I picked up an early 9N that had been sitting on some far off the road property for a long time and paid a small amount for it plus hauling it out. It appears in every way to be a 1939 tractor, except someone changed out the engine block to a 1950 8N. This is the only non original appearing piece. The tractor has smooth hubs, but 28" wheels. The fenders are dual ribs, the front axle is clearly original with front zerks and pretty perfect spindles and steering arms (not ever pounded on from the top). It has the original starter on the dash, but someone removed the power light. It has a dual hole Donaldson air cleaner that is complete and the engine has the original 9N oil pan (notched), oil filter canister, starter and the governor is an aluminum bodied non external lubricated unit (no A or B gen only a post 41 generator with cut out-which of course does not fit the original VR bolt pattern-but for $50 who can complain). The hood is a 39 with snap in cover and center fill fuel tank and the leveling block and arms look original-the left is a two piece (the lower yoke connection treads to the shaft)and it has the early PTO cover.It really is in pretty good shape and the sheet metal is all pretty straight, the tires are shot from sitting (mostly inside) for twenty plus years. Amazingly the original patent plate still has the printing in black and fully readable with little oxidation, but the steering wheel is a 2N unit.
The real puzzler to me is the transmission top plate which matches the dash (both aluminum), appears to be original, and has no starter switch or traces of one, but it has the dipstick for transmission oil. I thought this came later on tractors that featured the starter button on the transmission and had the hinged fuel cover on the hood. Was there a transition period where the level stick was added, but the snap in hood was still in use? Also when did 28"wheels begin in use?
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