chloride but I recommend antifreeze because if it leeks it won't rust out the rim

[@ryanwalker388]

My 8n Has weights inside the wheels. The rear ones seem to make a huge difference when pulling heavy dirt. Mine has it on all 4 corners and seems to carry momentum very well. Might be something to consider. I noticed your wheels spinning when pulling the bigger scraper.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

They do spin. I need a small scraper too. This one normally rides behind a diesel tractor this is probably almost twice the horse power. And its a heavy duty box blade so It's already quite a bear for the tractor to handle on its own. It needs a good 5 ft blade.

[@RickFolsom]

I use a 8n ford tractor to farm with it, a 6 foot grader blade does fine with it have no problems, the 8n did farm 20 to 80 acres back that is you had farm with.

[@melvinhunt6976]

Been doing All the jobs for 70 plus years!

[@Srmoore79]

Go to red rock tractor parts you can get a throttle pedal for the 8n along with other things to modernize your N series a little bit

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Nice. thanks for the suggestion!

[@hughdanaher2758]

My grandmother had a ford tractor for her walnut orchard. Possibly the one you have now. ;-)

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Haha, really though, you just can’t beat em. My grandpa has an old Ford Jubilee he used to pull around his citrus orchard, until he replaced it with a newer New Holland because it was just getting really old and worn out.

[@WhoDaBoss-dc4or]

Interesting plumbing ( what I can see of it ) You might consider adding a sediment bowl. Never ever use rubber fuel line on gravity fed carb. I can't see yours but it's pretty common on modified fuel systems.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Why do you not want to use rubber fuel lines with a gravity fed carb? Small engines use them all the time don't they?. It is definitely a modified fuel system. Kind of ugly. I'd like change some of it out in the future.

[@jeremydavis2595]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects one very good reason not to use them on these tractors is the fact that oftentimes the exhaust manifold is right below the carburetor. The rubber in those hoses tends to get hard and begin cracking over years and believe me they will start leaking and with the carburetor and exhaust arrangement on these old tractors, once a leak starts you won't know it until the engine is on fire. A properly connected steel line from the tank to the carb is much more reliable and less likely to spring a leak than a rubber hose. Many riding mowers have burned to the ground because the owners didn't pay close enough attention to see the rubber hoses had cracked until it was too late. A good rule of thumb I is if a piece of equipment has rubber fuel hoses and is over 10 years old, I replaced them especially if the lines run anywhere near the exhaust. The small cost and a little bit of time just isn't worth having a fire in my opinion.

[@jeremydavis2595]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects and on top of that if you were out in the field doing work with these tractors that line is more exposed than it is on a riding mower. So let's say your brush hogging and as you're driving through tall Weeds something snags that rubber line and it starts leaking, you have a fire the moment that gas starts dripping down on the exhaust manifold. Whereas the steel line is much less likely to be cut or twisted to the point of linking.

[@PolishRadom1944]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects the screens in the system are all you need for filtering unless your tank needs to be cleaned and or relined. I agree , add your metal line back

[@apoc8265]

There's a reason that 8N been around for 75+ years, that tractor will pretty much do anything you ask it to do. But it's like anything else the right knowledge, the right attachment makes the difference! I'm by no means dissing newer tractors they are nice but these ol fords been battle tested and proven themselves time and time again.. The only thing ford screwed up on it was they all should of came with a low gear from the factory that's the only thing I've found wrong with them.. i wouldn't trade my 48 for anything

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Definitely happy to have mine!

[@alk5749]

If it’s digging too deep, shorten the bit on rippers so they don’t dig as deep until you get it loosened up.

[@michaelschreiner95]

8n are nice but all of them Ive been around overheat when you work em hard in the summer.

[@jchlawncare5730]

I used my 8N to haul firewood today

[@hotchihuahua1546]

It’s cheap and easy to maintain with lots of parts available . How many tractors can say that with 70+ years of service ? Yes it can do the job with many things with many impliments for a small farm .

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

The fact that you even have to answer such a stupid question from people is just absurd. Of course it can do real work. My grandfather had a Golden Jubilee that he bought in 53 and did REAL work with right up through the 90s when he got too sick to be active anymore. Yeah it would help if you have the Sherman trans put in and the lack of live hydraulics in stock mode are something to work around but that doesn't mean the tractor can't do real work.

[@joedoe-sedoe7977]

I have had 8n and 9n and ferguson to35 and 135 but once you have ever had the live pto and the high and low range transmssion as with my fergusons ,I can never go back to those two fords again, yes the price is maybe 30% more but certain things like bush hogging require slower speeds and even stopping ground speed completely to let the bush hog catch up, same goes for lift arms, you can stop ground speed and still lift the 3 pt device without taking the tractor out of gear to engage the clutch to run the hydraulic pump to lift the arms,also the fords are lighter in the front if you lifting something heavy in the back and lack the power that my fergusons have

[@wbsims2996]

I have a new 4wd tractor with fel and a 1948 8n. The new tractor is a fine machine but the 8n is still a bery capable tractor. I plow, grade, snake logs, bush hog etc with the 8n. It is not meant to be a loader but can do limited loader work. I can't see getting rid of the 8n anytime soon.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I don’t actually want to get rid of the 8n but I could easily get $5000 out of it and a couple implements that would be too big for a modern SCUT and pay 25% plus some savings down on a modern SCUT with some implements combo package with that $5k. Also I couldn’t convince my wife we need two tractors haha!

[@wbsims2996]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I hear you, if I had to make a choice, I would sell the 8n to buy new.

[@WhoDaBoss-dc4or]

Get a set of stabilizer bars. You really need them on ground engaging implements. I use mine on everything.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I need to get some, you’re right.

[@mmielcarek3046]

The shifter boot looks cracked. If the tractor sits outside there is a chance of rain water getting in the transmission oil. Turning it milky.

[@cecilandrews7479]

They work just as hard or harder than the same horsepower tractors up today

[@benpbraun]

Should use stabilizers to keep the blade from swinging side to side. Looks like you're missing the category 0/1 pins there.

[@stilltuckered]

Love the music!

[@tylerwynne8248]

The old Ford 8n will outlive the new stuff

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

That’s what everyone says!

[@jefffreestone8476]

Grew up in the early 1970s using my father’s 1952, 8N. It had 8 forward speeds, 2 reverse operated by a lever on the side of the transmission in front of the clutch pedal. It had a front end loader of sorts with a trip lever to unload the bucket. we used to bail hay & even had chains for it to use in the winter snow.

[@joetterolison4093]

If You search the Tractor Supply stores on the internet within a distance You are willing to drive You might find it cost effective to drive 90 minutes to get what You want cheaper than the closest. I was searching for a 5 foot 3 point rototiller and TSC had a sale. The closest TSC does not stock Tractor implements and they were going to have to order it and then charge Me $113.00 delivery Fee on something they did not have in stock plus the sales prices was $1499.00 I looked up the stores within 100 miles and put their zip code in to see if they had one in stock and what was their sales price were. I found a TSC store about 90 miles away that had several in stock and their sales price was $1,299. It was $200 cheaper and I did not have to pay the $113 delivery fee, plus I did not have to wait 30 or more days to get it. It was worth driving 180 miles round trip and save $313 dollars back when gas was $1.87 a gallon I was surprised the same rototiller was that much less from the company.

[@trentmulkey7673]

I love my 8 N ford

[@benterbieten9540]

Dad and I did all our baling work for years with 2 2Ns, so obviously a 8N will do it too.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I’ve seen videos of N series tractors bailing hay. I love it!

[@alk5749]

Absolutely that tractor can do “Real work” , I use a heavy duty box place with five rippers all the time. It’s a good all around tractor. Mane slower but it’ll geter done.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

My feelings for sure!

[@jimrichardson6701]

Would help if you use the stabilizer bars

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I removed one link on the chain and now they are tight enough that essentially they work like stabilizers.

[@donaldhanger9807]

It help build America look at farm history in America.

[@peacetruth3074]

My husband is considering getting a 8N. We are new to this. Could you use the 8N for clearing some trails in the woods? Could you use it to pull trees out of the woods for logging? We have a few trees in our woods that we could sell. Thanks for any suggestions.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I think it could be used for those things. Hard to say though. Is it the best for the job you are describing? Far from it. But would it help with those projects over having nothing? Definitely. Sorry that probably isn’t exactly what you are looking for.

[@peacetruth3074]

I appreciate that. Buying one of these used is a whole lot better than spending $30,000 on a Kubota B 2601. Getting some help at a reasonable cost is better than something that's perfect but spending 30K.

[@markcote2387]

Have you researched the little lever under the seat??

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Draft control I believe.

[@ButchWright-r8q]

Still a great tractor..

[@rodneytyus]

Can 8Ns still do work? Absolutely, and in 1948 when they first came out, they were innovative and a big improvement over other tractors of the day. But there are far better options available than an 8N. Even if someone wants to stick with older tractors, you can get a 3000 Ford, a 235 MF, or an Oliver 550, just to name a few, that can be bought for about the same money as an 8N, but are all available with power steering, diesel engines, and independent PTOs. I wouldn't mind having an 8N to ride in parades, but not for a working tractor. There are just too many limitations to what it can do these days.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It’s not the world greatest tractor. But I think the bottom line is that it worked for farmers in the 1940s and 1950s and probably on into the 1960s and it’ll still get work done. That being said. You could say the same thing about the older but newer than the 8n tractors you mentioned above. Just go up another 10 or 20 years and you’ll have better tractors. I can afford an 8N so I think it’s a great tractor. I’d like to upgrade some day while keeping this to something with a front end loader.

[@scottmackay4504]

How in the world did they manage to sell like a million of them if they are useless? Many farmers made their livings with these over the years. Yes live PTO's, power steering, and other advancements all help, but for the money they are awesome and you can still get parts easily.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Amen dude. My motto has become “if it’s good enough for farmers in the 1950s, it’s good enough for me.”

[@thesprinklerguy2598]

8n can do anything but round bales... not meant for 100+ acre farms unless you want to spend weeks plowing.. not to say you couldn't make/find a use for it. But on a 40 acre farm that 8n is basically the only thing you need besides all the attachments.. that and a Kubota with a loader/excavator attachment. This is why is 8n are a dime a dozen because people still use them

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Ya and I won’t ever farm over 40 acres ever if I ever even farm 5 honestly.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

So it’s perfect for me.

[@cspfitch]

Please realize that the pto is a lot more then the new tractors there around 900 at the pTO where most small tractor’s are definitely a lot less. That’s why they were made for the PTO for different implements. I use mine to bush hog and it does a better job than my 40 hsp New Holland.

[@cspfitch]

If you put some stabilizing bars on there you will be pleased.

[@rh4459]

Good job i got one to

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It's a good tractor.

[@TF856]

Use stabilizers, get wheel weights, load the tires, don't get any attachments narrower than the tractor, get an underdrive sherman if possible,

[@FourthWayRanch]

I need something cheap to grade the runways for my ultralight and make some trails Just don't take such a heavy cut with the box blade maybe?

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Good option.

[@chipdoctorkent]

Use your control under the seat it will eat less

[@jeffbarger3465]

Ha! those people saying an 8N won't work anymore, come and see My 47 2N work. box and straight blade, rotary cutter, 2 blade plow, disc. maybe they just don't how to work the implements and use the over horsed and over priced tractor to compensate. And buy or make wieghts for front and rear wheels.

[@earlhannah8616]

8n not useful? I have a 1952 8n that ive used for years plowed gardens, brush hogged, built food plots, graded roads and moved hay bails plus many other farm jobs even after buying my LS 35hp compact I still use the 8n on my farm for many task alongside the ls 8n is a proven platform

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It's incredibly useful. Love mine. I'll try and keep it forever. Pass it on to my Grandkids hopefully.

[@TheBcrug]

Use what you got,learn it's limitations, someone wants to buy you a brand new tractor because yours is not up to their standards, let them. Have done a lot of work with the 8n.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It's a great tractor!

[@ed9492]

the question is, can it do what is was designed to do? If it can then it can do "real" work.

[@timfleenor3705]

If 8N's were live power most farms wouldn't need another tractor.......

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Probably true. Wish there was a company that produced these still. Only modern technology where it really counts.

[@johnwehner8096]

Can you adjust the teeth not to dig in as deep?

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Yes, you can completely keep them from digging at all.

[@Tcrim354]

Do you ballast water in the tires?

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

I did not.

[@richardgreen7811]

You have made a "wise purchase". At this juncture I recommend You take Your advise from "the wise" and not the millennial morons who, while having no life experience, proclaim to be the repository of all things knowledge related. My Grandfather bought a Ford 8N in 1949 to augment his farming (40 acres) with mules who could not perform the heavier work being demanded by his customers desire for certain crops (corn and alfalfa). He modified many of the implements to tractor use and successfully proceeded. This tractor can perform all the work currently being done by subcompact tractors and much of the work being done by compact tractors. There are certain nuances You need to know in order to be more effective and safer. #1. Your tractor is "traction limited", evident by the tires slipping too easily. Go to Tractor Supply and pick up an adapter (very cheap) that lets You fill Your tires with a 50/50 ratio of antifreeze and water. It will immediately become an entirely different tractor in the traction department. It will also help stabilize the tractor on side grades (use Your own common sense). #2. Don't overload Your box-blade. It's true that a much larger tractor would allow You to "spill over" a box-blade, however that's not their intended use. I noticed that You're using it correctly in the video so enough said. #3. If You don't listen to anything else, go to Tractor Supply and pick up a PTO Shaft Over-Runing Clutch Adapter. They're not expensive and what they do is allow You to safely operate implements that store energy (bush hog). Your tractor has a "non-live PTO Shaft". Meaning that the protruding shaft is directly connected to the engine's crankshaft via the transmission. If You're bush hogging and push in the clutch, the stored energy in the bush hog blades will push You and Your tractor until the energy abates. This is "monster dangerous". True there's a lever on the right side of the seat that is "supposed to" disconnect the driveline from the PTO, however under a load, that lever will routinely jam then You are along for the ride and there's "NOTHING" You can do about it. #4. Sooner or later, You will take that magnificent looking Son of Yours along with You. LISTEN TO ME. Create a belted seat arrangement for him with full consideration for the Three-Point Arms that have a lot of travel. Don't let him sit or stand next to Your seat where he will definitely get caught (I was 9 when it happened to me). Don't get caught up in the BS. You have a nice example of the Ford 8N. It will do everything You need and will do so on 5 gallons of gas per day. Enjoy Your accomplishments and savor the heritage of Your "wise decision".

[@MrNachocheeze50]

Just read the title, haven’t watched it, just have to say, “Ask ma daddy”🍻

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Well, in short, the answer is yes!

[@MrNachocheeze50]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects “GIT_____ER _______DUNN”

[@radamson1]

Good lord, it has 30 hp, almost all of the modern subcompact tractors that people buy are 30 horsepower and under. Four-wheel-drive is the real reason new tractors do better.

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Most people stick to 24hp tractors to avoid DEF fluid. It’s a good tractor no doubt. I’m loving mine.

[@jonesy4588]

only in loose dirt

[@josefnewsom7992]

Put some fluid in them tires

[@scottbehr5690]

Those " little tractors" have fed millions of people......naw...they can't do anything.....

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Everyone just wants to compare them to modern equipment. Most of the time, this tractor is going to do exactly what I need it to. There is no front end loader, and no backhoe, but it’s all I need.

[@koop1987]

I can't watch this is first tractor video on KZbin can a Ford 8n do real work City slickers

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

Hey man, I defend that it can for sure. It’s other fellers saying it’s too old to do much “real work”.

[@koop1987]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I know loggers use them a guy would be surprised what it could do today's people want everything new and replaceable and not repairable I had bought mine for 500 bucks best money I've spent

[@DereksWorkshopAndProjects]

It’s cheap and easy to repair. That’s why I love it.

[@koop1987]

@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects yup

[@TF856]

We cannot hear the tractor with that music playing!!!!!!!