Due to popular demand, we present the Ford Tractor N-Series Operator & Service Manuals here.

In 1947, Henry Ford II said goodbye and good riddance to Harry Ferguson and fired him from the Ford Motor Company that Harry and Henry Ford I formed with their famous 'handshake agreement' in 1938 to partner up and together produce the Ford 9N Tractor with Ferguson System. This paved the way for the introduction of the new Ford Model 8N Tractor, '8' being the designated number to denote model year, although the 8N tractor and the Dearborn implements actually began production in July, 1947. The Dearborn Motors Corporation, incorporated in 1947 also, would be the new distribution company of the Ford tractor and implement line to carry the Dearborn name. In addition to the new Ford Tractor, the first 8N operator and service manuals would also be released, and, as tractor production continued over a span of five years, engineering changes would require revisions to the manual, such as when the distibutor was moved to the right side from the front of the engine where it had been since its conception with the 9N Tractor. There were three 8N Operator Manuals, Form 3729, issued for the 1948 8N Tractor. They were released on July 7,1947; January 8, 1948; and August 18, 1948, and the 8N Service Manual was released on October 7, 1947. There was also a Maintenance and Operator's Manual for the 8NNN Industrial (stationary) Engine, Form IE 300-G-51.

The first Operator's Manual for the 8N Tractor was released on July 7, 1947. This coincided with the production of the 8N which also began in July, 1947. Note that the Model 8N is designated such as that the 8 signifies year of model release. Since 1947 already had the late 2N models, 1948 would introduce to the world the 'new, improved' Ford Tractor, with almost 50 engineering changes and thus, a completely new model. There would be three Operator Manuals for the first year, 1948. As 8N production ramped up over the coarse of the next five years, manual revisions would reflect the EC levels also. Interesting to note is that all the 8N operator manuals include a section on plowing with the Dearborn Plow in the last chapter. Always remember to be safe and read the manual first, especially if you are unfamiliar with the machinery. Enjoy and be safe.

OPERATOR'S MANUAL / 1948 FORD TRACTOR MODEL 8N -1ST EDITION, JULY 7, 1947---

JANUARY 8, 1948 EDITION, COVER-

AUGUST 18, 1948 E4DITION, COVER-

CHAPTER I DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATIONS -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/PART ONE, CHAPTER II, CONTROLS and OPERATION -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/ PART ONE, CHAPTER III, STORAGE -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/ PART TWO, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING, CHAPTER I -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/ PART TWO, CHAPTER II, TROUBLESHOOTING -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/ PART THREE, CHAPTER I, WHEELS, TIRES, AND BRAKES -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/ PART THREE, CHAPTER II,STEERING ASSEMBLY & FRONT AXLE -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/ PART THREE, CHAPTER III, ENGINE & CLUTCH -

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/PART THREE, CHAPTER IV, FUEL & EXHAUST SYSTEM and CHAPTER V, COOLING SYSTEM-

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/ PART THREE, CHAPTER V, COOLING SYSTEM-

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/PART THREE, CHAPTER VI, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND CHAPTER VII POWERTRAIN

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/PART THREE, CHAPTER VII, POWERTRAIN-

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/PART THREE, CHAPTER VIII, HYDRAULIC SYSTEM-

This is the last section in the 8N Operator's Manual. Please note that back on page 6 the opening paragraph under "Description" begins, "The Ford two-bottom plow tractor...". The N-Series Tractors were designed to pull a two-bottom plow, their primary job. It wasn't until the Hundred Series that a three bottom plow was introduced by Ford. The 8N will pull a three-bottom plow if the soil conditions are loose sand, but they are for all practical purposes a two-bottom plow tractor. This section is for the Dearborn Moldboard Plow, or often called the Prior Model. The Dearborn Economy Model plow was introduced in 1950 and had many design changes. This section only deals with the Prior Model. Also note that though similar in most design features, the Dearborn Moldboard Plow and the earlier Ferguson-Sherman Plow share some identical parts, this part of the 8N Manual only deals with the Dearborn Plow. The setup is different but the part on how to plow a field is good for any plow. Refer to the Ferguson Plow manual listed in our library for setup instructions. The Dearborn Moldboard (Prior Model) Plow came in three major Model numbers -Model 10-10 was a 10" two-bottom plow, Model 10-8 was a 12" two-bottom plow, Model 10-1 was a 14" two-bottom plow, and a 16" single bottom plow. Setup instructions only refer to these models as the cross-shaft is different on the later Economy Plow and the earlier Ferguson-Sherman Plow.

8N OPERATOR'S MANUAL/PART FOUR, PLOWING INSTRUCTIONS-