gas filled cylinder

[Mr. T. Minnesota]

Forum,
Finally found out what can happen when one does not turn off the fuel on an 8N Ford. Was helping a friend with his 8N tractor that would not turn over with the starter. We had to move the tractor to the garage and in the process we tried to pull start it. When engaging the clutch in 4th gear it would only skid on the snow covered ground. Got it into the garage and pulled the two rear plugs. We attempted to turn it over and gasoline came gushing out of one spark plug port. It was not antifreeze! Removed the air inlet tube on the carb and all other plugs and pulled it to clear out any residual gasoline. Told the owner to always turn off the gas when parking the tractor. It was interesting that only the rear cylinder was gas filled and that is was enough to prevent the engine from turning over when being pulled!
Mr. T. Minnesota

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Yea, tip #9. You're lucky it didn't hydro lock and bend a rod.
75 Tips

 

[Ultradog MN]

It's probably a good thing your tires skidded on the ground.
Those flat heads aren't very strong.
A few years ago there was a fellow here who couldn't get his engine to turn over with the starter.
So he hooked onto it with another tractor and tried it that way.
It ended up being a bad head gasket that had allowed the cylinders to partially fill with coolant.
It's hard to say what it did to his rods and wrist pins.
I think he figured Ns werent very good tractors so he didn't stay around here long.
His wife was doing the posting and couldn't add photos so I had her send them to me and I posted them for her.
Still have them on my photobucket page.

 

[TJ in KY]

Hay Bruce, I have read your tips but I usually click the link to refresh my memory when you quote one,and it again. When I click the link in this post number 9 starts right after #8 ends. No blank line in-between.
You may want to check it out, I almost missed #9.

 

[TJ in KY]

Typo above, meant to say read it(the tip) again. Thanks for compiling the list.

 

[old]

One should NEVER try to pull start any thing till one figures out why the stater will not spin the engine over. Many things can and will break and you got likely there was snow on the ground or you could have broken an axle or a rod or the head or even the crank shaft or clutch or many other parts

 

[Paul in MN]

WOW!!! Unbelievable!

Paul in MN

 

[ZANE]

It did liquid lock.

When I was in the AF working on the great radial engines we had to turn all the engines over at least eight blades by hand to assure there was no liquid lock on any of the lower cylinders. If there was and the engine was attempted to start a cylinder could actually be stripped from the crankcase.

Zane

 

[bob pelton]

I would also reccomend checking the oil to make sure gas didnt get in crankcase.