Ford 8N Transmission or Clutch?

[Arts185]

My 1956 8N won’t move forward or reverse. Gear shifter appears to be in working order per inspections from lube cap view. The PTO spins, when engaged, and the clutch still starts/stops the PTO. Suspecting its a bad clutch; however, the PTO spin aspect has me questioning the clutch here. Would the PTO engage and spin if the clutch is not enabling forward or reverse movement? Background on the issue includes down hill travel with clutch depressed, then let up; thats when the forward reverse gave out.

 

[old]

My 1956 8N won’t move forward or reverse. Gear shifter appears to be in working order per inspections from lube cap view. The PTO spins, when engaged, and the clutch still starts/stops the PTO. Suspecting its a bad clutch; however, the PTO spin aspect has me questioning the clutch here. Would the PTO engage and spin if the clutch is not enabling forward or reverse movement? Background on the issue includes down hill travel with clutch depressed, then let up; thats when the forward reverse gave out.

If you can put some sort of load on the PTO shaft. If you try this very carefully you can put on a glove and carefully grab the PTO shaft at a low idle and see if you can stop it from spinning. Or with the engine stopped and PTO engaged use a pipe wrench and see if you can turn the shaft with out the engine turning over

 

[Arts185]

Like the pipe wrench suggestion, thank you.

 

[Janicholson]

Welcome to YT forums and ASAP parts. There are two clutches. One does not affect the other in this case. The primary clutch can fail in a number of ways: friction material flaking off, drive torsion springs fail, hub rivets fail, and drive splines fail. It could be worn, but that failure is gradual, not instantaneous. Jim

 

[old]

Welcome to YT forums and ASAP parts. There are two clutches. One does not affect the other in this case. The primary clutch can fail in a number of ways: friction material flaking off, drive torsion springs fail, hub rivets fail, and drive splines fail. It could be worn, but that failure is gradual, not instantaneous. Jim

8N has only one clutch and it is for both the transmission and PTO the 8N doesn't have a double clutch

 

[Janicholson]

Like the pipe wrench suggestion, thank you.

I would not do the glove thing, I saw a coworker hurt when he grabbed a shaft that was slowing down. the glove caught and the inertial bent his wrist beyond 90 degrees. Jim

 

[leroy in ne]

What tractor - 8N was not built in 1956. I am thinking 8N was late 1947 thru 1952.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

First of all 8n's were only made until'52, so if it's a '56 model it would not be an 8n- so my comment may be not be applicable. We had an 8n when I was growing up and it quit moving and the problem was the rivets on the ring gear sheared off. The PTO still worked, and of course the 3pt lift worked. This happened twice. They were later replaced with hardened bolts, and no more problem. Mark.

 

[Arts185]

I’l check my serial for the exact model year; 56 was what I remember. Interesting comments on the ring gear ring gear. It sounds like I’l have to split the tractor to inspect clutch, ring gear, etc, The tractor had an external restoration last winter and is well worth the effort to repair.

 

[Brown David]

If you try this very carefully you can put on a glove and carefully grab the PTO shaft at a low idle and see if you can stop it from spinning.

Seriously??

I've read a lot of dumb and dangerous stuff here, this one is a doozy.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I’l check my serial for the exact model year; 56 was what I remember. Interesting comments on the ring gear ring gear. It sounds like I’l have to split the tractor to inspect clutch, ring gear, etc, The tractor had an external restoration last winter and is well worth the effort to repair.

For the ring gear - I THINK you can see by removing the left axle housing-I think. I was way to young when this happened in the mid 60s. Mark.

 

[old]

I’l check my serial for the exact model year; 56 was what I remember. Interesting comments on the ring gear ring gear. It sounds like I’l have to split the tractor to inspect clutch, ring gear, etc, The tractor had an external restoration last winter and is well worth the effort to repair.

Is the engine a flat head as in the spark plugs sit on the top of the engine and point straight up to the gas tank or are they at an angle in the side of the head??? If on top that is a flat head engine and that is what an 8N has

 

[Hobo,NC]

ALL n'S and most ford tractors I have worked on use a coupling between the transmission and pinion, google 8n4602B they are know to come ungluded. They can break in two places normaky its the back weld.

The coupler is welded together in the middle and can come unglued there so look for the front to turn the rear of the coupler to be stationary... If both ends turn its possible the ring gear rivets that nail to the carrier are stripped... Look thru the inspection cover on either side... If you have a broke coupler you will have to split the tractor... If it does not turn you have a trans issue are a clutch issue..

You will ahbve to use your head to figue out where the issue is play safe.

 

[Tony in SD]

Seriously??

I've read a lot of dumb and dangerous stuff here, this one is a doozy.

X2 X3 X4 X5 X6…… Xn

 

[old]

Seriously??

I've read a lot of dumb and dangerous stuff here, this one is a doozy.

I've done it a number of times and that is why I say carefully and I have yet to have been hurt doing so but I also don't grab it fast or real hard

 

[SkipperII]

Let's see/ Coasted down hill with the pedal depressed, then let it out?? Probably stripped the lining off the clutch disc.

 

[soaked]

If your 8n has a Sherman Auxiliary is it shifted to neutral?

If yes, pto freewheels slowly if 3 point control handle is all the way down. Stops turning if handle is raised.
(Load from the pump pumping overcomes the freewheeling effect from the fluid)
Can happen to anyone...

 

[used red MN]

Background on the issue includes down hill travel with clutch depressed, then let up; thats when the forward reverse gave out.

Hello Art! Was the transmission in a lower gear and the “coast” fairly fast, as in quite a bit faster than the tractor would normally travel in the gear selected? If so what can happen is is the lined clutch plate can be spun extremely fast. The centrifugal force rips the lining away from the rivets that hold it on. This happens easier if the clutch lining is older and wore down, also having some fracture cracks in it. What I have seen cause this is pull starting something and it get pulled way to fast in a lower gear with the clutch pushed down. I don’t know how big the access hole is by the clutch on those Fords but if it is any size at all you should be able to reach or look in and see the shredded lining material.

 

[Brown David]

I've done it a number of times and that is why I say carefully and I have yet to have been hurt doing so but I also don't grab it fast or real hard

I don't care, it's a stupid thing to do anyway you look at it. I really thought you were smarter than that.

Reminds me of a carpenter I knew. Out of ten digits he had four that were complete, you'd think he would have learned after the first time.

 

[old]

I don't care, it's a stupid thing to do anyway you look at it. I really thought you were smarter than that.

Reminds me of a carpenter I knew. Out of ten digits he had four that were complete, you'd think he would have learned after the first time.

When i grab them I don't do so in such a way as yo harm my self. A gentle grab and if they slow down them the clutch is the problem. Yous do so gently and never tight. You can also do so with something like a 2X4 board and lever it down onto the PTO shaft