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Free information is often worth exactly what you paid for it. I have found a few trusted sources, but none of us is perfect. All information on this page is based solely on the most reliable sources available. Information published in actual FORD documents, such as the Ford Tractor Master Parts Catalogs, should obviously be more reliable than any books or urban legends circulating the web. Several of the antique tool dealers I have come in contact with have been useless. Like everything else, this is a work-in-progress and will continue to be updated as I find new (reliable) information or errors are pointed out to me. I do not have copies of ALL the Ford parts catalogs but everything stated on this page is true based on the parts catalogs and other documentation in my possession. A special Thank You ! to Mr. Don Barkley at just8ns.com, Mr. Tim Daley, and many others for taking the time to provide additional information and corrections. You will see many references in books and on the web for the Ford 7 Piece Tractor Tool Kit. You can even buy complete Ford 7 Piece Tractor Tool Kits on eBay. However, it might be surprising to learn that virtually NONE of the Ford N-Series tractors came with an official "7 Piece Tool Kit"! Some tractors may have been delivered with seven or more hand tools, but it seems to be a fact that none of the official Ford Tractor Master Parts Catalogs list a "7 Piece Tool Kit" by that name for any of the 1939-1952 tractors. There is an "optional" 4-piece Tool Kit listed as part number 17004 which included the Tool Bag (17005-A), two small Open end Wrenches (17015 & 17016), the Screwdriver (17020), and Pliers (17025-A). This Tool Kit is OPTIONAL, so it was not automatically furnished with all tractors. The earliest 9N Tractors seem to have been furnished with the most tools, but in the rush to production, some of the tools were taken from the current automobile tool kits.
According to all the official Ford Tractor Master Parts Catalogs that I have studied, all Ford N-Series Tractors after 1943 0r '44 should have come with a standard delivery "kit (tools)" part number 17003. The actual list of tools and accessories included in this kit included the Drawbar (5182), Drawbar Stays (5172 & 5173), Linch Pins (574), Locking Rings (575), Drawbar Safety Chain (5370), Hand Crank (17040) and at least two (2) hand tools. These tools were the Plow Wrench (17014), and Spark Plug-Cylinder Head Wrench (17017-B). In many cases the 17003 Kit also included the adjustable wrench (17021). I trust the expert source who gave me this information, but I do not have a copy of the parts list that shows it. Even if your tractor was furnished with the standard delivery kit of accessories and the optional Tool Kit, there may have only been six (6) hand tools. Again, none of the Ford Tractor Master Parts Catalogs in my collection show the Adjustable Wrench (17021-A) as being included in either of these kits but I have been told that this wrench was listed in kit 17003 in the 1946 parts list. Other optional items listed are the Tractor Jack (17078), Storm Cover (17049), and Tire Pump (17052). In 1949 two additional tools were added. These are for the new adjustable valve assemblies, RH and LH Tappet Wrenches (17045-A & 17046-A). Any of the optional tools and accessories may have been included in one of the other kits by some dealers, or could have been purchased separately. This is already confusing enough, but in spite of what the official parts lists indicate, original owners have reported that the actual tools and accessories furnished with their new tractors varied widely across the country. Based on these reports, some 8N tractors may have been furnished with only the plow wrench (17014)! Advertising and selling a "COMPLETE Ford 7 Piece Tractor Tool Kit" is not entirely wrong. For all 9N, 2N and 8N Ford Tractors, a complete set of standard plus optional hand tools will have a total of seven (7) HAND tools. A complete tool kit for the late 8N tractors could also include the tappet wrenches (17045-A & 17046-A). My research did not stop with the 8N but I had to draw the line somewhere and since my current tractor is a 1952 8N, that is where these web pages stop. WHERE TO FIND THE TOOLSIf even a partial tool kit was included when you bought your tractor, you are fortunate. Most of the tools usually ended up in somebody's toolbox. In most cases the only way to buy them now is as "Antique Ford Tools". It is up to you to be able to identify the correct "Tractor" tools. BUYER BEWARE! Just because the ad says "Ford Tractor Tools" does not make it true. If you are interested in putting together a set of these tools for your N-Series tractor, the information I have provided should help you identify the correct tools. There are of course, other web pages and other much more expert sources. Please keep in mind that my addiction to these tractors did not begin to take hold until late 2004. There are others who have lived with the addiction for much longer. I do not trust any of the old tool dealers that I have come in contact with so far. Oddly, that is where I have gotten most of my bad information. I am sure there are some knowledgeable old tool dealers or collectors out there, and I really would like to meet a few. When that happens, I will put links to them here. You can save a bunch of money by doing your own searching for old Ford tools locally. These tools can often be found on ebay as individual tools, in lots with other tools, and sometimes as complete "Ford Tractor Tool Sets", but BUYER BEWARE!! The condition of the tools offered for sale varies widely. LOTS of look-alike tools are often incorrectly advertised as "Ford Tractor Tools". The usual ebay winning bids seem to run about $10 to $20 plus shipping for individual tools, except for the screwdriver. A good screwdriver with a decent handle and a tip that has not been ground is hard to find for less than $50 plus shipping. Complete sets of seven tools usually go for at least $150 on ebay. I recently sold a complete set of the early Ford Script tools for almost $190! When the Ford N-Series Tractors were being manufactured, there was a lot of pressure to keep the selling price as low as possible. With the success of the automobile assembly line, it was only natural to incorporate current automobile parts and components into the new tractor wherever possible. The flathead engine assembly is one example. Some of the tools in these kits such as the Screwdriver, and Spark Plug-Cylinder Head Wrench were standard Ford items that were also found in the automobile tool kits. The Adjustable Wrench was different for the tractors since there was no need for the square tang on the end of the handle. For my opinions regarding the "GAS GUAGE" wrenge click THE FORD "GAS GUAGE" WRENCH LEGEND.
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