48 Ford 8N

[Flyfishing1]

I just finished installing a custom power steering unit and a 6-12 conversion kit on my 48 Ford 8n and i also replaced the floor mounted starter button. That being said did i screw something up with the starter swicth cause now I can't get it in gear. It acts like the cluch isn't working, it just grinds and won't go into gear. PLZ,PLZ, Plz help. I need this thing back on the farm last week. TIA

 

[wore out]

I just finished installing a custom power steering unit and a 6-12 conversion kit on my 48 Ford 8n and i also replaced the floor mounted starter button. That being said did i screw something up with the starter swicth cause now I can't get it in gear. It acts like the cluch isn't working, it just grinds and won't go into gear. PLZ,PLZ, Plz help. I need this thing back on the farm last week. TIA

Your tractor has the symptoms of a sticking or rusted up clutch.

How long since the tractor was last working properly/how long was it laid up without running and being driven while you did your upgrades?

 

[Flyfishing1]

Your tractor has the symptoms of a sticking or rusted up clutch.

How long since the tractor was last working properly/how long was it laid up without running and being driven while you did your upgrades?

It's been awhile but it's also been in the barn.

 

[Flyfishing1]

It's been awhile but it's also been in the barn.

If that might be the case, how to unstick it?

 

[Eman85]

Will it shift with the engine off? If the clutch is stuck you could try blocking the pedal down for a while and see if it frees up. All of the other methods involve many ounces of precaution as they involve starting the tractor in gear with the clutch down in hopes lugging it will break it free. Of course this means the tractor will not stop on it's own if the clutch doesn't free itself.

 

[8NChris]

I just finished installing a custom power steering unit and a 6-12 conversion kit on my 48 Ford 8n and i also replaced the floor mounted starter button. That being said did i screw something up with the starter swicth cause now I can't get it in gear. It acts like the cluch isn't working, it just grinds and won't go into gear. PLZ,PLZ, Plz help. I need this thing back on the farm last week. TIA

If you have access put square bailer behind it, that should break the clutch loose. Seems it was a JD 328 we used once behind Grandpa's 9N. The bogging down and thrusting forward every time the arm cylced should break a rusted clutch loose.

 

[Flyfishing1]

Don't have one. Put it in 3rd like suggested and then trid in 1st, 2nd, & 4th and it's still stuck. What to do now?

 

[Eman85]

Don't have one. Put it in 3rd like suggested and then trid in 1st, 2nd, & 4th and it's still stuck. What to do now?

Let's have all of what you did. You put it in all of those gears with the tractor running and drove it around with the clutch blocked down and lugging it down?

 

[Flyfishing1]

Can't start this tractor in gear. It's a safety feature. But on this forum I had multiple people say to put it in 3rd gear and pull it around. I did that and also in 1st, 2nd, & 4th.

 

[Jim L WA]

Understand the safety issue. What I and others have done, is clip on a jumper wire to the start lug on the solenoid and while sitting on the tractor, touch the end of that wire to a ground point. If you start to get into any kind of trouble, just turn the key off.

 

[JMOR]

Can't start this tractor in gear. It's a safety feature. But on this forum I had multiple people say to put it in 3rd gear and pull it around. I did that and also in 1st, 2nd, & 4th.

Sure you can....just use a screwdriver to short the connection to the starter switch to ground, be careful when it takes off!

 

[Flyfishing1]

Sure you can....just use a screwdriver to short the connection to the starter switch to ground, be careful when it takes off!

Ok, thx

 

[Flyfishing1]

Understand the safety issue. What I and others have done, is clip on a jumper wire to the start lug on the solenoid and while sitting on the tractor, touch the end of that wire to a ground point. If you start to get into any kind of trouble, just turn the key off.

Ok, thx.

 

[Roger in Iowa]

Ok, thx.

Clutch pedal has to be depressed or tied down when trying to get it to free up!

 

[Eman85]

Be sure someone else is around if you decide to do this. This is all outside the lines of safety and knowledgeable people get injured and killed on tractors!
Think BEFORE you do this, the tractor will not stop when you start it in gear with a stuck clutch. If your brakes aren't good you won't be able to stall it you have to react to shut it off. Some have had success spraying brakekleen or some solvents into the bellhousing to help free the clutch. In my younger days I've run one into a tree pushing against it with the clutch pedal down to release it. This is all at your own risk and your results may vary.

 

[Mad Farmer]

Mine was sticking for a long time. Sometimes all of a sudden when driving it, but I could get it free bouncing the clutch a few times with a load or trying to lift a heavy implement. Sometimes it was scary if you needed to stop, had to shut it off.

After abusing the clutch a bit to make sure it was free, I took the advice here and tied the clutch down when not in use. That seems to have cured it. Actually, I hang a cinder block off the clutch pedal.

Any type of starting while in gear is dam dangerous. That's why all the Ns and many others had lockouts.

I could always break it free stopped, if I had a heavy implement on it with PTO engaged, dropped the implement same time I bounced the clutch pedal and raised the lift.

 

[zuhnc]

What causes so many stuck clutches? I have had my 1951 8N for five years, now, and never experienced any type of sticking, even if left sitting for a couple of weeks. Lucky, environmental conditions, what? zuhnc

 

[HCooke]

Leaking oil onto clutch disk.

 

[Caryc]

Leaking oil onto clutch disk.

How would oil cause it to stick? I can see how oil would make it slip but how does it make it stick?

 

[Jim L WA]

What causes so many stuck clutches? I have had my 1951 8N for five years, now, and never experienced any type of sticking, even if left sitting for a couple of weeks. Lucky, environmental conditions, what? zuhn

In the case of my NAA several years ago, I'm pretty sure it was worn brake shaft bushings that were allowing moisture get in the clutch housing. Then of course there's condensation too.