call me farmer bob
I followed the example of my friend Stan and went the “Classic” tractor route. I bought a 1952 Ford Model 8N yesterday from this guy named Homer who lives out in Holden (that’s way out in the country–an hour and a half drive from us). So now I’m a member of the tractor owners club.
Homer had a good 20 tractors sitting on his lot, and dozens of used implements. He evidently buys them cheap, fixes them up and sells them off to city folk like me. I’d rather give my money to Homer than some dealership any day though. And I think I got a fine deal on this tractor. It has some sheet metal problems (holes in the hood) but they’re minor, and fixable once I get the time. After all, if I can make my computer look like this, I ought to be able to clean up some rust on a tractor, right?
The thing works pretty good except for a minor problem I’m having with the hydraulics. Maybe it’s just sludgy inside from sitting around unused. I can mow with it (see photos), but I have some trouble lowering the deck. It doesn’t seem to respect my wishes, and occasionally it raises the deck on its own.
Otherwise, this is a fun toy. Going downhill in third gear was the highlight of my day yesterday.
For you tractor aficionadoes, this is a 1950 Ford 8N, serial number 304847, with the 12V conversion done. Being a 1952, it has the distributor in the front. I’ve got original sheet metal, with the Ford logo embossed on the fenders and the hood. The grill is pretty ugly, and I mentioned the rust area on the hood. I’m okay with that, since I got a great deal on it because of it. My winter project will be to restore that hood to prime condition. The rubber is in good shape with only minimal cracks in the front tires, and none in the rear. One of my front rims is bent pretty good and needs some attention from my ball peen hammer. It’s started every time I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t leak any fluids as far as I can tell.
I purchased the I&T shop manual, I feel like it’s indispensible. I’ve found 8 zillion parts places online, and all of them are expensive as hell from what I can tell. I’m gonna stick with Homer for my parts, he seems to have the hookup on bargains. I didn’t buy any implements other than the brush hog, because Stan will let me borrow all his. He needs to hurry up and buy that post hole digger though.
May 21st, 2003 at 6:15 am
I’m still laughing! Thanks for including me. Congratulations! And have fun! Also loved the pictures. Now you’ve got a tractor for a toy and Amy has her horse - regular farmers!!!
May 21st, 2003 at 7:50 am
Is that the original paint job? Will you be planning anything out of the ordinary?
May 21st, 2003 at 8:00 am
Rob, I think you were a born farmer! You look so natural on your new tractor. It is such a nice shiny red one, too; it doesn’t seem like it could be 50 years old!! It’s an attractive model. You obviously got a great deal. Congratulations, Farmer Bob!!
May 28th, 2003 at 1:41 pm
My name is Joe Gregar and I work with Leigh Dennert. I also have a 1951 Ford 8N tractor. And by the way I have the shop manual. I can copy it if you wish. I have had mine for about 17 years. I rebuilt the engine, and the hydraulics some years ago. The hydraulic problem you describe can be resolved with a rebuild kit. However mine was caused by wear in the master cyinder and nothing has fixed it.
Mine has the original 6 volt positive ground system still on it. Send me an email and I can copy the manual. I also noticed that you have the narrow tires on the front. Those are actually 9N tires on an 8N tractor. The tires are very hard to get on and off the rims to fix flats or replace the tubes. Modern rims (ag rims)and tires will work on the 8N, as I can attest to.
Thanks
Joe Gregar
June 2nd, 2003 at 2:56 pm
Hey,
I like the black hands. Nice touch of "earthy" realism there. You should ask Joe if he gets that too.
I think you ought to bring that shot to your next gig… use it as a CD cover, etc.
Besides, I could always post it at work.
- KAS
July 3rd, 2003 at 11:29 am
I am doing research for a person who does not have Internet access, but wants to find a copy of the ‘52 Ford 8N manual for sale.
In my Yahoo search results page, it states for one of the pages in your web site, ………….
"linear ++ /casa ++ call me farmer bob [Open this result in new window]
… Being a 1952, it has the distributor in the front. … I also have a 1951 Ford8Ntractor. And by the way I have the shop manual. I can copy it if you wish. …"
However, on the web page in question, it makes it sound like you don’t really have a copy as yet when it tells the reader,
"I have a bid in on a shop manual on e*ay."
Would you clarify your situation with regard to this manual, please? If you DO have one, and are willing to sell a copy of it, how large is it, (how many pages?) How much would it cost to purchase a copy and have it mailed? Also, where would a check for same be sent? Finally, could you send me your phone number to pass on to the interested party so they can talk to you if they have any questions about any of this? By necessity, they would be making all arrangements by phone and snail mail.
Thanks,
mem
July 3rd, 2003 at 12:04 pm
Never mind. I found manuals for sale from a Kentucky firm. Thanks anyway.
mem
March 15th, 2004 at 10:15 pm
My brother & I are looking for a shop manual on a 8n ford, we just got it, it runs well but having a hard time keeping it running when u put it in gear, new points, plugs, new carb still goes dead when u put it in gear, all the wires are fine, any comments would be a great help. THANKS Gary Dale
November 18th, 2005 at 1:22 pm
We just traded for a ford 8n tractor looks just like yours runs great also came with a front end loader and a scaper i would really like to have a copy of your owners manual thanks