what parts are unique to the early 2N?

Hiya,
I think I have most of the parts to re-configure a Steel-wheeled 1942 2N tractor. I have the magneto and drive, a full set of steel wheels, the starter motor block off plate and the starter button delete plug along with the idler wheel tensioner for the fan belt (because there is no generator to tighten the belt). I am guessing there was probably a block-off plate where the starter solenoid mounted under the battery tray(??)
Is there anything else that was originally part of this stripped down, war rationed tractor? Also, does anyone know where there are any detailed pictures of the steel wheeled 2N on the web?
Thank You,WB

the 9n and 2n never had a solenoid, only a mechanical switch.
You will the choke system that went to the front of the tractor.

meant to say you will need the front choke. the war machines had a two armed choke lever on the bar to go with the wire and button to the front

welcome to YT, warbaby.

i had seen these pics not too long ago on tractordata.com:

Yes, that thing-a-ma-jig under the battery box that the bell-cranked rod from the starter button activates!

I'm guessing there was a block off plate there? I do have the carburetor with the two hole choke lever and the front dogleg has the hole in it where the choke wire passed through. This tractor was delivered on the steel wheels I have, but they got ahold of some rubber wheels in 1944 and never looked back! Also, it got a starter, generator and lights over the years but luckily they kept MOST of the old war related bits hung up on nails or in old oil cans in a shed- I'd like to return it to how the local Ford dealer dropped it in the barn yard back in October of 1942.

Nice!, Thank You for the pictures, and the welcome!

I'm not an expert on the wartime models by any means.
Here are a couple of things I've noticed though.
The choke shaft ran out the front of the tractor through the
dogleg so you could use it while hand cranking the tractor.
The choke shaft in the carb was different to accommodate that.

Along the same lines the center pin in the front axle was different
to support the wartime hand crank. If I understand correctly
they weren't normally removed, they stayed in the tractor.

Here are a couple of pictures I believe to be of original parts.
No guarantees, of course!
Sure wish I could find those carb choke shafts.

Warbaby,You can add a block-off plate where the starter switch is mounted under battery,amp meter delete dash,hand crank with spring,long front axle pin for hand crank ,kill switch on dash.As said,dog leg front choke,double choke plate arm,added to all the parts that you have mentioned.The correct magneto is a Fairbanks Morse magneto FM x4b73.

you're welcome

one more of the same tractor:

Correction,Fairbanks Morse magneto FMJ 4b73.I typed the wrong number.
I wish YT would get the edit fixed.

HiYa Warbaby-
First, a bit of history: Contrary to what many believe, not ALL the Ford-Ferguson 2N Tractors were built as steel-wheeled wartime machines. There were actually only about 10,000 units were built as wartime machines. What is your tractor serial number? The facts are that the firs two months of 1942 saw 10,115 9N tractors built. In February, 1942, ALL civilian/commercial production (cars, trucks, tractors et al) ceased, not just at FORD but at every US manufacturing company as valuable resources were to be dedicated to the war effort now that the US was involved in WWII. This was mandated by the US government War Board. It took Harry Ferguson to convince the president to lift the ban on Ford so they could resume normal tractor production as tractors were needed at home to supply farm food for the troops. He agreed and Ford was allowed to resume normal 2N production, and he even bought a 2N tractor with implements for his farm in New York. There's nothing wrong with building your own 2N steel wheeled machine but finding original parts is the stickler and I prefer that the serial number coincides with 2N wartime machine production -late 1942 thru early 1943.

Next, some parts are just plain rare as hens teeth to find. The original Marvel-Schebler TSX-38 carburetor, with the double throw choke lever and the original hand crank are two examples. Original 9N; 2N; and early 8N tractors used the M'S TSX 33 carb with single throw choke. The M'S TSX-38 carb is listed as the industrial model and is correct for a true wartime 2N. I have an original TSX 38 carb for sale in the ADS forum on the other Ford tractor site and an original hand crank but not selling that. Good, correct Fairbanks magnetos too are hard to find. Other info available -email is open...

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

Hi Tim,
I agree with you on the confusion over the 2n. I'm just happy when ALL "N" series tractors aren't called "8Ns" and when a 9 or 2N isn't "fully restored" in 8N colours!
Unfortunately, the engine block number is unreadable-at least using the old wire brush and torch held at 50 different angles method to try and read it. All I can see is "*9----3(or is it an "8"?)5*. BUT the tractor belonged to the same family who took delivery in the fall of '42, they had the steel wheels and various block off plates for it and it has the long front axle pin and the right style of carburettor (although not on it, but in a large Maxwell House coffee can full of other N carburettors). Except for some undoubtedly kidney jarring trips down the hard packed dirt road to an adjacent field it had never left that farm and supposedly there is a picture of it in the yard when it was new, but nobody remembers who has it now although they had quite a few snaps of it in the 1950's when it was sporting rubber tyres all around (9x32s on the rear). As far as the original crank is concerned, I simply grabbed the first one that fit from an assortment of them scattered about, so I hope I grabbed the right one!