Fordson N help needed

Hi all, Got a fordson tractor I have questions about. First off i found the block number and it dates it to 1938. 828651. The bottom layer of paint is orange which should be correct for the year. The crazy question I have is on the other side of the block it has cast into it Made in Ireland N 6015A. On the front part of the engine under the mag it says Irish free states. So clearly it was all cast in Ireland but the serial number is English. It also has tool box fenders. The ones with the Triangle door. Not the square ones. The serial number is stamped very clear and there is no doubt of the numbers. So far all the parts but the wheels have orange pain as the first layer. Do I have something that should have never happened or is it possible? Any help would be great. I do have pics if someone want to see.

Thanks

Simple first Question. Is a water washer or is it an oil air cleaner? Next what #no does it have on the right hand side of the gearbox housing flange where it bolts up to the engine (underneath 70 years of repaints). You will be extremely lucky if they still match after all these years but I believe that is the more important Number. However I know that over the years a very high percentage of N's have been built and rebuilt and rebuilt time after time. There were also a lot of "bits" tractors produced from parts made in Ireland and at Dagenham UK . It is possible that there is no definitive answer to you query but post as much info as pos and I'm sure the answers will be forthcoming. Regards MTF

I'm not sure about the air cleaned. It's a box about 6.6" wide about 14"long and 12" tall. it's 2 piece and has a large hex plug on one side and a slot where the tube that goes to the carb is attached is on the other side. I can't find any numbers on the flange on the gear box. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong spot? The clutch lever is coming out of the box that the steering arm comes out of.

Here are some photos. The wheels are not original.

Another pic!

I thought I answered your questions a few weeks ago. Rustyironworks or something like that

OK it looks like an oil cleaner that would put it into the age group you said. But there doesn't appear to be the normal governor. Does it have a cooling fan or is it thermo cooling? My guess is that this has had lots of things 'done to it' over the years, just one of thousands in that condition. The only way you'll ever know for certain is contact all the previous owners. Yes thats impossible so I reckon I'm not going to be much more help. MTF

What it looks like you have is a mix of American, Irish and English parts. No fordson ever came from the factory with this big af a mix. Most likely, someone years ago pieced this together out of multiple tractors, or a farmer updated his old american Model F with some newer "N" components. Ford did sell repacement motors, but these were not factory stamped with serial numbers, so I would guess your engine came out of a complete english tractor. I'll try and explain what I can see from the pictures.
First the rear end housing, the dash, and the water air washer look to be from about a 1925 (maybe early 1926) american model F. Good chance this was the original tracor, as the cutdown steel wheels, front axle, and oil pan also would be correct for a 1925 model F. The gas tank is an English tank, on backwards, as the starting tank should be at the steering wheel. The model "N" engine I would assume is english by the serial number. The manifold and '2 screw' zenith carb would be english also. The cast in 'Made in Ireland' is a little odd, did they still cast some English blocks in Ireland?, I'm not sure. The front timing cover/ axle support may be Irish, look at the front axle pivot pin, if the axle support housing has a slotted hole, it is Irish. If it is a round hole, this is a over the counter only piece used to put "N" motors in "F" tractors. If it is an Irish front cover and straight axle, your tractor should have a little bit of a 'nose high' attitude. The rear fenders (very nice looking by the way) are of the late american/irish style used from 1927 1931 and into 1932. These were availible over the counter at a dearler and may have been added to the original 1925 tractor. The radiator with the ribs in the top tank and Fordson on the sides is also English or very late Irish.
Hope this helps. If you have any questions or want to send me any pictures to identify specific pieces let me know.
-Steve

Side pulley was introduced in 1936. Straight front axle was supplied to all US-bound tractors starting in 1936. My 37 has a flat pad on the front of the axle support with 4 tapped holes. This would be used for conversion to All Around front ends.
The waterbath aircleaner was supposed to have ended in 1937. The paint changed to Orange in late 1937.
I suspect what you have is really a 1937. The engine may have been traded for a rebuilt from a rebuilder or the local Ford dealer. Maybe he got one back from another guy's tractor by mistake. The 1938 engine would say "High Compression" on the head. This was gross mistake. They almost all pounded out the bearings, and needed premature rebuilds.

The farmer probably got a good deal on some used cut-off tires and wheels. They fit to the axles the same way.

The rear fenders are the hardest to explain. Maybe he knew the horror stories from the Model F days and simply put them on for safety.

Used parts were extremely cheap. Maybe he took stuff off of his own old Model F.

Fordson F tractors were patriotically donated for scrap in WWII in massive numbers, or sold for something like $10 each. They were not beloved. Meanwhile the British were still building an improved Model N for their war effort.

Upon comparison, yours doesn't have a 1937 style air-cleaner. No inlet through the steering column. It also has a direct acting clutch pedal, whereas 37's had a linkage down to the clutch pedal. It must have an aftermarket pulley conversion. It's beginning to look like a Model F with a front half of a Model N.

First off, Thanks for all the info. It's helped. Someone asked if it has a water pump. well yes it does. And the head says High compression on it. The dash has patents cast on to it. the last one is Aug 28 1923. "It says patents in US" The tractor has no governor on it and i don't see a place for one.