Allis Chalmers wd, ca, or ford 9n

So, I am on the market for my first tractor. I have a 1 acre area that I would like to use the tractor to bush hog. I am weighing my options and would appreciate any help, being how I know very little. I am wanting an old Allis Chalmers and have a couple I am looking  at (1st is a CA with brush hog for 1k and the second is a WD for 650). The problem is I want something that has a 3 point hitch for versatility (all I need is a brush hog and snow plow), which is why I have considered a ford 9n. I am having a hard time finding snow blades for the Allis Chalmers is really the main reason I have not purchased them yet. Again I would really appreciate any advice guys. I am trying to get something cheap to get the job done in cutting the grass and plowing my drive, but something I could potentially restore one day. Thanks!

Keep in mind that the 9N ford is only 20 hp at the pto. The 8N and 9N hydraulic pump stops when you push in the clutch as does the pto. If you get a Ford, get an NAA (30 hp) or later model.

I have 5, Fords, 2 Ferguson 35's and 1 AC, D17. I love the D17 but, it's much larger and more expensive than you need and you can find more 3 point conversions on D17's.

There is a cottage industry of 8N's, you can get anything for them. My Fords are all 600 & 800's. You can get anything for them, also and they run a little more than a 8N but, not much. The 600 has more HP than a CA, the 800, a lot more. Ferguson and 8N, don't have live hydraulics (Ferg, dual clutch 35 Deluxe do). 6 & 800 are live Hyd but it takes a dual clutch for live PTO.

A CA is a great tractor and I hope to have one, before the year is over. I would put them on pare with the 600 Ford, with there lower gearing and live PTO but, as you know, a 3 point is almost invaluable.

Look for a CA with a 3 point or budget one in, if possible. Other than that, I would go with a 600.

I have a front mounted snowplow for sale that is an Allis Chalmers factory built unit for the narrow front CA tractors. I will be in eastern Ohio July 13th.

I really appreciate all the feedback guys. I think I just need to make the decision on going with the CA or WD. I really like how Big the wd is compared to the CA.

I am a big fan of WD's  they are easy to build your own three point hitch on.  A Ford 9n has only three speeds as said and as such a slow road speed.  Many other flaws in my opinion as well, the only thing going for them is the factory three point.  Keep us posted !!

I put a 3ph on one of my CA's and us a 6' finish mower on about 4 acres with it.  Not that hard to put one on the Allis, I bought the arms off ebay cheap and bought the bracket from one of the sites to mount the lift arms for $75.

WD all the way

We have a 1952 CA and WD. Either tractor would work well for your needs. The CA has a 6’ Woods belly mower on it and does a fantastic job of mowing. The hand clutch works pretty well for a 67 year old tractor but will need to be replaced if we would do any plowing as it would probably slip. The WD’s hand clutch is much heavier. Neither tractor has power steering which in my opinion is their only down fall. If you have hills get a wide front end for safety. My WD is a narrow front and caution must be used if using it on hills more so than a wide front end. Both have a lot power for their size and are fairly easy to work on due to their design. Parts are readily available. WD’s are easier and less expensive to come by due to the mass numbers that were produced. I paid $300 for WD, put $250 more in it and have a fine running machine. Perfect hay raking tractor which is why I wanted one. We have 3 point for the CA but not for the WD. Both are great tractors.

IMO, the best 'n-series' tractor is actually the Ferguson TO-35... but I wouldn't put it in the same competition category as a WD... there's just no comparison between a 120ci flathead and a 201ci OHV engine...

Steve at B&B can supply a new wiring harness.

There were two versions of the Ford 8N engine. The early ones used the distributor mounted on the front of the block like the 9N and 2N and late 30s vintage V-8 car engines. Hard to work on. The last year of the 8N used a side mounted distributor that is much easier to work on when needed.

The Ford N series PTO is driven by the intermediate shaft in the transmission so if a mower is spinning it will propel the tractor unless the overrunning clutch is added to the PTO connection. Without the overrunning clutch the tractors often run into trees, buildings, power poles, or over bank edges.

Gerald J.

If u buy the CA with bush hog mower on it .Ask the owner if they used the hand clutch with it . The hand clutch might be rusted fast . The WD hand clutch runs in oil .

x2 what Fred said. The hand clutch in the CA runs dry. Could be rusted together. Or it could be bolted together. In either case the cure is to remove the rhs axle housing, pull the clutch and rebuild it. Or it could be working but slipping....or it could be fine. Good idea to get as much information about it as possible.