1939 Ford 9N won’t start(video)

[HWright88]

Hello there!

Looking for some assistance on this 1939 Ford 9n and why it won’t start…. Any suggestions.

Thank you!

 

[markdtn]

That's not "not turning over". That is not starting. Is it getting spark? If it is, is it getting fuel? Probably 1 of those 2 things.

 

[Eman85]

Check for spark and do a fuel flow test. Remove a spark plug and see if it is wet or dry, dry with spark means not getting fuel wet usually indicates no spark or operator error with choke.
When was the last time it ran?

 

[DanielW]

It does sound like it gives a couple of coughs/kicks in there. So I'd guess it has spark in some capacity, but that doesn't really tell you much. If it does have spark, I'd start with fuel flow test at carb bowl (pull drain plug and watch for 30 seconds to see if you have a consistent, steady stream). If good flow, then perhaps carb rebuild (they're very easy & cheap to rebuild), then move onto timing and ignition components (a bad condenser will often still allow spark, but not correctly timed and it will act like that).

At a very rough guess, I'd suspect a fuel-related problem. But a little more history on it would help folks here diagnose. Was it running before? How long ago? Any work done to the carb/fuel system? Any work done to the ignition? If it was previously running and not now, was there anything that was changed? Or is this a new (to you) tractor that was never running?

 

[Jim L WA]

That's not "not turning over". That is not starting. Is it getting spark? If it is, is it getting fuel? Probably 1 of those 2 things.

Where did he say it wasn't turning over?

 

[HWright88]

Where did he say it wasn't turning over?

I originally said that and edited it. I thought it wasn’t turning over but it’s just not starting

 

[HWright88]

Check for spark and do a fuel flow test. Remove a spark plug and see if it is wet or dry, dry with spark means not getting fuel wet usually indicates no spark or operator error with choke.
When was the last time it ran?

It ran about a year ago. We didn’t run it last year due to it needing a new head gasket but that was replaced. The radiator, spark plugs, and starter were also replaced

 

[HWright88]

It does sound like it gives a couple of coughs/kicks in there. So I'd guess it has spark in some capacity, but that doesn't really tell you much. If it does have spark, I'd start with fuel flow test at carb bowl (pull drain plug and watch for 30 seconds to see if you have a consistent, steady stream). If good flow, then perhaps carb rebuild (they're very easy & cheap to rebuild), then move onto timing and ignition components (a bad condenser will often still allow spark, but not correctly timed and it will act like that).

At a very rough guess, I'd suspect a fuel-related problem. But a little more history on it would help folks here diagnose. Was it running before? How long ago? Any work done to the carb/fuel system? Any work done to the ignition? If it was previously running and not now, was there anything that was changed? Or is this a new (to you) tractor that was never running?

It ran about a year ago. We didn’t run it last year due to it needing a new head gasket but that was replaced. The radiator, spark plugs, and starter were also replaced

 

[Jim L WA]

I originally said that and edited it. I thought it wasn’t turning over but it’s just not starting

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought, maybe my eyes were going bad

 

[DanielW]

It ran about a year ago. We didn’t run it last year due to it needing a new head gasket but that was replaced. The radiator, spark plugs, and starter were also replaced

It might then be as simple as old gas in the carb causing a sticking needle valve or gumming up the jets. Not uncommon in tractors that have been sitting. I'd start with the carb drain test, then maybe a carb cleaning (depending on what the drain test shows). Did you have the distributor apart or the plug wires off the dizzy while you were working at it? Easy to mix up the plug wire order on those front-mount N's if you're not careful. The cap most likely has the plug numbers on the front of it - make uber sure that they match the correct plugs on the engine. Sometimes hard to tell what lead goes to which plug inside that tube.

 

[Gary(Stoneboro)]

Hello there!

Looking for some assistance on this 1939 Ford 9n and why it won’t start…. Any suggestions.

Thank you!

Looks like a Ford 2N from mid 1944 to 1947, not a 1939 Ford 9N.

 

[Eman85]

A year of sitting step one drain every drop of fuel from the tractor and put fresh in. This will allow you to observe fuel flow and do a fuel flow test from the bottom of the carb. Also allow you to remove and clean all 3 factory filters. Be sure to drain the fuel bowl and be sure you get fresh fuel. Then before anything put a spark tester on it and check for spark, WITH A SPARK TESTER. Put new plugs in if all checks good after that. Always check for the dreaded human error as it sounds like it hasn't run since worked on.

 

[soaked]

Does anyone else hear
HW's video as having the fastest starter rpm of any N you have ever heard?

Maybe its just a battery charger jump assist being responsible for adding more amps?

Also hear a noise about 1/3 rd into the video, and a 2nd noise after the pinion gear on the starter was winding down. Not sure 1st noise is actually a cylinder firing.
The last one sounds like compression expelling, or exhaling, or ???

Suggest a compression test if spark and fuel ARE PROOVED to be good, and still no joy.

 

[MeanGene1]

I drug home a well-worn pair of 9Ns from a farm in Petaluma years ago, got them cheap so knew I couldn't lose. Started in on one, no spark, had to replace the coil, good. Cleaned carb, good. Turned over fine, no fire. Put some Seafoam in all cylinders, let it sit overnight- repeat. Tried her again, after a while, got a fidid... fadidid...fatidididid- and it slowly wheezed to life, smoked out the Seafoam and settled down to an even idle. Ran more Seafoam thru it, ran even better. After that, it would fire right up, not a strong runner as it was tired, but it did run and idle well, and didn't smoke. Once what was left of the rings got loosened up, it had enough compression to run. Just started in on the other one and someone came by and made me an offer, and saved me the trouble- but I have no doubt it would have run- probably another wheezer lol