The Ford model 8N, known to tractor-heads everywhere as the 'Redbelly,' was the last in the line of revolutionary N-series farm tractors produced by the Ford Motor Company. It was the latest set of improvements on a brilliant design which had been in production for almost 10 years. Unlike its older siblings the 9N and 2N, which were painted in battleship gray, the 8N featured a new, attractive color scheme with bright red body and light gray sheet metal. The Ford logo was also boldly emblazoned on both sides of the hood and on both fenders, marking a severance in the partnership between the Ford Motor Company and Harry Ferguson, and proudly displaying the fact that Ford was now in complete control of its own tractor division.
Immediately following the break-up with Ford, Ferguson started his own tractor company and launched his own tractor, the TO-20, which looked suspiciously like the 2N. Because Ford continued producing tractors which contained his System - the revolutionary hydraulic three-point hitch with Automatic Draft Control - Ferguson also launched a massive lawsuit against Ford, charging them with patent infringment on a design which was, most definitely, Harry Ferguson's. The Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford himself were both in failing health and indeed, Ford's grandson Henry II, to whom Ford released control of the company in 1946 said, "This company is not dying, it's already dead." (Ferguson did win the suit, but was only awarded a fraction of the amount for which he sued the Ford Motor Company.)
It was out of these trying times that the 8N arose, bearing many changes (to items such as the hydraulic system's pump) intended to circumvent the Ferguson patents. In the hands of Ford's capable engineers, however, the great machine that was the Ford-Ferguson tractor could only be improved upon. Changes in almost every aspect made The Ford Tractor a more flexible and user-friendly machine than ever before.
I'm not sure exactly when I got interested in Ford tractors (and 8Ns especially,) but when I did, I remember feeling like I just wouldn't be happy until our family owned one. Early in the summer of 2004, Dad and I looked at an 8N that was only about a minute from our house, but the prospect of buying it seemed doubtful. On May 16th, my birthday, Dad and I had a violin group lesson to attend, and when we returned, we found the driveway full of cars, the front yard full of people, and in middle, with a pinwheel duct-taped to her nose, (disgraceful!) a 1952 Ford 8N! Though it belongs as much to my whole family as it does to me, needless to say, it's the best birthday surprize I've ever got or probably ever will get. Below is a picture of me on the tractor for the first time.
In early spring of 2005, a bearing in the steering box gave out, rendering the tractor unusable. The steering wheel and worm shaft would just screw right up out of the housing when turned. So, we made some space in the garage, and with the service manual close at hand, started to disassemble the tractor. I got my first close look under the hood of a Ford 8N. After a few weekends of work and a few trips to the local tractor dealer's (they rebuilt the steering mech and installed the new bearing,) the steering was tight as new! Here is a photo of the 8N with the hood off. The steering mechanism is also missing (the picture must've been taken when we were preparing to reinstall it.)
For the past five years, the 8N has run like a champion and well earned its keep. It's had a couple oil changes, a new set of spark-plugs, and a new rear tire. We've used it for plowing, disking, snow-moving, brush-hogging, pulling fence posts, rescuing cars, vans and the neighbor's John Deere tractors that get stuck in the mud, and more.
Inspired by lots of pictures and other folks' tractors that I've seen, I'd like to begin restoring our 8N - this fall, if possible. When I first thought about restoring, I thought just a paint job would be sufficient (my Red-Belly looks more like a Dirty-Belly with all the paint flaking off.) But recently, the exhaust manifold gasket developed a leak, compression has not been that great, and so I began looking a little deeper. As far as engine work goes, it's probably going to need a set of piston rings at the least. The grille has a big section torched out of it at the bottom (hidden by the bumper,) so a new grille is probably in order. The hood has a lot of dents that need to be hammered out, and I'd like to replace that funky aftermarket seat and bumper with regular OEM ones. It also needs new wiring and some electrical parts as well. I'm intending to hook up sometime soon with a restorer/collector acquaintance of mine and ask his opinion, but until then, here's the status quo:
Homeward... | Tables | Clickable US Map | My First Page | My Favorite Things | My Email Address