Ford 8N

[Crisco81]

I have a ford 8N, I was reading the owners manual so that I can service it. The manual stated that I needed to clean the oil breather cap. Can anyone tell me how this is done. Also can I clean the air filter with gas or do I have to buy a new one. Thanks Chris

 

[Dell (WA)]

Crisco.......it pleases me to learn you are reading yer owners manual. Clean the oil breather cap with solvent of yer choice, gasoline works.

As fer yer luft-filter, it is self-cleaning. Just empty the crud outta the bottom of the airfilter cup and refill to line with engine oil. (1-pint or 1/2-qt, which ever comes first) And yes, there is supposed to be oil in BOTH the donut and donut hole. (there are interconnecting hole ennyways) simple, eh? .......Dell

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Like Dell sez, gasoline is a good cleaning solvent. If your oil breather is OEM, it has a wing nut on top. Take the entire unit off the tractor. Unscrew the wing nut & the cap comes off. Remove the filter from the bottom & drop everything into a coffee can w/ gas.

If it's not the OEM unit & doesn't have a wing nut, just remove it & drop it in the gas.

Dell's advice re the air filter is correct unless your filter media (stainless steel mesh)is totally gummed up. Then, you will need to clean or replace that as well.

Take the cup off & look at the filter media in the bottom of the canister. If it is covered w/ thick goo (and many are) remove the entire canister from the tractor.

The bottom has a press fit into the sides. Get a good light & if your eyes are like mine, your reading glasses. You will find where the tabs are to pry it open. But, before you do that, just order new mesh. It comes in a roll. The filter takes 2 rolls. There comes a time when you just have to admit stuff is worn out! Steel wool won't work. Once you get it apart, plan on a good soak in your favorite degreaser for a few days. It will clean up! BTDT w/ three of them!

Hint: Wrap the mesh around the breather tube (it is the same diameter as the tube inside of the air cleaner) Or, use a tube of caulk. Place the breather tube (or caulk tube) against the tube in the air cleaner & slide the mesh off, into the air cleaner. Otherwise, getting that mesh rolled tight & back into the air filter is like getting used toothpaste back in the tube.
50 Tips

 

[Tom N MS]

Like Bruce says, YES you have to clean the gook out of the mesh in the air breather mesh occasionally. Depends on how much dust and broom sage type stuff you have been hogging..Broom sage(which I'm sure most folks on here don't even know what it is)---but broom sage for example has a fuzzy "bloom" stuff that flys into the air to be sucked up as you pass over it with the tractor and/or as you chop it up and it flies into the air..A few weeks ago my Dad's 2N was not running right at all..had to clean out the broom sage oil soaked lint from the wire mesh in the breather and wash it out with gas. Now it runs perfect..Yes the design lets the oil flow down and will clean a trailer queen's filter forever but a real tractor has to have its filter cleaned ever once in a while depending on its working conditions..

 

[Crisco81]

Thanks for the help the 8n was my grandfathers so I don't know much about servicing it. I have one more question that I am not sure about. By reading the owners manual it said that I need to change the transmission oil and hyd oil. What type of oil do I need. I am almost sure that regular hyd oil for the hyd but what do I put in the tranmission. Thanks for all the advise. Chris

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Your question is answered at the link below.....tips 3 & 4. That's why I attached it to my previous response.

Also, check out tip # 39. you need more than the operators manual to keep these old tractors running!
50 Tips