OT (maybe) - Learning about tractors

Hi all,

Just me - semi city slicker - trying to learn something about old tractors before buying one. (Using this forum because I'm still leaning towards an 8n.)

Here's my questions:

- what's "shuttle shift"?
- what's "live hydraulics"?
- what's a "two stage clutch"?

Thanks

phil_n

(quoted from post at 04:28:54 12/14/14) Hi all,

Just me - semi city slicker - trying to learn something about old tractors before buying one. (Using this forum because I'm still leaning towards an 8n.)

Here's my questions:

- what's "shuttle shift"?
- what's "live hydraulics"?
- what's a "two stage clutch"?

Thanks

phil_n

Click to expand...

Well, the 8n has none of those things!

shuttle shift enables you to rapidly sift from forward to reverse, live hydraulics means you have hydraulics when you push in the clutch, and two stage clutch means just that, two stages, one stages disengages the trans ands the other the pto.

All things an N doesn't have, but whether or not you need them
is up to you to determine.

Shuttle shift lets you go from forward to reverse direction in
the same gear without shifting. Just a pedal or lever.

Live hydraulics means the 3pt hitch (or other hydraulics) will
work any time the tractor is running. Tractors without live
hydraulics, like the N's, have to have the clutch engaged to run
the pump so that the hydraulics work. If you want them to work
sitting still, you need to put the tractor in neutral and let the
clutch out.

The two stage clutch gives you live PTO. You can let the clutch
out half way to start the PTO running, then let it out the rest of
the way to move the tractor. Conversely, you can stop or feather
the forward movement of the tractor without stopping the PTO.
The only drawback I know of is that they are expensive to replace.

Think of a scenario where you have a mower on the back of an
8N. If you want to lift it, the hydraulics have to be working.
They run off the PTO shaft, so for them to work, the PTO has
to be running, which means the mower is running unless you
disconnect the PTO shaft itself. Transporting down the road
comes to mind. There are locks to lock the 3pt up if that is
something you would do on a regular basis.

If you don't use a loader, mower or other equipment that would
benefit from those features, they may be of no consequence.

The "trick" about old tractors.....keep it as simple as possible. A ford 9-8N offers just that.

The more conviences you get, the more the cost of ownership. This can always be a challenge.

HTH john,Pa

I'd say that is well said. An 8N will do all that a tractor of the same horse power will do. That other stuff is nice to have. If you can afford it a 600 or 800 series is worth the money. But I think 9n/ 8ns are under valued and well worth the little money you can get one for.

Thanks very much everyone for all the good information and advice.

Can I call myself a tractor expert now?

phil_n

"Can I call myself a tractor expert now?"

Yep! But to be a guru you have to pass Hobo's test.
Either that or you have to post more. LOL
Don't be a stranger. I like folks with a good sense of humor!
Let us know what you decide on the 8N.
Great tractors, just invented before all those modern features.