Gentlemen,
What started out in Early January as a little cleaning and some fresh paint has turned into a major project, not a complete original restoration as this will be a working tractor.
In trying to determine what "N" tractor I have has been a challenge. After finding this board and posting some questions and a serial number. The early indication was a 1942 2N wartime model, steel wheels, handcrank and all. In the process of taking parts off and cleaning and always looking for part and casting numbers (I think they are casting numbers?) have found I have a collection of various parts from different years and auto parts on tractor. This has led to looking at this boards achives and other sources of info about the early "N" tractors. This is some of what I have found. I hope this is correct and I am sure there are plenty of folks with the knowledge to correct and vastly expand this list, which is needed for new people just looking into these tractors.

1939 9N I-beam radius rods, hood side panels smooth, alum. hood, grille (Horizontal bars) and dash, starter on dash, 2 crease fenders
(Don't know how many rivets) Solid rear axle where bolts go through.
(can't see bolt shaft when installed), no freeze plug in block?, smooth rear hubs, spindle grease fittings forward, four spoke steering wheel.

1940 9N Starter/safety interlock, (I guess starter button moved from dash to front of shifter?), hinged battery/fuel cover, engine freeze plugs, 1 crease fenders, ( don't know how many rivets or bolts on fender), Steel hood, (was dash and grille alum?), Rivets in rear hub, (when did front hubs get flange brace on backside of hub?)

1941 9N Spindle grease fitting moved rearward, steel grille (vertical bars), 3 spoke steering wheel, no cover on spokes.

1942 9N/2N?? 10.0028 rear tires, holes in side panel

1943 9N/2N?? Radiator pressurized

1944 2N Radius rod to oval, Ford Seal beam replaced C.M. Hall

This is far as I have gotten as my interest at present is on one tractor.

With the creation of the N-History forum, which I think is great, and the recent posting of a service bulletin concerning serial numbers could change some minds on how close to original to restore one of these amazing machines. New folks, like myself need all the help and info we can get.

Having run off at the keyboard, too long, I have some questions?

Foot peg Part# 9N 3440, also has number C 1 0. Is C 1 0 a casting number? Other side has C 3 0, same question.

Mount (trans) Part# (n 3442, also has C 10 and C 3 0. Are these casting numbers?

Front hubs # 78-1106-01, also with 1217 and 1167, also stamped
M H? 1 and K HH? 2. what do these numbers mean? I think hubs are for Ford car as rims still have clips for hub caps.

Generator mounting bracket # 9N-10139-C, also B 1 0. What year is Gen. and is B 1 0 a casting number?

Finally, Will rust-oleum Professional Dark Machinery Grey look ok on a working tractor?

Thank you

Kenny (KY)

Hi,

I'm restoring a 2N. What color were they? I remember a blue grey color but the parts supplier say they were a dark grey. I bougth some of the paint and I describe it as a bronze grey.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob, paint is something that will always be talked about. On mine, 9N-516, I color matched some N.O.S. stuff that had not seen much light ever. I think I got close as I have never had anyone say they thought the paint was the wrong color, or they've just been nice. We tank cleaned, bead blasted and acid washed before applying the PPG acrylic enamel. The fenders and wheel centers were done several months prior to the chassis. I'm presently working on 9N-223 and will probably use base coat clear coat if I can stand that $800 a gallon price...Kelly

Bob,
Also in process of "rehab and preservation" effort on a 1942 9N/2N? As to the proper shade of dark gray paint I could not say. Click on the Registry forum in the menu bar at the top of page and look and these very great looking tractors. 1939 9n 9n516, 9N2624, 1940 9N 9N15015, 1941 9n 9N82001, 1945 2N 9N181520, 1946 2N 9N219472. (click on the blue names, on right of registry forum). Different shades and hues of gray paint and methods of applying. If you can find any original paint on your 2N, you could take a sample to a paint place and try and match the paint and mix paint for you. I found several original? paint patches on mine, big patch on underside of hood after gas tank removed, under seat bolt head and air cleaner. Cleaned those patches, but guess what, they even have different shades. Must have been painted on different days and out of different barrels of gray at the Ford plant. I am going to use dark machine gray by Rustoluem, like the shade, but its only in spray cans, but the good folks at Home Depot assure me they can mix a gallion to match, we'll see. Just8N's has paint and they are good folks to deal with. As usual I blabbed to long, hope this will help you. Now to the barn and the ever expanding mission creep on this great ole tractor. Good luck, Bob.

Kenny (KY)