Plow, disc, harrow for 8N?

Hi, all. I got my new (to me) 1950 8N safely to my place in Machias, NY last Friday. Eventually, I would like to find and restore some original Dearborn implements for it. I even have a couple of leads. However, in order to be ready to plow my 1 1/2 acres in the Spring, I'm going to need some implements sooner rather than later.

Can anyone advise me where I could go to buy new implements for the 8N? I see some internet places, and I have a Tractor Supply near me. Any places you'd recommend? And if this is a violation of the Forum rules - please disregard!

I'm going to a local farm auction in Springville, NY on March 25 to see if they have anything 'newer' and ready to go. I also have a call in to a local farmer who is retiring and selling everything - not sure if he has category 1 equipment.

Thanks!
julian

Congratulations, most of us really learn to love these old 8N's. The best place to get old implements around here is Craigslist/Farm & Garden. Not a day passes without several old implements to choose among, and there are Dearborns frequently. We also have Tractor Supply, which are generally adequate but usually less heavy-duty, and other similar stores; you probably have some local/regional places in your neck-of-the-woods. Talk to rural neighbors or tractor repair shops for good advice.

I don't know how much TSC is going to help you but you have a New Holland dealer over in Arcade that dates back to the early 1950's when Ford was still building gray and red tractors. They would be a good source for parts but please note New Holland prices are not cheap. Speaking of not cheap I have seldom seen pieces go for reasonable money at large scale auctions. Be disciplined and walk away if the prices seem like they are too high. I've found reasonable prices at sales such as the consignment sale every April over In Angelica which is to the east of you in Allegany County. Not that there is a lot of money in Buffalo or Rochester but I like the small farm auctions down in the Southern Tier where you live.

I don't about your area but here they are getting hard to find. I bought my disc at Tractor Parts. Found a 2 bottom plow but it took a few years. I bought front-end loader at sale have never used it. Blade and stone rake from T/P also. Took a long time to find it all. Now I'm using a bigger tractor so I quit looking for things for the 8N. I had 2 row planter but traded it for drill.

last summer I bought a Ferguson one btm plow for 150.00 and considered myself very lucky. two btms even in fair condition bring a premium. a good condition 3pt 2 btm can go anywhere from 275 to 425.

plows are often seen on CL in these parts.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Ford Tractoring! If you are a newbie to tractors, especially your new 8N, many of us highly recommend your next investment is in these essential manuals. You need to know quite a lot before firing it up and boppin' around the yard/property. SAFETY is the big issue so you know what is and is not allowed and the proper way to do things, like pulling. Many fellas don't know and end up breaking something on their tractor or worse, hurting or killing themselves. You will also learn the proper PM techniques and how to do much yourself and where and what to buy as far as parts go. If nothing else, get a copy of the I&T F-04 Manual and a copy of 39-53 MPC (Master Parts Catalog). The F-04 has most of the major R7R projects laid out as well as exploded parts diagrams, most from original Operator's Manuals. A copy of or an original version of the correct 8N Operator's Manual is good as well as the green Service Manual that was supplied to Ford dealers for training their mechanics. All have valuable info that some or all of the others do not contain. A parts catalog is essential as well and Dennis Carpenter is the major Ford Tractor supplier of new parts, many made from the original tooling he located and bought from Ford and now owns. There's a ton of stuff you need to check on the tractor before using it as well. The hydraulic system is a major one that i soften overlooked. Now, as far as Dearborn Equipment goes, best to do some homework on those too. It's a gas to own and use the original Dearborn implements that were made for the 8N, but be aware that most of the stuff is no longer serviced and parts can be hard to find if not no longer available altogether. Plows are a big one. The early Dearborn Moldboard Plows are really obsolete since the Dearborn Economy Plow was released and parts are just not made. The Economy Plow is still serviced as far as wear parts go -moldboard, shins, shares, and frogs are still available. Your 1-1/2 acres is considered basically a garden or food plot size area so think about this: You could find a local who already has a plow and work up the ground with it instead of buying a plow. If the ground has not been worked in years, a good plowing, discing, harrowing will get it back in shape for planting. Once land has been worked, you can normally just rely on disc harrowing twice a season to keep it in good shape -no need to plow every time. TSC around here stocks King Cutter and Land Pride brands and some stock Bush Hog. They are nor built like the old stuff but will do an adequate job. If you have grass to mow, think about a brush hog or finish mower as well as a back blade for grading and snow removal. I suggest you get these manuals and start reading everyday religiously, like your Bible. Start a folder on your desktop to store articles and documents on your tractor. Locate a copy of Bruce(VA)'s 75 Tips and save it, download a copy to take the tractor shed with you. There is much to know about these old iron machines and even veterans like myself learn new stuff almost every week. While you are reading and learning and wrenching, look for Dearborn stuff on fleabay, Craigslist et al. Be warned todays asking prices are very high compared to ten years ago or so. A Dearborn 2-bottom plow complete with coulters and jointers use to sell at about $250, but today they go for almost double that.

75 Tips

(quoted from post at 07:35:44 03/14/17) Hi, all. I got my new (to me) 1950 8N safely to my place in Machias, NY last Friday. Eventually, I would like to find and restore some original Dearborn implements for it. I even have a couple of leads. However, in order to be ready to plow my 1 1/2 acres in the Spring, I'm going to need some implements sooner rather than later.

Can anyone advise me where I could go to buy new implements for the 8N? I see some internet places, and I have a Tractor Supply near me. Any places you'd recommend? And if this is a violation of the Forum rules - please disregard!

I'm going to a local farm auction in Springville, NY on March 25 to see if they have anything 'newer' and ready to go. I also have a call in to a local farmer who is retiring and selling everything - not sure if he has category 1 equipment.

Thanks!
julian

Click to expand...

Hi Julian,

My gathering of implements came from multiple sources.
First I chose my tractor because it came with 5 attachments
I was sure I would have need of -- a crane, landscape rake, carryall, rear blade and a homemade drag.

Later i got a rear bucket and Ford 110 single bottom from a tractor collecting friend.

Finally after checking the "pre-owned" category at this area's biggest tractor (Kubota/New Holland) dealership, I spotted a fixer-upper 5' MF Rotary Cutter for $200 and now have it repaired and somewhat restored.

Up here in B.C. we have Craigs, and another great site called "Used (name your area).com. After choosing the "[b:875db3fcaf]Farm Equipment[/b:875db3fcaf]" category there can be up to 3 pages of farm equipment for each area. For example:
Used Victoria

So . . . multiple sources.

Cheers,
T

I have a Ford 2 bottom plow listed on Baltimore craigslist if you are interested. Asking $300.

Thank you all for your replies. I search Craigslist for all of western New York every night for implements - nothing in decent shape so far. I'd love that plow you have for sale in Baltimore, but the shipping to Buffalo is probably prohibitive.

My 8N came with a almost brand-new back blade.

Happy to say I've taken most of the advice regarding building my knowledge. When I bought the farm last fall, I picked up Robert Pripp's 'Ford Tractors', and his 'How to Restore Your Farm Tractor'. Once I decided on an 8N, I downloaded Bruce's '75 Tips' and 'How to buy your first tractor' from this site. I also bought copies of the Ford 8N Operators Manual, Assembly Manual/Service Parts catalog, and the 8N '48-'52 Service Manual. I'm certainly not lacking for reading material!

My little field is at the top of a 2,000 foot hill. It's heavy clay. If I can't find a good 2-bottom plow in the next 6 weeks, I will get a single bottom plow from Tractor Supply. Twice the seat time!

Believe me, I have read and read, especially on this forum, and have a notebook filled with tips and advice. I appreciate everyone sharing their time to help me.

Random thoughts:
My good running 2N would NOT a pull a 2-14 Dearborn in our rocky, clay loam soil. Even with new Firestones and 225lb wheel weights.
So I found a 1-16 Ferguson and that was THE plow for our soil.
I continued to use that plow even after getting a bigger tractor.

I would rather have a tried and true old plow with half worn shares and moldboards than some rinky dink new one.

I am not afraid to travel to get a good piece of equipment.
I have been to TX twice, KS twice, MO twice, NE twice, IN twice, WI half a dozen times, ND once, SD once, IA a bunch of times, and all over MN going to fetch tractors and equipment.
A good piece of equipment can always be resold for what you paid for it - or more.
The gas to go get it is the price you pay for using it.

Rome was not built in a day
Neither was most or our tractor and implement collections. Ive been at this for 16 years now. That's not very long compared to some here.
Take the long view.
Be patient.
Always have a stash of cash ready and your pickup and trailer ready to go with 15 minutes notice.
And search your favorite sites not once but 2-3 times a day.
Many deals are long gone before evening comes.

Consider that you might like this tractoring. Consider that you might want a bigger tractor some day. So don't go dumping $3 Grand into an N "restoring" it that neither you nor your heirs will ever get back. Clean it up. Fix the leaks. Get some decent rubber on it and use it.
But keep an eye out for a better tractor.
Good running 600s, 800s, 2/3/4000s are all over the place. IF you don't get stuck in a rut and think that Ns are the end all of tractors.

I was looking at New York State CL listings

I saw a 12" Ferguson plow in the town of mill creek,

Not much help, but if you can determine what CL city that would cover the area of mill creek you might be able to find it, reasonable price,

C/L in Syracuse has more lawn(mower) "tractors" and many thousands of $$$ BIG tractors than anything. Walk behind snowblowers too.