Help talk me into or out of this tractor!

Hello. I totally agree with everything that has been said so far, plus you can weld so for me it's a no brainier. Except nobody has mentioned anything about the personal connection of the buyer and seller. Anything from a quick flip for a profit to a rod out the side of the block can have devastating consequences. This really should be discussed as $2500 is not worth friendship.

 

Thanks for the thoughts everyone, I think I'm going to talk it over with him in person, if I can get him down on price, at all, like even a hundred bucks, I'm going for it, I think the general consensus is to go for it, I know I'll find more uses for it once I have it here. New tires all around, chains in really good shape back blade new battery and new brakes, there's well over a grand in value there. Yes I'll be using it but after 2-5 years in my hands those tires will still have 90 percent of the tread on them. It won't have a lot of abuse here. Also, yes the wife is okay with whatever I decide, so there's a plus!! Hopefully in a matter of a couple weeks I'll be posting pictures!

 

Get some more ponies and a blower.

And a brush hog. Then forget to turn off the trail cam you was usein to see the critters at night in yer back yard.

 

Seems like a good deal.
If you get it, just remember, it only looks like a "big tractor". They are actually pretty light and only ~25 HP or so. It is easy to get in over your head with one...many people have.
No live PTO stinks, but as others have mentioned, at least the safety aspect of that can be remedied by adding a overunning clutch. No neutral safety switch either...no problem if your are the only one to use it and you don't try to start it while standing on the side.
They are plenty useful if you keep in mind what they are and don't try to do "too much" with 'em.

 

I think $2500 is on the upper end of what that tractor is worth. The blade is too big for it, it looks like a 7'. It is also a light duty blade that tractor will tear up. I'd tell him keep the blade and knock some off the price. I did notice it has a draw bar on it, and it also has the stabilzers on the 3 point hitch which is a plus and a front bumper. It also has the cyclone pre cleaner on the air filter. I think the rear tires are too big on it. It should have 10-28 tires on the rear. Too large of tires will mess up the gearing. Low gear will be too fast when you need it to go slow and reverse will be way too fast. After looking at the chains I think they are set someone made, possibly off a large tractor since the links are so big. That does not hurt anything. I noticed that some of the crosslinks are 2 links apart and others llok to be over 4. So I would count the chains as nothing. Check the oil in the differential, it is also the oil in the hydraulic system. It is pretty common for water to get in the oil. Check out the hyrdaulics on it and see how well it picks up the blade then maybe even leave it up and shut the tractor off and see if it leaks down quickly.

Also the 8Ns do not have live hydrulics so when the clutch is pressed you can't raise the 3 point. Then they don't have a live PTO so when the clutch is pressed the PTO stops. Like MM said you need to get an overrruning clutch on the PTO.

I think the tractor, if it is good condition is worth $2,000 tops. 8Ns are not bringing what they once did and are actually a little tough to sell. The subcompact tractors really hurt the value of the 8N. I would try to find a newer tractor like a 640 series if your budget permits.

I'm not trying to knock what could be your future tractor. I'm just trying to point out anything I can see and hopefully you can use it as a bargaining tool. Good luck with the deal.

 

All very good points, thanks for the knowledge. I checked the engine oil all was good there, the differential I did not check though, good tip on that.
Right now the budget doesn't permit a whole lot, mostly because I'm trying to save for bigger expenses, such as a tractor but that being said it's a starting point. The one fender is pretty beat up, but everything else is in real good condition. Considering it's almost 70 years old. Nothing's set in stone yet so I appreciate the advice, for or against the deal

 

Here is the over running clutch.

Over Riding Clutch

I basically works like a ratchet. With out it if you push down on the clutch and have something on the PTO like a brush hog it will push you. People have been pushed over hills and into ponds with out them.

 

Holy F,ing Kerist. It is an old ferd 8N and the dudes possibly first tractor. Lets just stomp all over his nut sack while your at it. Not all of us can aford a big buck Deere or a Kabota right off the shelf FFS. For what it sounds like he wants to do with it, it should fill the bill. The tars and chains and the fenders could sell for what the askin price is. Holy chit.
As for those over riding clutch things, well, you just gotta be smarter than the machine you are operating cuz if any one thinks that 35 dollar gizmo is gonna save their life in a real world situation they are just plain uninformed and probably not spent to much time on a tractor seat. But then I am an old German and not Chinese, But I have been Wong before. Sheesh.

 

It would be my first tractor, but certainly not my first ball game, I've had plenty of long hours in the fields on my grandparents farm and for the farm I worked for on high school. But the equipment I ran was a few years newer than the 8n, so there will be a slight learning curve adapting to the old school equipment with fewer "safety features"

 

Another thing to check is the brakes. Be sure both work. Leaking axle seals are somewhat common, then oil gets on the brakes.

I had an 8N and I have worked on a few so I am pretty familiar with them.

You could always buy it and sell the fenders, tires and chains to butcher for $2500. Then buy new tires, fenders and chains and come out ahead

 

I won't say well said...but I gotta agree!!

 

[

Lol!
Good info! It's been years since I've looked into these tractors, makes me want to restore the old Fergie. All I ever did was sand blast and paint it....

The only other thing I remember is the block can crack when using a loader? The rear lift pump usually needs work as well.

 

Shaggy did you get it yet? I've got 9 old tractors here from 1937 to 1953 no loaders and only one 3 point that's not even a real 3point (IH fasthitch). Sure I'd love a shiny 50 horse loader tractor too but I love the old iron and you will too! You'll be surprised how quick you'll get good with the little guy and how much it helps out. I'd look for a 3pt fork set and build a platform for it to use as a lift all or giant wheelbarrow it will be like a makeshift loader and you'll never miss having one.
Big thing is to check all the fluids. Look for any water in them, check the water in the radiator so it doesn't freeze on you, you've got new rubber which is a huge plus, starts good that's a plus, run her through all the gears and stomp both brakes on and off throttle up and down just try to put it through its paces and as long as nothing blows up.... Buy it!

 

The tractor supply 3pt angle iron forks I bought for just over $100 a half sheet of 3/4 plywood and some 2x sides use it all the time! Have had so much on it (big rocks) had to steer with the brakes had the front tires a foot off the ground haven't bent it yet

 

I have a 48 8n that I use all the time. I maintain a dirt road that is about 1/3 mile with it. I also have a brush hog for it and it does ok. You are a welder so you can make things for it also.
I have a drag that I use on my road for knocking down the wash board that I made myself and fits on to the 3 point.

 

I

Didn't get it yet but I like the idea of a platform for the forks, which I would definetly get the forks, maybe build a couple platforms to keep wood on and be able to move it closer to the stove. Basically looking for more more uses for it to justify spending the cash, any and all ideas are great. So far I've got plowing the yard moving a little bit of dirt, kind of cleaning the goat pen, getting forks to move stuff around, maybe building some kind of crane to help me flip heavy weldments but I don't know how high it'll really lift stuff up, am I limited to how much the 3 point moves or is there a way to multiply it?

 

Well.....A small salvaged forklift mast on the back is pretty versatile. Cordwood saw is good (anybody who knocks it especially the "kick's stuff out"comment has boogered something up in the setup department or never run one. I could continue....) PTO generator sits with no gas or oil maintenance intervals at the waiting. Chipper/shredder .... Just remember a tractor any tractor even a new one has the ability to suck the money directly out of your wallet.

 

Do you have any pictures of your drag, my driveway needs some work??

 

I will take one today and post it later on this afternoon.

 

Here is a picture of the drag I made for helping to remove wash board on my dirt road. That mesh on the bottom is what you find on trailers for walking on or sometimes they use it on a ramp.

The idea is to spread out all that loose stuff on top that ends up wash boarding. If I have to scrap the road or contour it then I use a blade.