Mid Summer Weekend Chores With The Ford 8N! Brush-Hog Mowing & Final Plot Discing

July 4th Holiday weekend chores with the little Ford 8N!
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[@lowercherty]

Amazing how a 70+ year old tractor can still do work. So nice that your equipment isn't just a collection of garage queens.

[@fosterchild420420]

I thought my gearbox was loud but I believe you have me beat. Mine has been loud for 20+ years and still runs fine.

[@jbj27406]

Good drone work, good tune. Love the 8N's. Thanks for including us.

[@lonesomefeller2205]

Man I need to get my old girl running and sounding that good. Been neglecting her but she works hard anyway.

[@Tonetwisters]

As a little kid of maybe four years old, I can remember the lot my dad built our house on, being cleared by a Ford tractor that looked a LOT like this, from around 1951. I LOVE those old Fords, and yours is beautiful!

[@jayss10]

As you clearly pointed out, you absolutely must run coupler/overrunning clutch. I want to make thus suggestion/note for folks out there. Because the little Ford 8n's and similar tractors have a very different PTO/3 pt arm geometry than modern tractors getting a overrunning clutch on with those attachments can be impossible with a standard overrunning clutch and keeping your driveline angles reasonable. Case in point I picked up a RM600 Woods finish mower to use on it and once I started mounting everything up I figured out that the geometry was just all wrong and putting a standard overrunning clutch on it was going to make it worse. Basically a standard overrunning style clutch moves the PTO back 6-8". In the case of the mower I purchased I would have to cut down the shaft so that it would only be 16" or so. This is a problem because you don't have any telescopic play in the shaft so if you lift the mower you will pull the shaft apart. The best solution in my case was to build a custom shaft with an overrunning clutch built into the pto shaft. Basically the end coupler that connects to the PTO on the tractor also has a overrunning clutch built into it. That way rather than pushing everything back 8" or more it was pushed back only 1-2". Unfortunately the only vendor I found that makes these Weasler doesn't make them for American spec shafts so I had to basically replace the whole shaft and modify it to fit the mower. It cost about $3-400 to build and machine the entire shaft but TBH it was the only way to keep the angles from too getting crazy. I still can't lift the mower all the way up (about 1/2 way) or it will pull the shaft out but at least it's manageable vs what it would have been with a regular overrunning clutch.

[@gregdawson1909]

Grew up with an 8n pre overrun clutch, if you are fast on your feet you bump the throttle and slip the gearbox out of gear without touching the clutch to save yourself from a radiator change. there is a surprising amount of HP stored in the flywheel of that cutter disk.

[@TF856]

I forgot about bumping the throttle to take the pto out of gear. You can do that on any manual transmission to get it out of gear. That's part of double clutching.

[@genelegear5418]

I grew up in the 40s-50s with a 9n 1937 on a orchard farm in south Alabama. I operate a early Ford 2000. I love watching your 8n work.... Great camera shots....RTR

[@clydeschwartz2167]

The old Ford tractor did a excellent job with the mower and disc

[@matty2helpfull]

Those Ford 8&9ns have a incredible balance they are amazing little tractors

[@barking.dog.productions1777]

My step dad bought one for the farm - he could work on it because it was what he used as a kid in the 1940's These things were made for many decades - a really awesome design that should still be made today. No one that I know can afford a personal use modern tractor - sure for a working farm you want that John Deere A/C cab, but just for a family homestead or food plot that professional tractor is over priced and over kill

[@TF856]

They sure were very nice tractors with the Ferguson 3 point hitch on there. Too bad they didn't have a better clutch system and a better loader bucket on them.

[@TF856]

What about the 2Ns? 😁

[@matty2helpfull]

@@TF856 to be fair I don't have any experience with the 2ns but I've heard they are good too

[@rolanddansereau6947]

Thanks for the memories. I remember driving the "little Ford' on my Grandmother's farm. Grandpa had passed but my uncle showed us how to drive it. Don't think I was much more than 7 or 8 years old. Always liked those little Fords since those wonderful days

[@FarmallFanatic]

I remember watching last year's hoggin' video like it was yesterday 🤠

[@scottleininger2404]

Awesome use of the old Ford I have a 1940 9N I'm restoring.

[@nena4215]

When I was 11 yrs old we had like 4 acres in DuQuoin, Illinois. We had an old tractor with a brush hog and my dad actually let me mow the fields with it on a regular basis, guess that would never happen today....once I was attacked by a whole herd of giant grasshoppers and jumped off leaving the tractor running! When I realized what I had done, I had to run and jump back into the drivers seat! I can’t believe I did that but the only thing I was worried about was not being allowed to drive the tractor anymore! To this day grasshoppers freak me the heck out, but I still love tractors!!!! Thanks for the memories!

[@dodgeplow]

I don't care what anyone says, grasshoppers are creepy. I can only imagine a bunch of them coming at me. eek

[@stevemiller821]

Great video I have a k k mower like yours and I mixed grease in with the oil in my gear box and it will quite it down also if you're seal was to leak it won't hurt the gear box grease can't get through the seal

[@jeremymcauliff8485]

This brings back memories. My dad used to have an old Ferguson TE20. Pretty much the same tractor.

[@jdgimpa]

I always badmouthed the N series Ford tractors. But then a buddy of mine asked me to get his running. I now have respect for them. Easy for a old automotive tech like me to relate to.

[@TF856]

I love driving vintage tractors!!!

[@1crazynordlander]

I have the same King Kutter brush cutter and my gearbox is noisy also. I decided not to go to your machine shop up north but instead interviewed a guy in a nearby town. He seemed to fit the bill so I brought it to him. Everything went fine except for some reason he thought he should punch the the rear cam welch plug out and it happened to be swaged in the block. I am now working with a shoulder in the block the thickness of the new welch plug that is holding the plug in the block. I was not too happy with the shop for that mistake. I am going to use some original JB weld epoxy to help hold it in and drill and tap holes in the block in the cam journal 180 degrees apart and put a metal strap across the welch plug. Everything is ready to go back together as far as the engine is concerned. I took your advice and had them install the sleeves. Thanks for all you share on your channel.

[@jondavidmcnabb]

Man you weren't kidding about the noise from that gearbox. That sounds horrible!!! I love these old Ford Tractors.

[@jamesdiehl8690]

Good old 8N! I love it! I learned how to run a tractor on one! 😀😃🙂🙃😊

[@DKH35]

Glad to see that most if not all 8n’s either are, or they all sound like they misfiring. I always thought it was just mine. I have a 48’, and they sound identical. I also had no clue that adapter you have on the PTO shaft to make it free spin even existed. Would have been nice to have that when i seen something laying in field that shouldn’t be there, or in close quarters. Had to push in the clutch, and pray it will stop before you run over it. Just bought a 67’ David Brown 780 Selectamatic wanted something for more HP, and the PTO is separated from lift. Keeping the 8n for now because it seems like everybody and their brother is selling them right now. It’ll be 75 years old next year, and runs just like yours. You have a better paint job. Im typically not a ford guy, but they definitely done good built these little tractors.

[@0612Devil]

This is awesome. My father and I recently purchased a property that came with a running 8N. We have zero idea how to operate it but this video was great for seeing what the possibilities are.

[@Vize_Iron]

That's great, my grandpa has 1 of these. It's always been a good little tractor.

[@Vize_Iron]

I want to say on the gear shifter, it's backwards

[@jamesdiehl8690]

I like the way your mower shaft connects. My friends Woods mower and 8N had a clevis pin to connect the shaft to the PTO.

[@nickhayes9222]

The music, the view, and that little n are like neon flashing "Americana" in the best possible sense. I approve of all three. Thumbs up good sir!

[@regunter6599]

I never drove an 8N, I did some on a Jubilee but most of my bush hogging was done with a pull behind bush hog to either a WD 45 or D 17 Allis Chalmers. Both of those tractors had a hand clutch that would allow the PTO to keep running when it was engaged but the foot clutch would not. I got pushed into a wooden gate and broke the gate. My father was not a happy man about that. I mostly cut cotton stalks or corn stalks, after they were harvested by a corn picker, before the ground was turned over with a moldboard plow. Cotton stalks were the worst, the bolls that never ripened would be caught by the mower and often came out the front of mower. They were really bad on the D 17 because the back of your legs were just below the rear axles and they would come out with enough force to really hurt.

[@thomasbailey8306]

My Dad had an 8 N and it was a little beast for dragging logs out. And brushhogging. That would be the only Ford I would own...LOL..HAHA. .Great Video. You need one those little roofs they made for those 8N's. Dad had one on his. They help for all they are...

[@nammie12345]

On my 2nd N since 1962, current one is a 1949. Used mostly for mowing with a 60 year old make unknown hog and for dragging logs. Love them.

[@larrygold1914]

Talk about the drive shaft cover on your brush hog. You let it spin with the shaft. Mine all have chains to attach that hold them still. Thought it was a safety thing. Love watching you work. Sense of humor is pretty good too.

[@stevejohnstonbaugh9171]

Regarding Senior's food plots;-make sure you include some Chinese Chestnuts. Bigger nut than American and they are very disease resistant. There may be a GMO American with most of the disease resistance of the Chinese - but it won't be commercially available for years.

[@sasquatchycowboy5585]

The 9N was such an awesome machine. I had a Kabota L185 1979 model. Old tractors are like old sports cars. There is just something special about driving them.

[@ColCastree]

We had a massy Ferguson 35. Ran a small crops and dairy farm. Did Hill work every day. Never let us down.

[@duanebolen543]

I grew up with an 8N Ford 1952 with the side distributor and also had the tachometer and the extra three-speed on the side so I had 12 gears going forward and three reverses and that was a nice little

[@Michael-he7xn]

Almost killed myself running an 8N and a bush hog without a runout clutch. Saw some big rocks in the brush at the last second and I was standing on the brakes when the momentum of the blades pushed the tractor into the rocks. It just about bucked me over the hood and stopped when the bush hog hit the rocks with a loud bang. Someday I need to go back and look for the scars on the rocks.

[@evankibbe590]

Those little fords are a dangerous little tractor if not used properly. 😊👍 I grew up on one

[@CharlesWT-TX]

A bush hog almost pushed the M I was on into a drainage ditch before I could get it stopped.

[@dwightl5863]

Long ago experience with the N and haven't driven one for decades. But if you clutch and shift the transmission to neutral the tractor would come to a stop.

[@johnquinn3899]

Hey Squatch I’ve had my king Kutter 6 foot mower about 20 years-heard the same gear noise. Also several other KK products & im throughly satisfied with their equipment. More rocks for the pile- looking good. Thanks, John

[@rickyjessome4359]

The old Ford 8 and 9's were great little tractors. I missed out on a 8 not long ago for 1500 bucks. It needed some work but was usable. Really enjoy the drone footage. Cheers squatch253

[@PRRGG1]

That mower sounds like a WWii German air raid siren LOL!

[@jamesdiehl8690]

Time for a Dew!

[@Dextamartijn]

Awesome little tractor. I traded in my 8 N for The Dexta because it didn't have live PTO. But there are times I miss it. Got a subscriber great channel.

[@ratrivervintage6306]

Very, very well done! Great videography! Thank you. We have a 2n, and are picking up a 51 8n this week, very therapeutic video! 😀

[@dkeith45]

Very interesting video OP. I mentioned in a tractor forum recently, that I might buy a Ford N series tractor for bush hogging, and was told not to. That they don't have a 'live PTO' and were terrible for that purpose. But your's seems to do the job just fine.

[@frankhagan2965]

Late 49 up have live pto! I just bought an early 49 like the new one we got when I was a kid and this one is like new. If you get use to the pto and lift working off the clutch it's no big deal.When I was 14 to 16 yrs I mowed 50 acre pecan groove about once every month and it was nice. tractor.

[@PeopleAlreadyDidThis]

That can’t be a brush hog. Real brush hogs have holes rusted in the decks, big enough to drop beagles through. That way, owners can advertise them for sale as, “Good shape, works good. Could use a couple of welds.” Fun to watch. Thanks.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Nice video! We love our Ford 8N.

[@iamrichrocker]

i love your little bit of paradise...You and Your parents live right..am sure there are a few jealous viewers...be safe...and tell your Dad i would like to see him do a video..

[@jacksmith827]

I love the smell of disked ground!

[@iblackbeard]

Thanks for the 8N tips! Excellent

[@KG-yn9qi]

Yep an old metal park bench in the shade trees, perfect!

[@wemedeeres4105]

The dump has a pretty good collection of old cans laying there already so why not add a few more empties!

[@terrycannon570]

I love the music. I used to have a 9 N and I learned real quick i need the overrun clutch when mowing. I have some red cedars that were no bigger than a pencil when i planted them. Must at least be 12" in diameter now.

[@l337pwnage]

I had a relative with an 8N and they used it w/o an overrun clutch. Their tractor still had the original spline PTO shaft, but someone put an adapter on it to make it a modern spline. It had been on so long that only a knowledgeable 8N owner would have noticed. Well, modern splines are about twice as long so only about 1/2 the the adapter was really "powered" and the rest was just taking up space. Eventually they twisted that adapter right off. I learned about over run clutches and found one for them. I did grow up on a farm, but everything we had was equipped with live PTO's and, if an overrun clutch is even needed there, it's probably built into the tractor. TBH, never got to do any tractor repair work, I just drove 'em, lol.

[@ronaldkearn3322]

Very impressed with little 8N tractor!

[@bobpaterson1845]

Sweet running little tractor there 👌 by the sounds from the discs u got a few rocks in there 🤔 nice video 👍

[@sunshinedayz2172]

Good music!

[@alancummings5651]

Like those older Ford tractors. I have a 1952 Ferguson TO30 that I need to have restored.

[@duanebolen543]

I know a guy that had a bush hog behind an Oliver 70 and it pushed him right through the barn Some mores having over-running clutch right on the gearbox which is Handy also

[@seniorelectrician6831]

I have a field of sticks, roots and rocks. I am hoping to follow your lead of cultivating. I also have a dump rake I was thinking of getting a hitch on and pulling through after cultivating to get the junk into piles or rows would be easier to pick up then too

[@darinhassett4708]

Our grandpa had a Ford 600 we used it for everything disking cutting baling pulling logs out and pulling the trailer with hay for the cows

[@jacksmith827]

I pick up on everything, I saw you had the blades turning when you put the clipper back under the shed.

[@daleolson7205]

Yep, my King Kutter mower sounds exactly the same! Been that way for 20 years.

[@stevejohnstonbaugh9171]

As soon as I read the title I dropped what I was doing and hit play. Why??? Because I knew if anyone would set up and operate a brush hog to my standards it would be squatch. And by God - you did not disappoint. THe tai wheel positioned to support the deck, the deck running level to the area being mowed - all with a tiny antiques Ford tractor and a cheap brush hog. This video should be mandatory for anyone who operates a brush hog - usually the tail wheel is in its highest position, the entire weight of the brush hog deck is hanging off the hitch and the deck is about 20 degrees out of level with the back end dragging in the dirt (or close to it). Drives me nuts that people don't have a little bit of respect for their equipment and any self respect for the quality of their work. What is the turf height you are set up for? Thanks buddy! 😊

[@terrycannon570]

Looks great

[@santerresongarage7486]

Thanks for the video, excellent! Hope you are having as much fun filming as we have watching! J.F.🇨🇦

[@ksanches]

Great video, checked it out cause I’m thinking bout getting me an 8N. Good job.

[@jacklabloom635]

I have an 8N tractor. Enjoyed your video.

[@rickburris6164]

I loved my 8N

[@timmywarren2349]

That's a good running Ford tractor you doing a good job

[@heartland96a]

It's got the power didn't bog the tractor even a tiny bit . From your description that overrun is a major safety device that should be on any simular tractor.

[@johnkrupalla4973]

That pto seems to be spinning super fast 1000 rpm's . 😜

[@digitalshackonthelane]

8N Ford purring real nice!

[@richardcavalloro8355]

I've been eyeing a Ford 8n near me but haven't pulled the trigger on it yet. I had a farmall a but love the little fords. Didn't realize the new building was going to be that far from the house.

[@wilf609]

The gearbox certainly is noisy!

[@Scottinqc]

as he said, its cheap, so probably straight cut gears in it. Gonna be noisier than helical cut gears. Plus that top deck is gonna act like a speaker and amplify any sound like a drumhead

[@jamesdiehl8690]

They only have what 41 hp, but the torque is great!

[@TheChance170]

We run chains on our brush hog. Leave the PTO attached and leave the lift lever down. So much easier in my opinion, but we also do not have to drive down the road.

[@albertashford7245]

The state DOT I work for, we use a length of chain instead of a top link. Allows us to get in and out of ditches easier!!

[@yorkshirepud3030]

Good video, though it might be wise to attach check chain onto the PTO drive shaft outer cover to stop it rotating along with the main shaft.

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

Another good 'un Toby! And I'm with you 100% with that rest area! :-)

[@aw738]

My dad has been farming for 70+ years. I told him you were using the stabilizers with the disc. He said not the best way to do it. With them I makes it harder to steer while using the disc. He said you need to let the disc swing free side to side.

[@Dudleymiddleton]

Drop o sawdust'll quieten her down, buh! ;)

[@buzzadams7876]

You weren’t kidding! That cutter box is noisy!

[@wsbrand]

That's a nice old tractor.

[@scania1982]

Yeeeah, a zerk lubrication video. Love it

[@antondekock8217]

Sounds like you are growing rocks again.

[@raywhite1442]

If you had some trees like those around here by Christmas there wouldn't be a one left

[@ryanridgely7807]

I always channel some Squatch253 when I'm on my little Husqvarna. And yes, I cry a little inside. :-)

[@newenglandhuntingfishingan4429]

The pine trees are doing well!

[@fieldfarms9335]

I bought the same king kutter mower and mine does the same thing, I’ve just been running it the way it is and it does fine

[@jamesdiehl8690]

I thought maybe you ran away from home! 😆🤣😂😹

[@chrisbeck8182]

Massey 65's have the air intake right at the front of the hood and while the grille screens keep the radiator clean, really tall grass will fill up the oil bath in short order! ....and then you run over a big ground hornet nest and the fun REALLY ensues!

[@chrism.2231]

Maybe not quite as loud as yours, but my Countyline (same mfr., I think) has a growl too. Bought it used with not a lot of hours and did not look to be abused at all. The guy used it to clear a grassy lot before building his house and then sold it it me at a fraction of new. Cheap little mower, but works well behind the 8n and my NAA.

[@neilshep50]

Now if I hadn't been watching this video. I'd have mown my postage stamp.

[@SDbeermug72]

I know all about those over riding pto clutches. Climbed a corner post once and limped home with one wheel pointing SW, and the other pointed SE.

[@richardhurless574]

Love the video. If you have never got your finger smashed in those ring locks, you will. Also you will learn or create a few new words.

[@melsplace4007]

Looks like ya'll could still use some rain. Great video. I've spent a lot of hours dragging a Fred Cain Agri-cutter behind me.

[@aussiedazvk4djh889]

G'day Squatch. the gearbox has a warning alarm to say the blades are spinning. 👍🏻🍻

[@karsoncampbelllogginginc]

The reason why the mower‘s probably make the that noise is because the blade is spinning at higher rpm because I have a brush hard too when it makes that noise to it’s the blade spinning fast 6:56

[@chclough]

Squatch always love the videos. If you ever hear the train horn doing a shave and two bits while your stuck at the job/prison. That's me blowing through on the ole Hinkley sub.

[@evankibbe590]

Got the job done!👍😊👍🇺🇸

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Nice drown shots!

[@paybo3573]

I do the same thing with my mower drive shaft

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Like #280 ( nice even early number..... LoL 😂😆) Thanks for the video! Life is a learning curve! HINDSIGHT is 20-15!

[@stevenrapp3217]

You lead a blessed life for sure. I agree.....build a little viewing/relaxing station under the trees.....sell tickets, I'd be interested. (smile) Could watch for hours!!

[@wagon9082]

Good video

[@grizz474]

If I was driving by I'd have to roll up the window......that growl !?! :)

[@bcbloc02]

Might as well start welding that junk pile into a picnick table and benches. :-)