Front End Loader

I'm looking to install a front end loader on my 1950 8N. Has anybody used one of the kits from SSB Tractor? Just wondering how well they perform. The link below is what I am looking at.

Their package comes with the loader and a kit to install live hydraulics, which sounds very easy to install.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uDhc7_mJ6E
 
(quoted from post at 09:07:17 03/27/15) I'm looking to install a front end loader on my 1950 8N. Has anybody used one of the kits from SSB Tractor? Just wondering how well they perform. The link below is what I am looking at.

Their package comes with the loader and a kit to install live hydraulics, which sounds very easy to install.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uDhc7_mJ6E

Sell your 8N, take that money and the $3k+ your are going to spend on the SSB loader package, and buy a good loader tractor.

TOH
 

As much as I would like to have a newer tractor, this 8n has a special place in our family. It belonged to my wife's grandfather and to his dad prior to that. I inherited it when he passed away recently.
 
(quoted from post at 09:24:59 03/27/15)
As much as I would like to have a newer tractor, this 8n has a special place in our family. It belonged to my wife's grandfather and to his dad prior to that. I inherited it when he passed away recently.

Understood. But $3K is a lot of money to drop on a tractor that is just not well suited to loader work. I have an 8N because that is what my Grandad had but I also have a small Kubota because I needed a loader tractor. Spend the $3k where it will get you some real utility.

TOH
 
Skeeter spend some time looking around, you can find a 6xx or 8xx and if your lucky like I was a 4000 with a loader for under what you are going to spend on that loader for the 8N.

Then you will have a newer tractor to do the work with, and still be able to keep Grampa's tractor and possibly do some work on it to make her last until your grandkids can enjoy it.

IMO from looking at a lot of bent front end parts, you really want to look for something with a solid front axle, not the adjustable front. The fords with the solid axle also have heavier spindles for supporting the weight of loader and what you put in it.

I looked and looked and found a 64' 4000 Light Industrial with a loader and at the time paid $1900 for it. They are out there, just have to find them.

Remember good running solid tractor, doesn't mean good paint... you can always paint it later yourself... you can save $$ and get a good running bigger/newer tractor for less money if you aren't afraid of some surface rust. Just look it over good and make sure everything on it works like it should.
 
First hand knowledge speaking... Don't do it.
They make these NON-powersteering tractors a bear to use.
Front end is heavy and rear end is lite.
Front end parts wear out faster ect, ect.
If you like the tractor here's my input...
Get another old tractor where someone already put one on.
Don't get the jungle gym style as a PITA to get on and off.
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The boys are spot on here Skeeter....I get sentimentality.....I love my 8n.....but it really is not up to the task of all the weight on the front end!
Not apples to oranges...but I bought a Ford 600 with a backhoe and down pressure loader....great rig....great price.....but as has been
intimated...front end shot.....steering box....you name it......doesn't steer worth a tinkers cuss......so for me....rebuild and powe steering .....
The point......too aggressive for the tractor......shoot...... if you need a limited use loader....I will give you my Souder trip bucket loader...and after
market power steering for an 8n is a costly proposition....
 
(quoted from post at 08:47:17 03/27/15) forget it definatly NOT a loader tractor

Way too much money to invest on an 8N. No to mention the fact that it will turn your little gazelle of an 8N into a slow lumbering water buffalo. Not even with the addition of installing power steering on your 8N is it a good idea. As was mentioned the front end of an 8N was not designed for the weight of a loader.

Having said that, I confess to having a Davis loader on my 8N. I purchased it that way around ten years ago. Steering it is a real bummer. I never try to turn the wheel unless I'm moving. Don't want to put too much stress on the steering linkage.

I've had that loader for ten years with no problems but I"m very careful with it. I know it's limits. A bucket full of wet dirt weighs a lot more than you think it does. Don't ever want to get the front end bouncing with a load in the bucket or you could wind up with your tractor sitting down on it's oil pan.

I'm always on the lookout for another 8N without a loader but they are very few a far between around here. A decent deal is usually scooped up on the first day.

Sounds like you've got some money so set your sites on another tractor with a loader on it.
 
I've got 4 8N's; one trailer queen & 3 workers. One of the workers is a 1951 w/ a Freeman loader. If I could only own one N, it would not have a loader on it. The N doesn't have PS, so a loader makes it very difficult to steer. (my wife can't drive it) Stopping it on a down slope w/ a full bucket is a real joy as well. Maneuvering around trees, etc, w/ that bucket out there isn't fun either. Try a simple 5 minute repair job (points replacement) w/ some loaders attached & you will not be happy. Worst of all, the N wasn't designed to carry the weight of the loader & the load, so be prepared for split radius rods & worn out front end parts.

As an alternative, a rear scoop bucket on an N works very well.
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75 Tips
 
Bruce makes a very good point. I love my 3pt bucket. I can mount it either way and I love to use it. I have a case 830 Propane for my loader tractor. You want size if you get a loader...


Jeff
 
I read the nay sayers 5 yrs ago and thought "nah, I'm SURE I can do it."

While it was nice to have a bucket available, I only used that tractor 2x over the summer, once to lift a box scraper off the trailer and again as the brace for the extension ladder putting up the kid's rope swing. I managed to tag several trees while executing a 27 point turn while in the woods.The N with the 3pt scoop was much easier to use and went through several tanks of gas.
 
(quoted from post at 11:48:35 03/27/15) I read the nay sayers 5 yrs ago and thought "nah, I'm SURE I can do it."

While it was nice to have a bucket available, I only used that tractor 2x over the summer, once to lift a box scraper off the trailer and again as the brace for the extension ladder putting up the kid's rope swing. I managed to tag several trees while executing a 27 point turn while in the woods.The N with the 3pt scoop was much easier to use and went through several tanks of gas.

Them 27 point turns can really wear one out with that heavy FEL on an 8N. :mrgreen:

Add a brush hog on the back and you can be executing those 42 point turns.
 
Thanks for all the responses.

I called and spoke with the tech department for the company in question and voiced the questions listed here. Their sales pitch was that their loader bolts under the transmission, thus adjusting the balance more center on the tractor. They claim that this design takes some of the strain off the front king pin and steering components. They also claim that the bucket is quick detach in order to help when you need tight maneuvering in situations like brush hogging.

They also claim that thier product will run any skidsteer attachment on the market.

Thoughts on their comments?
 
(quoted from post at 16:19:16 03/28/15) Thanks for all the responses.

I called and spoke with the tech department for the company in question and voiced the questions listed here. Their sales pitch was that their loader bolts under the transmission, thus adjusting the balance more center on the tractor. They claim that this design takes some of the strain off the front king pin and steering components. They also claim that the bucket is quick detach in order to help when you need tight maneuvering in situations like brush hogging.

They also claim that thier product will run any skidsteer attachment on the market.

Thoughts on their comments?

I don't really care what they told you. When you have a bucket full of wet dirt all that weight is still out in front of the front suspension.

It just seems to me that with the price of that loader you would be better off using the money to buy a better machine with a loader on it. You can buy that fancy thing but it will still be on an "N" tractor. There's no getting around that.
 
(quoted from post at 19:19:16 03/28/15) Thanks for all the responses.

I called and spoke with the tech department for the company in question and voiced the questions listed here. Their sales pitch was that their loader bolts under the transmission, thus adjusting the balance more center on the tractor. They claim that this design takes some of the strain off the front king pin and steering components. They also claim that the bucket is quick detach in order to help when you need tight maneuvering in situations like brush hogging.

They also claim that thier product will run any skidsteer attachment on the market.

Thoughts on their comments?

Yes - it's a step through design and has skid steer quick attach arms. The balance will be better than the old jungle gym loaders but a loaded bucket will still be a bear to steer. And it's still a poor loader tractor for a host of other reasons starting with gearing and brakes. For that much money you can do a lot better with a different tractor.

TOH
 

Back in the Forties and fifties they put buckets on them because that is what they had to do. In the seventies and eighties they took them off after they got suitable tractors. I have seen PILES of old loaders at dealers, that can be had for scrap price due to lack of demand.
 
Seeing you have $3000 to burn, I would agree with the others that you would be better off getting a second bigger loader tractor. I see them around all the time in the $2500 - $3500 range.

But I will also be the person that will tell you we did a ton of work around our 14 horse farm with an 8N and one of those jungle gym loaders. We moved a ton of manure, wood, rocks, and dirt with it. In the winter we had a dearborn dirt blade adapted to it to plow an ungodly amount of lake effect snow. Having it as a hoist was just as valuable.

To make it steer easier he had a oil drum filled with sand mounted to the 3pt. When he had to spread manure or plow/ brush hog fields he dropped the bucket and barrel. The tractor served him well for many years.

Would another tractor have been a better choice, probably. But at the time that was what was affordable and available for him I guess. I now have his 8N and another 9N and have upgraded the jungle gym to a step thru superior loader. A newer compact tractor would be nice, but I only use them to move snow or objects these days. Can't justify the cost and the 8N is sentimental to me.
 
I've been looking around at other tractors but good units with loaders on them are north of 6500. That's what lead me down the road to explore other options.
 
What part of the country do you live in?

I'm sure with the help of all of the guys here we could find you a hundred or thousand series tractor for close to what the loader is going to cost you.

Heck, someone just posted in NJ a hundred series with a loader AND the 4wd conversion for $3500.

In the end if you want a loader on the 8N, they are available. I would just hate to see you spend the money and then be unhappy, or worse yet, do some damage to a family tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 09:22:01 03/30/15) What part of the country do you live in?

I'm sure with the help of all of the guys here we could find you a hundred or thousand series tractor for close to what the loader is going to cost you.

I'm in central Texas, near the Austin area.
 
Here is one.

Loader Tractor

Could probably negotiate some. No 3pt but you have the N for that.

It does have a heavy bucket and power steering, and its a bit newer.

Found Several Backhoe tractors with loaders for under 4k in between Austin and Dallas on CL, Just look around.

Remember paint doesn't have anything to do with how it runs.
 
I just noticed that tractor doesn't have 3pt or a pto, that might be a deal breaker for him, it would be for me...

Jeff
 
(quoted from post at 16:18:42 03/31/15) I just noticed that tractor doesn't have 3pt or a pto, that might be a deal breaker for him, it would be for me...

Jeff

The original idea was he is keeping his 8N and spending $3000 to get a loader for it. The second tractor is his "loader".

TOH
 
Yes no 3pt and no pto, but he has his N, which can handle the 3pt and pto duties without undue stress or possible damage to the family tractor, and the other brute can do the loader work that needs done.

And with some negotiation should be able to get it for near the price of just the loader for the N.

The major bonus is the heavier frame AND power steering, which makes loader work much easier not only on the tractor, but the operator.
 

I would never spend $3000 to put a loader on a N. I have this Jubilee but got it cheap. I only bought it because I like the old Fords, I know how to work on them, and this one had add on power steering.

I ended up redoing everything on the tractor. I use my loader for light work. Plowing. Moving dirt, wood. I don't overload it. I had to get a smaller bucket because the previous owner had to big of a bucket.

If you add a $3000 loader, you will have a hard time selling it for a price to get some of your investment back, if the time ever came.

BD
Wisconsin
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