8N Position Control Issue

[ashersp]

Hello all,

After scouring the internet and forums, I can't find anyone with the same issue as I have.

I have a 1952 8n w/ the Sherman auxiliary trans. I bought the tractor as a basket case with the 3pt assembly and hydraulic pump disassembled and left in the elements for an extended period of time. The proof meter is inoperable but shows 2,902 hours before it stopped working.

I rebuilt the hydraulic pump and replaced the piston, cylinder and cam follower on the top lid. I also set the two springs to the correct length.

My issue is that when in both draft and position control the touch control lever raises the implement at the top of its travel and will hold it but as the touch control lever is lowered the implement will drop and not maintain position. I suspect this is similar to how it would operate in draft control?

I have verified there is no leakage at the cylinder by opening the side cover. The 3pt will hold a heavy brush cutter for an extended time with the tractor shut off as well. So long as the touch control is left at the top of its travel.

There was a lot of wear/slop in the linkages inside the top cover, I assume this is where the problem lies but I would much appreciate what component(s) in particular would cause this issue or what specific adjustments I need to make.

I greatly appreciate any feedback.

Thanks,
Asher

 

[soaked]

Hi Asher,
"My issue is that when in both draft and position control the touch control lever raises the implement at the top of its travel and will hold it but as the touch control lever is lowered the implement will drop and not maintain position. I suspect this is similar to how it would operate in draft control?"

In position control on a good 8n, with lift at the bottom, it should start raising after moving the handle up about 2."
Each inch of handle increase, should translate to a small raise on the lift.
It should work the same coming back down.

Does the position/draft lever stay at 12 o'clock, or does it fall to 1 or 2 o'clock, or lower?

If yes, does holding it vertically give position control-----where the lift maintains instead of dropping?

 

[ashersp]

Hi Asher,
"My issue is that when in both draft and position control the touch control lever raises the implement at the top of its travel and will hold it but as the touch control lever is lowered the implement will drop and not maintain position. I suspect this is similar to how it would operate in draft control?"

In position control on a good 8n, with lift at the bottom, it should start raising after moving the handle up about 2."
Each inch of handle increase, should translate to a small raise on the lift.
It should work the same coming back down.

Does the position/draft lever stay at 12 o'clock, or does it fall to 1 or 2 o'clock, or lower?

If yes, does holding it vertically give position control-----where the lift maintains instead of dropping?

Soaked,
Thank you for the reply. The selector has positive engagement at both vertical and horizontal positions. The touch control also reacts the same in either position.

 

[soaked]

On my 52 8n, in Draft Mode , with arms low, there is no movement until touch handle is ~3/4 inch from the top of the quadrant, then the arms lift all the way up. Moving the touch handle back down just a bit, and the arms drop all the way down. This is just sitting still, with a draw bar pinned on.
Is yours in draft mode all the time?

 

[ashersp]

On my 52 8n, in Draft Mode , with arms low, there is no movement until touch handle is ~3/4 inch from the top of the quadrant, then the arms lift all the way up. Moving the touch handle back down just a bit, and the arms drop all the way down. This is just sitting still, with a draw bar pinned on.
Is yours in draft mode all the time?

Yes it operates exactly like that all the time, regardless of the draft/position control selector.

 

[soaked]

So its acting like draft mode when the selector lever is verticle.
Do you have the owners manual, and FO-4 shop manual?
Here is first 8n owners manual position control info

Apparently pivot point "C" isn't moving back to the left, so point "E" is not going to neutral, so fluid keeps draining back down.

How sure are you of correct reassemble of the top cover parts?

Did you take pics of the springs/linkages when changing the cam follower pin?

Was the cam on the lift arm worn badly?

 

[soaked]

Suggest mark the arms full up, and full lower positions on the top cover. Then check like this with arms on fully lower mark.

Using info from JMOR (RIP) and Ed P. In this thread-- (click on it.)

O

Thread 'Hydraulic Lift Worn Parts'

Jul 2, 2020

So, I pulled my top cover tonight to put in a new lift cylinder and as expected I found other issues.

The lift cylinder was the old 3 ring type and I already have a new style piston and cylinder so no problem with this.

The lift arm shaft is loose and moves around so that means I need new lift arm shaft bushings. That seems straight forward.

The cam follower pin is worn I have one to replace it.

The cam is worn pretty badly so looks like I need a new lift ram arm. I can weld but not that good so just quicker and easier to replace it.

The control arm moves side to side...

• Orion231
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Ford 9N, 2N & 8N

Its how I adjusted the 52 a few years ago, and get almost instant arm movement from any touch handle change.
This method accounts for worn parts.

 

[ashersp]

Soaked, thank you for the replies. At this point I am leaning towards the cam block being worn to the point it is no longer makes contact with the new cam follower pin. Otherwise I may have an issue with the draft/position control selector not properly moving the linkage into position control mode. I remember not being able to make the cam follower pin make contact with the cam block when the top lid was off.

My question for the present is if shifting the quadrant control to the rear might take up the slop between the cam follower and cam block? I'm just thinking of any ways to get by without pulling the top lid again, although it is almost certainly a necessity.

Again, thank you for posting that excerpt of the manual.