Ford 8 N Tractor

[lecrawford]

I have an 8 N tractor that runs good unless you are going up a hill, using the finish mower and putting any load on the tractor. It has been in the mechanic shop and they set the timing, new carburetor, new distributor (complete), new manifold, spark plugs and spark plug wires and none of this helped at all. We are at a loss as it runs great down the road, starts and idles good but when you put a load on it, it dogs down and will not perform. What else could be a problem as the mechanic is at a loss and so am I?

 

[showcrop]

Did they try turning the main jet out 1/4 turn?

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Sounds to me like you employed a parts changer, not a mechanic.

Each of those parts could have been confirmed as defective before they were replaced.

Ever check the compression?
75 Tips

 

[lecrawford]

Yes, I did try that and it did not change anything. Thank you though.

 

[lecrawford]

Yes they checked compression.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I'd suggest you take over the troubleshooting as they seem to be incapable of it.

6v or 12v?

Front or side distributor?


You need to start by checking spark and fuel. (see tip # 13)

You need to answer 2 questions before you do anything else:

With the bolt in the carb bowl removed and the gas on, will the fuel flow fill a pint jar in less than 2 minutes?

Next, get out your adjustable gap spark checker * , open the gap to 1/4", hook it up, turn the key on and crank the engine. Does the spark jump 1/4"? Post back with the answers.

And do not buy another new part for the tractor until you can answer this question: how do I know the part on the tractor is defective?

Once you narrow the problem to spark or fuel, post back and tell us what you found (and how you found it) and you will get plenty of help to get your tractor running.

And we won't charge you for our wrong guesses either.



* Don't own an adjustable gap spark checker? Buy one! Not a test light! Until then, take an old plug, open the gap 1/4" ground it to the head & look for spark. It?s not the color of the spark that counts; it?s the distance it jumps.
75 Tips

 

[Jim L WA]

How steep is the hill? What gear are you in?

 

[lecrawford]

I removed the bolt on the bottom of the carburetor, my wife turned the gas on and started timing the flow. It filled up a pint jar of gas in about a minute and 40 seconds. Steady stream all the time with no fluctuation in volume.

Then I took off spark plug number one and opened the gap one forth of an inch, placed it on the frame with the spark plug wire connected and watched for fire as my wife cranked it over. Great blue fire and lots of it. I gapped the plug back and placed it back in the tractor.

Both test showed good flow of fuel and nice spark.

 

[lecrawford]

Does it when there is a load on the mower. Like pulling a finish mower, climbing a hill etc.

 

[lecrawford]

Yes

 

[PatrickB]

Did you check the governor to see if it is working properly?

 

[lecrawford]

(quoted from post at 14:50:27 10/08/19) Did you check the governor to see if it is working properly?

Not yet, but I am going to tomorrow.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

Front Mount or Angle Mount distributor? 6V/POS GRN or 12V/NEG GRN? Why did you replace all those new parts? Were the old ones tested and found to be bad/not working? Did the tractor run fine til all the changes? If your "mechanic" doesn't know or won't fix the problem, find a new, trustworthy mechanic -one who KNOWS Ford Tractors, or, better yet, learn to do it yerself. Under a load, like an uphill drive, the governor should be kicking in to compensate -that's what it is for. A simple fuel flow test can determine if the carb operating correctly getting. Don't buy/replace any more 'new' parts -perform a true root cause problem solving method as with any problem. One system at a time. When fuel/carb is right, governor is right, next issue would be electrics, then compression. If N' ya wanna be an N owner, I highly suggest you get a copy of "75 Tips for N-Owners" from Bruce (VA) and get yerself copies of all the essential manuals -I/T FO-4, OP/OWNER MANUAL, 30-53 MPC, et al.

FORD 8N TRACTOR ESSENTIAL OWNER/OPERATOR/PARTS/SERVICE MANUALS:

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 17:08:43 10/08/19)

(quoted from post at 14:50:27 10/08/19) Did you check the governor to see if it is working properly?

Not yet, but I am going to tomorrow.

I agree having read all of the posts that it is looking like a governor issue. Governor problems usually tend to be in the linkage. Check that the throttle plate in the carb is connected to the governor and not the hand throttle.

 

[fusion]

I have a Ferguson TO-30 , several years ago I noticed it lost power and when I came to a grade using the brush mower it would bog down ,
I had a friend that was good at older tractors he came over one night he said start it up he stood there a for a few minutes and he said your exhaust is plugged
we got looking and here a critter filled the muffler up with corn and then the corn got wet and swelled plugging the exhaust.
not sure if that's your problem but loosen the pipe at the manifold and see if it changes .

 

[rgrimard]

ShowCrop...you might be able to help solve my 9N Govener problem as well. When I read your comment about the "Linkage problem" I'm not sure what you mean about the Carburator Connection. Any possible chance of you getting a Photo of that Connection on the Carb and Posting it here in this Topic??....that would be worth a Thousand words ....thank you ....Ron
MY Ford 9N is a 1941 vintage and I have not been able to get the Govener to kick in when hauling a large 8ft log I use the throttle for more power.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 12:04:22 10/12/19)
ShowCrop...you might be able to help solve my 9N Govener problem as well. When I read your comment about the "Linkage problem" I'm not sure what you mean about the Carburator Connection. Any possible chance of you getting a Photo of that Connection on the Carb and Posting it here in this Topic??....that would be worth a Thousand words ....thank you ....Ron
MY Ford 9N is a 1941 vintage and I have not been able to get the Govener to kick in when hauling a large 8ft log I use the throttle for more power.

I am sorry Ron but I don't have an N here to take a pic of but let me try to describe the two rods. Your throttle handle rod turns and goes down by your battery to the top of the cast iron bell housing. There it connects to a bell crank, where another rod connects in. This rod goes forward PAST the carburetor to the governor arm. The second rod also attaches to the governor arm and it runs back to the carburetor. This rod attaches to a small lever that attaches to the throttle plate shaft. This shaft goes through the vertical tube and it is at nearly the highest part of the carburetor. It sounds like your throttle rod may be attached direct to the throttle plate shaft bypassing the governor. The owners manuals to my 961 and 960 have very good instructions on adjusting the governor.

 

[rgrimard]

(quoted from post at 18:25:19 10/12/19)

(quoted from post at 12:04:22 10/12/19)
ShowCrop...you might be able to help solve my 9N Govener problem as well. When I read your comment about the "Linkage problem" I'm not sure what you mean about the Carburator Connection. Any possible chance of you getting a Photo of that Connection on the Carb and Posting it here in this Topic??....that would be worth a Thousand words ....thank you ....Ron
MY Ford 9N is a 1941 vintage and I have not been able to get the Govener to kick in when hauling a large 8ft log I use the throttle for more power.

I am sorry Ron but I don't have an N here to take a pic of but let me try to describe the two rods. Your throttle handle rod turns and goes down by your battery to the top of the cast iron bell housing. There it connects to a bell crank, where another rod connects in. This rod goes forward PAST the carburetor to the governor arm. The second rod also attaches to the governor arm and it runs back to the carburetor. This rod attaches to a small lever that attaches to the throttle plate shaft. This shaft goes through the vertical tube and it is at nearly the highest part of the carburetor. It sounds like your throttle rod may be attached direct to the throttle plate shaft bypassing the governor. The owners manuals to my 961 and 960 have very good instructions on adjusting the governor.

ShowCrop....very nice of you to detail the layout of the Carburetor Rod and Throttle Rod as to how these should be connected. I will print your Detailed Explanation and match it up to my 1941 9N configuration. Certainly appreciate your comment and Reply.....I'll let you know what I find out. My 9N is up for sale on Craigs List Maine check it out.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 05:17:58 10/13/19)

(quoted from post at 18:25:19 10/12/19)

(quoted from post at 12:04:22 10/12/19)
ShowCrop...you might be able to help solve my 9N Govener problem as well. When I read your comment about the "Linkage problem" I'm not sure what you mean about the Carburator Connection. Any possible chance of you getting a Photo of that Connection on the Carb and Posting it here in this Topic??....that would be worth a Thousand words ....thank you ....Ron
MY Ford 9N is a 1941 vintage and I have not been able to get the Govener to kick in when hauling a large 8ft log I use the throttle for more power.

I am sorry Ron but I don't have an N here to take a pic of but let me try to describe the two rods. Your throttle handle rod turns and goes down by your battery to the top of the cast iron bell housing. There it connects to a bell crank, where another rod connects in. This rod goes forward PAST the carburetor to the governor arm. The second rod also attaches to the governor arm and it runs back to the carburetor. This rod attaches to a small lever that attaches to the throttle plate shaft. This shaft goes through the vertical tube and it is at nearly the highest part of the carburetor. It sounds like your throttle rod may be attached direct to the throttle plate shaft bypassing the governor. The owners manuals to my 961 and 960 have very good instructions on adjusting the governor.

ShowCrop....very nice of you to detail the layout of the Carburetor Rod and Throttle Rod as to how these should be connected. I will print your Detailed Explanation and match it up to my 1941 9N configuration. Certainly appreciate your comment and Reply.....I'll let you know what I find out. My 9N is up for sale on Craigs List Maine check it out.

Your N looks very good! I hope you can get your return on what you have in it.

 

[rgrimard]

(quoted from post at 18:19:23 10/13/19)

(quoted from post at 05:17:58 10/13/19)

(quoted from post at 18:25:19 10/12/19)

(quoted from post at 12:04:22 10/12/19)
ShowCrop...you might be able to help solve my 9N Govener problem as well. When I read your comment about the "Linkage problem" I'm not sure what you mean about the Carburator Connection. Any possible chance of you getting a Photo of that Connection on the Carb and Posting it here in this Topic??....that would be worth a Thousand words ....thank you ....Ron
MY Ford 9N is a 1941 vintage and I have not been able to get the Govener to kick in when hauling a large 8ft log I use the throttle for more power.

I am sorry Ron but I don't have an N here to take a pic of but let me try to describe the two rods. Your throttle handle rod turns and goes down by your battery to the top of the cast iron bell housing. There it connects to a bell crank, where another rod connects in. This rod goes forward PAST the carburetor to the governor arm. The second rod also attaches to the governor arm and it runs back to the carburetor. This rod attaches to a small lever that attaches to the throttle plate shaft. This shaft goes through the vertical tube and it is at nearly the highest part of the carburetor. It sounds like your throttle rod may be attached direct to the throttle plate shaft bypassing the governor. The owners manuals to my 961 and 960 have very good instructions on adjusting the governor.

ShowCrop....very nice of you to detail the layout of the Carburetor Rod and Throttle Rod as to how these should be connected. I will print your Detailed Explanation and match it up to my 1941 9N configuration. Certainly appreciate your comment and Reply.....I'll let you know what I find out. My 9N is up for sale on Craigs List Maine check it out.

Your N looks very good! I hope you can get your return on what you have in it.

It will go for the $Price-tag or not at all. I did take a Video of the Linkage to the Governor to Carb today, I followed your details as to what to look for and it seemed to me everything was Connected without any obvious missing rods. I wonder if those "Fly Balls" have a flat spot as I have read on this Forum. I won't bother to get into it this year though.