Heartbeat of America

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History

The N series tractors produced by the Ford Motor Company were Henry Ford's vision to make a highly reliable and stout platform that's affordable for farmers and easy to work on in the field. The N series spaned from 1939 up to 1952 with the 9N, 2N, and 8N tractors. The N series was the first American made tractor to use the Harry Ferguson 3 point hitch which is still in use in modern tractors.

9N & 2N
The 9N tractor was the first of the N series and was ment to be a simple yet elegant tractor for uses on smaller farms. Among being the first American tractors to have a Ferguson 3 point, it also incorporates a rear Power Take Off unit (PTO) which was the first of its kind. PTO's are a way of powering whatever your carrying off the 3 point by the tractors engine instead of having it run off the equipments own wheels. Examples that often use a PTO are a typical brush hog mower.

Each 9N was made in a dark Grey color and had no running boards like the later 8N and instead had foot pegs. Another stark difference is the brake and clutch pedal arrangements. 9Ns and 2Ns had the brake pedals on their respective side of the tractor and a clutch on the left side while the 8N had the brake pedals on the right side and the clutch on the left.

The 2N was first made in 1942 and is relatively similar to the 9N but was made simpler with the resource restrictions from the 2nd World War. Improvements to the 2N were minimal but an improved radiator fan and a pressurized radiator were now standard. With the War time restrictions batteries were not allowed on the 2N so a Magneto system was added and had to be started with a hand crank. Some 2Ns also came with steel wheels but by the end of the war rubber tires would replace them.

The 8N
The 8N officially started production in 1947 and was a stark difference to the earlier models. The 8N tractor came with an improved 4 speed transmission and an improved 3 point system after the exit of Ferguson as a partner. The 8Ns improvements were an aid to farmers with an added position control setting which earlier Ferguson 3 points did not have and also doubled as a way to get around the original patent by Ferguson. The addition of the position control helped keep the implement at an even setting compared to a Ferguson style which would flex to soil conditions.

The biggest draw back of the new 8N tractor was the PTO unit. A Live PTO was not in place and if used with a brush hog which stored energy in the blades, it would serge the transmission when the clutch was disengaged which wouldn't stop until the implement ran out of energy. The way to get around it was with the addition of a breakaway coupler which would disengage the PTO when stopped so it wouldn't serge.

8Ns went on to become on of the best selling tractors in the US with over 500,000 being sold. The 8N was starkly different to the earlier models which can be helped with the change of management at ford allowing the tractors to have a much nicer and brighter appearance with the light grey cowling and red body. The implement of running boards and the improved braking system helped it stand out from the older 9N and 2N models and helped signify a new direction within ford. Key differences between the early 8Ns and later 8Ns are a side mounted distributor on newer models and proofmeter which was a speedometer/tachometer/hour meter.

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Craft features

• fully accurate simpler body with accurate detailing, with access hatch on top (next version will have slightly more detailed body with raised ford logo on front cowling and rear fenders, and a front bumper)

• fully modeled engine with bolt detailing, spark plugs, distributor, coil, pulleys and belts, oil filter, intake and exhaust, carburetor, and fuel system complete with fuel bowl and line into carburetor

• fully modeled transmission and differential with a working transmission system, bolt detailing, starter, clutch and modeled linkage, with modeled dipstick, PTO engagement lever, and brakes with linkage

• fully modeled front axles with working separation and articulation, working steering, and custom rims

• fully detailed Ferguson 3 point hitch with position lever, and hand crank operated twist

• fully detailed dash with proofmeter, amp gauge, and oil pressure gauge, steering wheel, shifter and foot starter switch, and seat

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controls

Yaw- Steer
Roll- Brake steer
Brakes normal
VTOL up + Ag8- 3 point movement
VTOL down + button on front axles or dash- front axle adjustment
Trim up + button next to hand crank on right side 3 point arm- three point twist
Trim down- throttle
Ag1- ag5- Gears
Ag7- clutch
Button next to shifter- starter

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How To Opperate

Instructions also in game

Starting sequence

step 1. trim down and hit button next to shifter

step 2. select gear with ag 1-5 and click ag7 for the clutch and you should be moving

gear speeds
ag1- 4mph
ag2- 6mph
ag3- 9mph
ag4- 20mph
ag5- reverse at 4mph

3 point hitch system

VTOL up and ag8 opperate your 3 point. if wanting to change axle position please turn off ag8 to keep current 3 point height. on right side of 3 point there is a hand crank, on the left side of it is a switch that activates it, Trim up opperates the movment.

Axle separation

on the front of the axle on the outer most hole there is a button, hitting plus VTOL down opperates its movement in and out. deactivating the button keeps current position

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Gallery

Brake System

Notice linkage in last two pictures. The brakes lever goes from the right side, through the bottom of the transmission, and through the clutch pedal to a linkage that moves the left brake

Clutch assembly

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Massive Thanks to Linus for his help making the Transmission coding and for testing, and to MrCOPTY for his help making the brake steer mechanism. Thanks bros!

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Builders note: I was first introduced to a ford 8N tractor thanks to Vice Grip Garage and thought it would be perfect for the agricultural challenge. The 8Ns are in my opinion some of the best looking tractors ever made and am so happy I was able to make on in sp with as many features as it has. Another version is going to be made eventually with added detailing such as raised ford logos on the cowling and bumper, working shifter, a front bumper, and possibly some equipment to go with it. I am so happy with how this thing turned out and I hope you enjoy driving it as much as I have making it.

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Keep Looking to the Stars