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420 or 8n

D

DLA_121416

New User
Looking at a couple of tractors and wanted to hear your thoughts.
1. John Deere 420w i think partially restored. Looks very nice and runs good. 5000 dollars

2. Ford 8n not sure what year but nicely restored 2800 dollars

What do you guys think?
 
3. None of the above.

For one thing, WHY do you want the tractor? Is it just to look at, or do you have a specific use in mind?

Both seem overpriced, without seeing them. They would have to be REAL nice with NEW tires to command the prices you've stated.
 
Restored or is it more then likely just a paint job. I hate people using the term restore when 99% of the time they are not a true restore. A true restore is to bring it back to what it was when brand new.

That all said the 420 has a few more HP then the 8N and sits a good bit taller and may or may not have 3 point. A lot depends on what you plan to do with it and where your at. But both seem a bit on the high side as for $$
 
Both do have new tires all the way around and lots of new parts. Probably not complete restores but they both look very nice. I do want to use it for mowing, blading the drive, and ground work for sweet corn patch.
 
That 420 is John Deere 1020 price and not any way near the tractor,the 8N is about the price of a 641 or 841,which if you get a 5 speed it has live power and live
hyds.I think for the money there are a lot better options out there,nothing wrong with either brand,just chose a better tractor.
 
The 601/801 is the series of the Ford the 2 models you quoted are both 4 speeds with non-live PTO. The 661 or 861 have the 2 stage clutch and live PTO. Just for you info
 
Here is a couple pics of the Deere
17893.jpg
17894.jpg
 
New tires go a long way as for price but even with new tires they are over priced. Depending on where your live also depends on value. Me I would be looking for a Ford 801 series in the 861 model which has live PTO and 5 forward speeds. Or if your In an area where there is a lot of Oliver's A super 55 would be what I would be looking for
 
Ok. Thanks for all the input i really appreciate it. This is my first old tractor purchase so this helps.
Thanks!
 
I am not talking price as I do not know what they bring today, my Dad had a 420 and that was a gutty little tractor, if I was choosing between a 8N or a 420 jd the jd wins every time, the 420 has live hyd the 8N does not,, the 420 has gearing that is much more user friendly, one more thing for me to recommend a jd is a RARE thing not that they are bad just flat out not my brand,, I sold Dads for 420 in the 90's and got 3800.00 for it, we did add single remote hyd to it
cnt
 
I own and use an 8N. Never had a JD 420 so I am silent on that.

The 8N is a great SMALL utility/farm beginner tractor. It will do all the jobs you want, but it is NOT ready for big jobs, nor is it easy to use. The PTO is live, so if you are running the PTO will need a overrunning coupler to make it useful. You might run a 2 bottom plow well, but not a 3, depending on soil. It has no power steering. First gear is a little tall, but I get used to it. 8N is good for a 5' brush hog, or a 6' finish mower. I auger with mine, but you have to be darn careful not to stick the drill all the way in and stick it.

Having said that, unless it is near pristine condition, and everything works, including the gauges, and it is a side dist, with all new tires, and clutch, that price is pretty steep. Look carefully not at the paint but what has been done to it. Tires, clutch, belts, battery, steering box, sheet metal, brakes must be in perfect shape to command > $2500.

I have a front loader on mine, and it's a handful to use. Not recommended, but can be done. There are tons of mods, and support for the 8N and it's fine little workhorse, but the key here is it's a 'little' workhorse. Someday I'm moving up to a 3000 but I will always appreciate how my 8N has done yeoman duty.
 
That 420 looks to be a slant steer and that means a later 420 and W means it is a utility type same as the 8N but in the size of the 600 in that it could be either a 4 speed without live pto, compair to a 640 Ford. 5 speed without live pto compair to a 650 Ford or 5 speed with live pto compair to a 660 Ford and Just about same height as the 8N and I think they all came with the 3 point hitch, no not think they could be bought without it. The 420 would be I think a 57-58? and 29 horsepower, a 8N is 48 to 52 and about 25 horsepower. The Deere is live hydrolics, the Ford no. Swinging drawbar Deere very likely, Ford not likely.
 
I sold my 51 8N with Sherman combination transmission yesterday for $2,500.

Mine was a worker and unrestored but very good and EVERYTHING worked as it should.

Had two buyers with trailers trying to come see it at the same time.

Second buyer begged me to sell it to him after I had sold it to the first who had left to go to the bank to get cash.

Dean
 
I agree with the overpriced comments.
I suggest keep looking. You should
be able to find more tractor for that
or less money.
 
I would say both are over priced. I have a 420. The hydraulics are pretty decent for a tractor that size. I have a loader on it which works well and the hydraulic pump has enough power to lift anything you have any business lifting with a tractor that size. The motor is economical to run, and if the points, condenser and coil are in good shape they start pretty decent in cold weather. It handles a 2 bottom plow nicely and a two section 3 pt. spring tooth well. I have pulled a 9 ft disc with it, but on fresh plowed ground that would be one heck of a load. For small jobs, they are handier than a shirt pocket. The power steering works about on par with other units of that time period. Which is to say it is better than manual steering. Having said the above they are a SMALL tractor. They are terrible in the mud. Takes almost nothing to get them stuck in mud without tire chains. On dry ground they will pull about what you would expect for a SMALL tractor. Definitely needs chains to plow snow. Motor rebuilds are quite cheap, only two cylinders to rebuild. Tires are 12.4X28 on the rear, so tires can be replaced for reasonable prices compared to larger tire sizes.

I would pay $2500 for one in excellent shape. If it is in questionable shape, $500 max. With the engine overhaul and a new set of tires, and one new front rim, I have around $3500 in mine, and that was almost ten years ago. The tractor was a family inheritance so I had no initial cost in the tractor. For $5,000 you can buy newer and better tractors than either tractor you mentioned. I like my 420 well enough and use it a lot, but I would never, ever pay $5,000 for one.
 
Not going to mention anything about the prices.....I always say, get all you can. I will
say, the 420 is WAY more tractor than a 8n. With the 5 speed trans. it will do a good days
work. 8n's can be fun little tractors, but the flat head is gutless if wanting to do any
real work......just my opinion.
 
Thanks everybody. This is very helpful. I?m glad I asked. You
may have kept me from overpaying! I?ll just be patient and
keep looking. Thanks again!
 
I know that every one here thinks that the 420 is over priced but I sold one in the April Mecum
auction and it brought $8925. There is no better appraisal service than a good auction sale. Mine
was a standard model which normally does not bring as much as a utility.
 
I have run both, and they both suffer from a lack of usable weight and horsepower. That particular 420W is a show tractor. the
seller probably has that much in it but an 8N is a lot more user friendly and practical than a 420. For the kind of money those
guys are asking you can buy a MF 135 which is much more useful.
 
I have run both starting with 2-8-9n's in 1960. Dad bought a 420 in 1963. If you buy the 8n you will regret
it as long as you have it. The 420 is a great little tractor, decent brakes something 99% of 8n's don't have.
Dads was a utility with wide front, 3 point, 34" rear rubber. Always started, something 8 n's arn't good at.
Look at the 2-8-9n ford site. We lived 1-3/4 miles from the ford dealer. I cannot begin to count the number
of times we drug 1 of them to the ford dealer because it wouldn't start. We drug 1 in to get the brakes
worked on. The guy that had been a ford mechanic for years told me " Henry made the brakes on these things to
be a little better than those on a horse drawn wagon". I believe him, I have been pushed down hill, drug
backwards down hill because they are pretty much useless. These things were owned buy our neighbor who had
Alzheimer's. He insisted we use them to cut,rake, and bale hay. I could continue this for a long time but I
think you get the picture. 8n's bring at most $1200.00 if they run.
 
I'm in SE IN.

I'll be glad to email the telephone numbers of the buyer and the unsuccessful buyer so that you can call them if you like.

Dean
 
I think those prices are crazy, waaay too much. I own both
tractors, the 420w is better tractor than the 8N, both of mine
are turn key and need nothing, I?ll sell either on of mine.....
$3500 for the JD 420W
$2000 for the Ford 8N
If you?re near south Alabama and want one holler back at
me...
a269868.jpg

a269869.jpg
 
How many trailer loads you want at $7500 each? Just because a couple guys with money that have no idea what something generally sells for bids something up at a hyped auction doesn't set the
general price for that item.I was at a auction last year that had 2 420's and neither bought $1200 and they ran now that was cheap and doesn't mean they'll generally go for that amount either.
 
I'm not arguing with you at all,just saying,it depends on where you are. Around here,if you want to get rid of one,you'll keep the price under $2000.
 
I would advise you skip them both. For the
money you quoted you can get a lot more
tractor than either of those.
Look for a little Ford.
3000 or a 3600.
They are just outstanding small tractors.
 
I agree.

Mine was EXCELLENT and looked very good but it was a user and not cosmetically restored.

Dean
 
Stay away from those IH. dealer would not even know they were not a garden tractor. Never saw one as not sold in this area. So no one would know anything about them for help or repairs. May be good tractors but the new chinese that are only made for a year or 2 and gone would be as easy to get help with.
 
Go price a new one that size . I?ll guarantee either of these will
still be going when that new one is nothing but a pile of
crumbled orange dust on the ground
 

You can find a complete running 420 slant steer with a five speed , live pro and a SCV for that money.
Ford N series lacks live hydraulics , live pto, five speeds and the SCV.
A 420 can still earn it’s keep in some niche applications .
 
(quoted from post at 11:41:31 06/08/18) LOL! Thats why im looking at old tractors.
Click to expand...

Grab up that 8N from Greyrider, and learn how to use it. Looks quite nice. No leaks from the steering gear. If there's no OVC, get one right away. The hate for the 8 is because people got spoiled with bigger and better featured tractors. Nothing wrong with a good 8N for the small farm jobs.

It's like a J3 Piper cub. It will only just barely kill you. Make it work for a year, and then you can appreciate a 3000 or a MF 165, or something like that.
 
As I said they may be good, you just would not be able to get service around here as none were sold here. Helps to have someone that knows something about things.. It is not the tractor but no dealer support.
 
Almost any mechanic can work on those old IH tractors,I have a IH 464 Industrial real good tractor and for the price they can be bought for run it until it quits and then buy another like it and use the first one for parts.
 
That's probably true but either one of those tractors can be had for 1/2 the price he's been quoted.There are some really good old tractors going cheap these days.
 
(quoted from post at 23:57:59 06/07/18) I think those prices are crazy, waaay too much. I own both
tractors, the 420w is better tractor than the 8N, both of mine
are turn key and need nothing, I?ll sell either on of mine.....
$3500 for the JD 420W
$2000 for the Ford 8N
If you?re near south Alabama and want one holler back at
me...
a269868.jpg

a269869.jpg
Click to expand...

Looks sharp except the grey or silver paint is missing .
 
I just bought a john deere 2510 $4900 power steering, 3 point hitch, live pto, I love it I bought another about 2 months ago I like it so well I bought the second
 
My grandpa had a 8n for years. He bought a
430w,pretty much the same as a 420, and the
8n just sat. Never used it after that.
Ended up giving the 8n to my uncle. The
price does seem a little steep. They were
bringing that around here 10yrs ago but not
now. I've spotted some decent looking ones
in the 3-3500 range. Michigan
 
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