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The Ford 8N is a classic for a reason

A review of uses and comments on repairs.

IN THE SHOP with Rachel

By Rachel Gingell

Built from 1948 to 1952, the Ford 8N is one of America’s most loved tractors. More than 500,000 were manufactured and many (and their close cousins, the Ford 9N and the Ford 2N) are still in use today.

Ford 8N

The Ford 8N can’t do everything. It’s a lower horsepower tractor. There’s no power steering. The hydraulics and PTO are not live. It’s a simple, basic tractor without many of the modern conveniences you’d get in a new tractor today. What you DO get in the Ford 8N is rugged reliability at a low price.

There are plenty of small chores around the farm for which the Ford 8N is perfect. The three-point hitch makes it a versatile tool. I use one frequently for blading the driveway, brush hogging, and pulling a wagon to and from the woodpile. It’s also great for hobby farmers or someone who wants to plant a small feed plot to attract wildlife.

The Ford 8N is the standard of reliability, built to last for generations. While these tractors do require occasional maintenance, there are no significant design flaws that would make this tractor unreliable.

These tractors are easy to work on. It’s an excellent first tractor for a budding mechanic, with a straightforward design and easy-to-find parts. In fact, I can’t think of a single part on the 8N that can’t be replaced with an aftermarket part. The laws of supply and demand really work for you with an 8N tractor! With so many of these machines still in use, the price and availability of parts can’t be beat.

You can have a lot of fun with a Ford 8N, too! My dad and I worked together one year to put a flathead V8 in an 8N Ford. We liberated the perfect 4.3 Chevy engine from an old Astro van that we found at my uncle’s salvage yard. While an Astro isn’t exactly the most impressive of vehicles, the engine got a whole new lease on life inside that tractor!

If you are looking for an inexpensive, rugged, reliable tractor for basic chores, the 8N can’t be beat.


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