Doglegs stamped but no lights

Someone posted on one of the forums and I cant find it, that they had some doglegs that the holes for
the lights had not been punched out. I bought a 1951 8N last week for a future project and didnt pay
much attention that it had no headlights and after reading the post I inspected the doglegs and the
knockouts are there but they have never been punched either. Lights were never on the tractor.The legs
need replacing though, they are rotten at the bottoms.

Jim - Lighting Kits were never factory installed on tractors until the 800 Model and then only headlights. Early, early 9N alum doglegs had no punchouts for lights at all. Lights were always only dealer optional accessories up til the 800. Implement (Worklight)Lamps were not introduced until 1949 on the 8N but could be used on the 9N/2N models as well. Up until then, if you wanted a rear worklight, instructions specified to take the RH headlight and winged medallion and move to the RH rear fender and bracket. By most state and federal traffic laws, you were required to keep the LH mounted and used when on roads and highways. The rear TAURUS, later the DUOLAMP, taillight was included in the lighting kit and was required to be mounted on the LH rear fender when used on roads. You could drive on roads and highways with traffic but had to move over to allow cars and trucks to pass and thus the LH taillight would be illuminated for warning. Taillights had a license plate bracket fitted as well. Some states required licensing of tractors but most didn't as farming was then considered and was a big industry. Still should be in my opinion. The taillight had a clear glass window on the top which helped illuminate the license plate when lights were on. As licensing laws dwindled, in 1954/1955 the Hundred Series era, the DUOLAMP taillight then eliminated the clear lens altogether. Lighting kits could be installed by the dealer, at extra costs, but many farmers just bought the kits and installed themselves. Some didn't follow instructions and tried to wire lights their way but were connected wrong and this end up with electrical shorts and non-starting tractors. This is still an issue with guys adding lights but wiring them wrong.


1948 FORD 8N TRACTOR; w/CORRECT LIGHTING KIT SETUP; TIM DALEY OWNER/OPERATOR:

FORD N-TRACTOR REAR TAURUS TAILIGHT, USED 39-49:

FORD TRACTOR TAURUS TAILLIGHT w/CLEAR LICENSE PLATE WINDOW:



Tim Daley(MI)

Dog-legs w/ the knockouts intact are rare enough that collectors seek them out for a 'factory correct' tractor. Don't toss them; for a restoration project, I'm sure someone would be willing to weld up new bottoms.

You might not make a bunch of money selling them, but probably enough to pay for a useable pair.
75 Tips

Nice write-up with great pictures Tim.

Any pics of your tractor or instruction sheets showing how you ran your wiring?

es

HiYa Ed-
I have all the original lighting kit instruction sheets - the first early 1939 9N one, tehearly 8N, and the late 8N. All are on 11 x 22 sheets so won't do any good trying
to scan on your home computer printer. I made copies before I retired with an industrial plotter we used in engineering. If you want a copy, me email is open and we can
discuss from there. I'll need to know which model you are wiring, but they are all basically the same. If you want to use the OEM kit, parts list are in the MPC's. Kit
has the clips and things I recommend you use.




Tim Daley(MI)