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Tractor Identification... I think it s a 1940 Ford l...

F

FreedogFarms

New User
Thanks in advance for any help further identifying my tractor.

Pictured is the Former owner doing a demo to teach me how to run it.

He says this tractor was built about 1940. I think it s a ford, runs on gas... I don t know anything else. How do I figure out what model it is so I can find a manual.


P.s. It runs great :) sooooo much fun to mow with this machine.


mvphoto48902.jpg


mvphoto48903.jpg


mvphoto48904.jpg
 
Looks identical to the 1941 Ford 9N I used to have as a project. If you want an exact year, the serial number is stamped on the left side down low by the dipstick if I recall
correctly. Might be gunked over with oil and grease and dirt, but it's there. When you find it, you can match it up with the info on this Ford tractor site link or come back to this
forum and check with the Ford N-series guys down below. They have their own thing going on down there--Ford 9N, 8N, 2N--it's what they do. Looks like a good-running tractor,
the owner is having too much fun showing it off!
Ford Serial Number and year Info
 
Engine serial number is on block near oil
filter, except your tractor has an engine
from a late 8N, 1950 thru 1952. Has side
mount distributor.
 
the main body is 9n or early 2n (the radius rods were changed from "I" beam to tubular in 1944).

The hood is from an early, non- Ford scripted 8n because it has an air cleaner door on the side whereas 9n-2ns didnt have one.It also mounts below the radiator
like a later 2n or 8n would with visible mounting bolts in the lower "dog-legs".

Its also still running 32 inch rear tires, which were most common on the earlier 9ns instead of the more common 28 inch tires, and has a set of dual ribbed rear
fenders which were only used on the 1939-1940 9ns.

It also appears to have a magneto ignition system (and no generator- at least on this side...) which was only supplied on the early (1942) wartime 2ns that were
stripped down war rationed machines, although New Holland binders that used ford engines were also supplied with that magneto system as well and your engine
could have came from one of those machines too.

Your tractor is a bit of a mutt, with parts that came from a few different year tractors. It could have very well started out as a 1940 model and as parts
failed, they werent too concerned with originality, and just found parts that fit and worked. There's nothing wrong with that, its what kept these Fords going
for over 80+ years now!
It may not win a prize as a show tractor, but if you enjoy it, Drive it, take care of it and dont abuse it, it will STILL its earn its keep.
 
after looking again at your pictures, I think the ignition is actually a side mount distributor, not a magneto, which would mean the engine came out of a 1950-52 8n tractor
 
The air cleaner intack in the hood says it is an 8N hood from 48 to 52. Now both the front and rear wheels say it is a 9 or 2N. If it would be a 39 it would have a one piece rear axle instead of the 2 piece with riveted on brake drum unless the easy broke one piece was replaced. Is the starter buttom located on the dash or by the gear shift? Early was on the dash. The way the doglegs are bolted on with those bolts in side of doglegs that is the way the 2N was made and I think the 8N hood would bolt to orignak 2N hood bracket. The 9N had a hidden under hood dogleg bracket and that hood would not mount to it. But it is a Mutt with parts of different tractors.
 
A suggestion, check the adjustment of that rotary cutter to the tractor, likely the front of it should be about 1" lower than the back, and level side to side, that and good sharp or new blades will make a difference in performance.
 
I agree with you warbaby, it's a "mutt" put together from parts
over the years. And again, nothing wrong with that.
Engine is mid 50 - 52, the rest 9N - probably.
Casting dates in the housings could give an indication of year.
Serial number on the engine is not relevant any more.

The dual rib fenders and 32 inch rims, if they are 32 inch, (they're
not the very early 32 inch) are probably worth more to a "collector"
than the whole tractor would sell for to an average Joe.

Nice find FreeDog!
 
Sorry, I don't know about the tractor but welcome to YT. And where were those pictures taken? Nice country.
 
heres a link to help you nail down what you have.

Manuals are available here on this site, a few hundred other sites or any Ford (New Holland) dealer!
Ford Tractors
 
You have a 'mutt'. 8N engine and hood. 9/2N wheels,9N stabilizers on front axles,fenders?..3 or 4 speed trans? But that's OK,as many/most parts are interchangeable. Have fun. Happy tractoring.
 
I will repeat what Billy said about setting the front of the mower slightly lower in the front......uses less power and trows the grass out the back.

And, like Gene says, make sure you have an over running clutch between the PTO and the mower shaft. I can't tell from the picture whether or not there is one. Using a tractor without independent PTO and no over running clutch can get you into serious trouble.
Many an old Ford has been pushed into the fence or stonewall by the inertia of the bush hog.
 
Frankentractor.A tractor made up from parts of several different tractors.A good way to get a good tractor from 2 or more dead ones. That's more fun that way. And definitely more interesting. BTW,I have 3(or more) frankentractors.Love em!
 
I really appreciate all this information I'm learning a lot.

Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate all this information I'm learning a lot.
 
(quoted from post at 17:18:18 02/07/20) I will repeat what Billy said about setting the front of the mower slightly lower in the front......uses less power and trows the grass out the back.

And, like Gene says, make sure you have an over running clutch between the PTO and the mower shaft. I can't tell from the picture whether or not there is one. Using a tractor without independent PTO and no over running clutch can get you into serious trouble.
Many an old Ford has been pushed into the fence or stonewall by the inertia of the bush hog.
Click to expand...

Thanks for noticing that I too felt that some adjustments need t be made to the mower part.
 
(quoted from post at 13:15:56 02/07/20) Sorry, I don't know about the tractor but welcome to YT. And where were those pictures taken? Nice country.
Click to expand...

Santa Ynez Valley Santa Barbara County :)
 
(quoted from post at 13:38:14 02/07/20) Wonder if there is an over running clutch on the PTO to keep from shoving it into the fence when stopping?
Click to expand...

Yes I do believe there is an over running clutch. I had to google youtube to see what you meant by that. :) I'm learning a lot thanks for your response.
 
(quoted from post at 07:14:18 02/07/20) A suggestion, check the adjustment of that rotary cutter to the tractor, likely the front of it should be about 1" lower than the back, and level side to side, that and good sharp or new blades will make a difference in performance.
Click to expand...

Thanks great suggestion I will work on adjustments and get the blades sharpened :)
 
(quoted from post at 05:20:57 02/07/20) the main body is 9n or early 2n (the radius rods were changed from "I" beam to tubular in 1944).

The hood is from an early, non- Ford scripted 8n because it has an air cleaner door on the side whereas 9n-2ns didnt have one.It also mounts below the radiator
like a later 2n or 8n would with visible mounting bolts in the lower "dog-legs".

Its also still running 32 inch rear tires, which were most common on the earlier 9ns instead of the more common 28 inch tires, and has a set of dual ribbed rear
fenders which were only used on the 1939-1940 9ns.

It also appears to have a magneto ignition system (and no generator- at least on this side...) which was only supplied on the early (1942) wartime 2ns that were
stripped down war rationed machines, although New Holland binders that used ford engines were also supplied with that magneto system as well and your engine
could have came from one of those machines too.

Your tractor is a bit of a mutt, with parts that came from a few different year tractors. It could have very well started out as a 1940 model and as parts
failed, they werent too concerned with originality, and just found parts that fit and worked. There's nothing wrong with that, its what kept these Fords going
for over 80+ years now!
It may not win a prize as a show tractor, but if you enjoy it, Drive it, take care of it and dont abuse it, it will STILL its earn its keep.
Click to expand...
. Thanks so much for taking so much time on your imput. This is great info and yes I'll try not to abuse it LOL It's been a little tricky learning to run her smooth. :)
 
(quoted from post at 04:46:42 02/07/20) When you find it, you can match it up with the info on this Ford tractor site link or come back to this
forum and check with the Ford N-series guys down below. They have their own thing going on down there--Ford 9N, 8N, 2N--it's what they do.
Ford Serial Number and year Info
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your help... and the link... I found the serail # and it falls between 8N343593 to 8N442034 so it looks like it is a 1951 Ford 8N.... 11 years older than the former owner thought.
 
(quoted from post at 15:36:54 03/09/20)
(quoted from post at 04:46:42 02/07/20) When you find it, you can match it up with the info on this Ford tractor site link or come back to this
forum and check with the Ford N-series guys down below. They have their own thing going on down there--Ford 9N, 8N, 2N--it's what they do.
Ford Serial Number and year Info
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your help... and the link... I found the serail # and it falls between 8N343593 to 8N442034 so it looks like it is a 1951 Ford 8N.... 11 years older than the former owner thought.
Click to expand...

That's what the ENGINE is--as mentioned above, it appears to be an older tractor which has had the engine replaced.
 
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