8N Newbie brake question

[Al King]

We have new neighbours who asked me to remove an old tractor that was back in their 50 acres. It turned out to be an 8N. It had about 2 inches of moss on it so it had been there for a while. They gave it to me and I stuck it in the back of one of my sheds. So for the heck of it, I checked it out. Engine was seized and I figured rust. But when I took it apart there was a seized main bearing, because the oil pump intake pipe fell off.
The rest of the engine is like new inside. Looks like either it was rebuilt or just never run much. Hour meter is rusted but shows 1200 hrs.
The brakes are not worn, the axles and bearings etc. look like new, except the brake shoes have a lot of oil on them. Seems to be a chronic 8N problem. It looks to me that once oil gets past the inner axle shaft seal
it serves no purpose. The tapered roller axle bearing is packed in grease so needs no further lubrication.
So why not drill a weep hole in the axle housing between the inner seal and the roller bearing. It would relieve the oil buildup before it leaked into the brake shoes.
Any comment?

 

[Den N Ms]

Al King, You state that. The tapered roller axle bearing is packed in wheel bearing grease so needs no further lubrication.

The tapered roller bearing receives it's lubrication from the differential.If the bearing was packed with wheel bearing grease whoever did that didn't know what they were doing.
A 8N is not like a 9/2 with like a Sure Seal added.

 

[mhb@ufe]

The late 8Ns have an inner and outer seal. One on each side of the bearing so it does require packing the bearing with grease on those later 8Ns.

Mark

 

[Den N Ms]

Mark,Yes you are correct,I forgot bout the later 8Ns with the two seals.

 

[Al King]

Thank's Mark, This is my first time working on an 8N so am no expert. But I have worked on lots of other machines. My 8N is a 1950 and it does have inner seals. I replaced the seals and they fit well on the axle shafts. It doesn't make sense to me to put an inner seal if you want gear lube to get to the roller bearing. So I drilled a hole in the bottom of the housing just after the inner seal. I did thread it for a 1/8th inch pipe plug
so can block it if I want. It will be interesting to see if any gear lube comes out.
This tractor will never see any serious use, it's just a hobby fixing stuff for me. It will end up in the storage barn along with the rest of my projects.

Al

 

[mhb@ufe]

That's an interesting concept, let us know how it works out for you. May not be much to update on though if the tractor doesn't get used.

Mark