The Ford-Ferguson has always been a subject of interest to me and I’ve read a great deal about it. Although these articles were very informative I still couldn’t exactly tell the difference between a 9N and a 2N, so I decided to gather some information and classify all the changes by year of production. I hope this article will be of interest for some members and if there is something wrong/missing please do correct me!
The reason to introduce the 2N was World War II, by designating a new model Ford was able to bypass wartime restrictions and raise the price. The 2N had some component changes due to wartime shortages like the battery and alternator which were eliminated and replaced by a magneto and hand-crank start. Also, steel wheels became standard equipment. Luckily the great Harry Ferguson was able to convince the government that tractors were as important on the farm as war products to the army. This meant that tractors could soon be fitted with rubber tires and electric equipment again.
There is no 2N prefix on the serial numbers, all 2N tractors retained the 9N prefix. There were a couple of variations of the prefix; 9NAN was for kerosene burning tractors, 9NBN for industrial tractors and BN025 and BN040 was used for MotoTug tractors.
Harry Ferguson with his hands on his hips standing next to Henry Ford.
The first year of production was 1939, models of this year are characterised by a cast aluminium grill with horizontal slots. The mudguards had two ribs and the tinwork was fitted on the mudguard bracket only using rivets. Apparently only the first 700 9N’s were fitted with a cast aluminium bonnet, these bonnets are often sanded back to bare aluminium and polished by enthusiasts. The generator fitted is a 2-brush model.
,em.The early mudguard showing the two ribs and the rivet fixings.
In 1940 the double rib mudguards are replaced by single rib mudguards. The engine block is now provided with freeze out plugs which wasn’t the case in 1939. The ignition key switch is switched from t he right to the left side of the dash. The 2 brush generator is replaced by a 3-brush type. The third brush on this type of generator is connected to the field winding of the dynamo, the other end of the field winding is connected to a switch which can he adjusted (by inserting or removing resistance) to give ‘low’ or ‘high’ charge. This switch was sometimes combined with the vehicle’s light switch so that switching on the headlights simultaneously put the dynamo in high charge mode). The battery lid is changed from clip held to hinged.
The three variations of steering wheels used.
In 1941, the last year of production of the 9N, a new steering wheel with three covered spokes instead of four is introduced. The grill is replaced by a steel model with vertical spokes to replace the aluminium grill with horizontal spokes.
The smooth centre rear axle.
The ‘smooth axle’ is replaced by a stronger two piece riveted axle hub around serial number 9N4l500. A wider 10×28″ rear tyre and wheel was offered as an option to replace the standard Xx32″ rear tyres. The ignition switch is relocated again but this time on the steering column. The starter button is switched from the left side of the dash to a spol in front of the gear lever and acts as a safely device to prevent from starting in gear.
1942 is the beginning of the 2N production, parts left over from (he 9N are used up on the 2N. The steering whee is changed to a 3-spoked wheel with exposed metal spokes. A final change is made to the grill which now has a slotted centre bar.
The holes in the rear axle housing to bolt on the mudguards are no longer solid but they are opened up to create an upper and lower hole, I imagine it was to reduce costs? A new front axle/radiator support replaces the earlier cast iron support and the bonnet side panels are modified to have a mounting bolt accessible from the outside. Last but not least the Ford badge on the bonnet has an engraved 2N on the lower edge and all items that used to be chrome plated are now painted due to war restrictions.
The early type grill.
The later type grill.
The earlier bonnet with internal side panel mounting bolts.
The later bonnet with mounting bolt accessible from the outside.
From 1943 onwards very little changes are made until 1947, the only changes made this year is a pressurised radiator and 8×32” inch rear tyres were discontinued.
In 1944 the transmission input shaft is modified to have helical cut gears and the I-beam radius rods replaced by oval rods.
Heavier rear axle housings were introduced in mid-1945 and they were again strengthened in 1946. These were the only changes made in 1945-46.
Finally in the last year of production of the 2N (1947) a casting number and date is added.
Francois Polain: Published in Journal No.84 Winter 2016/17
