[Ford-ferguson] 2N Ford Restore Saga

[Mike Sloane]

Gordon Hart wrote:
> My 2N is an early '47 and I have a fan blade for it that I bought off
> eBay. This fan's blades are rounded on the ends more than the normal
> fans. I have heard that this type blade was used only on 1939 9N's.
I suppose anything is possible, but I have not seen any reference to the 
shape of the ends of fan blades in any books I have.

> Can anyone confirm that fan blades for a 1939 were unique?
You have to remember that Ford used any parts it could find from current 
production cars and trucks, so if they already had a pile of one or 
another kind of fan that would match the fan on the tractor, they would 
use it.

> BTW is the
> correct one for my tractor a puller or pusher? 4 or 6 blades?
Ford offered a 4 blade "pusher" fan as a dealer accessory for owners who 
were getting problems with chaff clogging the radiator while using grain 
cutting implements. So either a "puller" or a "pusher" would be 
"correct". I am not aware of a 6 blade fan for an N, but I can't see why 
that might not have been offered as an "after market" option for 
increased cooling in hot climates. I don't think that you should be all 
that concerned about what is "correct" for an old tractor - owners 
applied all kinds of modifications and accessories over the years, as 
suited their needs, wants, and whims. On my 2N, there is a lever bolted 
to the left brake pedal rod that permits the operator to apply the brake 
when the clutch is depressed. Judging from the history of the tractor 
and its appearance, I am guessing that it was installed some time 
shortly after the tractor was purchased. 
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/1946_ford_2n/2n_brake1.html> It also 
has a Howard two speed rear end and a Sherman auxiliary transmission 
that were likely have also been on for most of the tractor's existence. 
Are those "correct"? Do I care? Does anyone care? Does it matter?
> 
> Question number two is in some parts/operators/service manuals it
> appears that the oil breather cap might have been painted black can
> anyone confirm that?
Again, the 2N was produced during WWII, and material shortages created 
many situations that one might find unusual today. While, as far as I 
know, the entire tractor, except for the steering wheel, 
distributor/coil, tires, lights, instruments, etc. were painted dark 
gray, I can well imagine that Ford might have received some components, 
that were sourced from other manufacturers, and they came already 
painted black. The breather cap was pretty much universal in its day and 
could have also been used on truck or military engines being produced by 
Ford. Under the conditions of the time, the company wouldn't waste any 
time or money repainting those pieces.
> 
> How about the starter and generator's color?
I think confusion over this might have a very simple explanation: If an 
owner purchased a replacement generator or starter for their Ford N, the 
new or rebuilt one was almost always painted black. So it would not be 
at all unusual to find tractors that were all gray, except for those two 
  components. One of the problems with the 9N/2N was that the generator 
cut-out was prone to sticking, resulting in a burned up generator. So a 
LOT of those tractors ended up with replacement generators. And the 
original starter motors had starter drive problems which would result in 
the replacement of the starters, even if the motor itself was still OK.

I have seen black starters and generators on every brand of antique 
tractor - IH, JD, AC, Ford, Ferguson, Oliver, MM, etc., etc.

Its YOUR tractor, Gordon, do with it whatever you think is right - and 
to hell with the "correct police". Just keep it safe.

Of course, that is just my own opinion, and worth exactly what you paid 
for it. :-)

Mike
> 
> Gordon