'47 2N Project

Colin King · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:25 am Post subject: '47 2N Project

I spent the day in the shop working on the '47 2N project yesterday. After working on this in fits and starts since last fall, I've finally made some decent headway.

This was a beat up old tractor with a lot of previous owner modifications, including a badly cut hood, and 16" rims welded onto the hubs. The rims had 8.5" wide car tires - so wide that they nearly rubbed on the spindles. Some ugly welding on the fenders and a cut grill, too. But it also has a Sherman step-up and a rest-o-ride seat, and runs nicely.

I got the rims cut off the hubs, cleaned up the hubs and re-cut threads on the studs. I cut and welded patches for the sheet metal damage and cleaned the previous owner's paint job over what looked like a half century of grease. I've repaired a cracked front axle/engine mount and replaced king pin and bushing. The king pin bushing was so worn it is razor sharp. When I get into the shop next week I'll do the spindle bushings and bearings and finish my pre-paint prep work.

I straightened out the left side radius rod. However, after doing that, the radius rod is now too long...the main axle member is binding during it's travel, so I have to figure out what's going on there. This appears to have been a problem for a while. The previous king pin had been force out of the hole in the axle mount closest to the engine for so long that the pin was badly worn away.

Colin, MN

pconnie · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:35 am Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

I hope you are taking photos This sounds like a real major rebuild.

Bruce (VA) · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:24 am Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

Pictures! Pictures!

" the radius rod is now too long."

Some PO probably replaced it w/ the wrong length; the length changed over the years. Check John Smith's site for the different lengths.
75 Tips

Plane Bart · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:17 pm Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

Are you getting the new Bride to help you? LOL
Sounds like you are doing a Great job restoring more antique iron

Colin King · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

I've not been very good at the photos, but I'll post what I have.

Colin

Colin King · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

Holy buckets, Bruce! I measured the radius rods on the 2N at roughly 38-5/8" long and on the 50 8N sitting beside her at about 37" long. I'm still puzzled by this. I feel pretty confident that the 8N rods are original to that tractor, so the 2N rods must have been originally longer as well. Which makes me think that someone must have wrecked the front axle mount and replaced it with a later style from an 8N. The wear that I uncovered and the wide front car tires would suggest heavy loader use.

Was the front axle mounting changed that significantly between 2N and 8N?

Still puzzled in Minnesota...
Colin

Colin King · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

Haha! My bride will have the honor of helping me to dress the tractor in her new clothes. Smile

I can get the hood and tank on and off myself, but not without risk of scratching new paint. Having been through 2-1/2 seasons with us on the farm, she's pretty used to me coming and asking her for help on stuff. One of the first stories she heard from my family was my Grandmother telling her how my Grandfather asked Grandma to help him reshingle the barn. They'd been married for a year. I think that may have set the tone for life on a farm. But I'm also a lucky guy!

Colin, MN

Bruce (VA) · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

" Was the front axle mounting changed that significantly between 2N and 8N?"

I'm reasonably sure that the parts do not interchange. It's difficult to tell for sure just by looking at the parts catalog. They carry the same p/n, but a different model is specified.

Colin King · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

Just like the radius rods, which are the same pn with an alpha suffix added. Unfortunately, the parts manual does not seem to detail what the changes were between suffixes, which kind of leaves a guy guessing, or learning by trial and error which can be expensive.

Colin

Royse · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

Colin, I saw the pics you posted. Looking good!
I was just wondering now that you've straightened the radius rod, is it really too
long or is the front axle bent back from the previous abuse you mentioned?
Since they're curved it might be a little tougher, but it seems like you could check
the amount of rake by laying a straight edge across the front at a right angle?
Just a thought.

Colin King · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:20 am Post subject: Re: '47 2N Project

That's a really good thought! Thank you.

Colin

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