Meet EJ the 8N

[8ntruck 6,998]

We've recently purchased 20 acres outside of Bowling Green Kentucky and are starting to make preparations to start building.  Last spring, we got the county to put a culvert in the ditch so we can get vehicles onto the property more easily.  Last fall, we had 10 tons of gravel delivered to stub the driveway farther onto the property so we can park a couple of vehicles a safe distance off of the road. 

 

My son and I started spreading the gravel by hand.  After working at this for a couple of hours, we decided that there had to be a better way.  I started thinking about the 8N tractor that we used to have when we were living there about 15 years ago.  On a whim, I called the friend who I traded it to and asked if he still had it.  Yup, he did, and I could borrow it.  By the way, would I like to buy it back?  I said yes, and a deal was struck.

 

Here is a picture of EJ and me spreading the remainder of the gravel:

 

We first got EJ back about 1996.  We had just moved to a 5 acre property in Bowling Green.  We needed a tractor to brush hog, grade the driveway and work our large garden.  We ended up with a well used 1948 8N. 

 

Why the name EJ?  Well the paint on the tractor was well weathered - most of it has weathered away and the tractor has a heavy patina of rust.  It reminded us of the pulling tractors that E. J. Potter ran in the 70's.  Those were Allison V1710 aircraft engine powered tractors that ran in the unlimited classes.  He did well, but he cared more about how the tractors ran than what they looked like.  Most of them looked as if they were built from odds and ends that had been laying out in the field.

 

When my job took us to Missouri, we traded EJ the 8N to friend in exchange for him trucking some of my project cars to Missouri.  He treated EJ to a paint job, new tires, some engine work, and a 12 volt electrical system conversion.  The tractor was then used to mow the grounds around my friend's warehouse and to grade his parking lot.  My friend retired the tractor in 2018, replacing it with a zero turn mower. 

 

Now that we've got EJ back, he will be put to use developing and maintaining the new acreage we have.  The brakes on this tractor were never very effective.  They are not any better now.  Since our new property has much more contour than our old property did, going through them will be first on the to do list.  There are a couple of items in the fuel system that need attention and some clean up in the wiring is also needed.   The hydraulics work, but improvements are needed.  I expect to have to rebuild the lift cylinder.  I've also found instructions on the internet to add a hydraulic pump and plumbing to provide live hydraulics - a desirable feature when using a brush hog.

 

I plan to post more in this thread as I work on the tractor.  However, EJ is in storage in Kentucky and we are sheltering in place in Missouri until the Covid 19 situation gets sorted out.  I expect that it will be this fall before we will get the opportunity to get back to Kentucky to re-activate our big project there.

 

[oliver2-44 9,729]

Looking forward to hearing more.  8N's are good general workers.  

3 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

 

 

I've also found instructions on the internet to add a hydraulic pump and plumbing to provide live hydraulics - a desirable feature when using a brush hog.

@8ntruck Since the tractor has an internal pump to operate the 3 point lift cylinder, I'm curious as to what you would use "live hydraulics" for with a Bush Hog? 

[8ntruck 6,998]

17 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Looking forward to hearing more.  8N's are good general workers.  

@8ntruck Since the tractor has an internal pump to operate the 3 point lift cylinder, I'm curious as to what you would use "live hydraulics" for with a Bush Hog? 

On the 8N, the PTO output shaft runs the hydraulic pump.  So, if there is a powered implement, that implement will be running while the 3 point is used to lift it - not something I consider safe to do when a bush hog is attached.

 

Adding a small hydraulic pump powered by the fan belt and connecting it into the pressure test port of the hydraulic system will allow the lift to operate without engaging the PTO.

[Cvans 1,009]

I like and own old Ford tractors. Yours looks like a dandy. 

If you don't have an overrun clutch for your tractors PTO it would be a wise investment. This will prevent the rotating brush hog from driving your tractor forward when you push in the clutch. Can be a real safety issue when operating on uneven ground or near other objects. 

https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/S23639_Overrun-Coupler-with-Quick-Release_28714.htm

Utility tractors are a lot of fun to own and use. 

 

Edited April 9, 2020 by Cvans

[8ntruck 6,998]

Yup. There is an over run clutch on the PTO.  After I read about somebody else's experience with the 'flywheel drive' effect of a bush hog coasting down driving them into the corner of their barn, I decided that an over running clutch would be money well spent.

 

After all, you gain knowledge from your own mistakes and wisdom from others mistakes.  I chase wisdom in this case.

[ebinmaine 67,419]

I'll be here following alone. Neat tractor.

[82Caddy 851]

My dad has had the same 8N since 1950 something, his dad bought it new.  It's had a few overhauls and now a completely different block.  It's a great machine for what it is and used within it's limits.  Simple, easy to work on and parts are at just about every store you'd think to look at.  He still uses it on occasion but it's been replaced by something from this decade with all the fancy comforts (cab/heat/ac etc) that he wants.  There's just something about the simplistic nature of that machine that everyone loves it.

[bc.gold 3,403]

Not far from me is I believe a Jubilee equipped with the half track, next time I'm over that way will take a few pictures showing how its attached.