hard starting

[amsterdam]

i just put a new carb, on my ford 8n tractor, when cold it barley wants to turn over finally it turns over slow then will roll run ok.is that a air fuel screw adjustment? i already adjusted the carb when you pull down on the throttle,where is the fuel air screw located if that’s the problem,,,

 

[NDIHC]

If it turns over slow that sounds like a battery or starter problem. The carburetor doesn't affect cranking speed.

 

[used red MN]

If it turns over slow that sounds like a battery or starter problem. The carburetor doesn't affect cranking speed.

If the “amsterdam” in his username has anything to do with where he resides there is a possibility that “turning over” may have a translation into a some description of a “running” engine.
amsterdam, welcome to YT! So can you please explain if you are talking about difficulty with the starter cranking the engine or if this is some type of issue when it is running? If so please give us some more details.

 

[NDIHC]

If the “amsterdam” in his username has anything to do with where he resides there is a possibility that “turning over” may have a translation into a some description of a “running” engine.
amsterdam, welcome to YT! So can you please explain if you are talking about difficulty with the starter cranking the engine or if this is some type of issue when it is running? If so please give us some more details.

I was wondering that. Maybe just a difference in terminology. Maybe it starts but doesn't come up to speed once it starts. I guess some more info is required so we know the actual concern. If it starts but doesn't come up to speed then it well could be carburetor adjustments, float level letting too much or too little fuel into the carb, choke not opening etc. A leaking needle valve causing it to flood is another. Hard to say.

 

[soaked]

Hi Guys,
Is he describing an engine that's flooded, then slowly clears, then runs ok?
It's easy to over choke a 8n.

Here is the idle mix screw. A new clone carb should be in the same spot.

My experience is they run best 1/2 a turn, to 3/4s of a turn, from seated.
Remember in is in rich, out is lean.
Only effects lower rpms.

 

[Brownie450]

Can't remember if that tractor has an oil bath air cleaner?
Might want to check if there is dirt build up in the cup.
Jim

 

[DanielW]

Turning over slow (if by 'turning over' you mean what most of us consider 'turning over: That is: Cranking when starting) isn't sound like a carb issue. More like weak battery or poor/corroded connections. But if it's a problem with how it's running, that'd be different.

My concern would be the 'new' carb that was mentioned. This is a subject that seems to come up once a week on the N sub-forum: There are loads of aftermarket carbs available for the N's, and the majority of them are very lousy. Especially the cheaper Amazon ones. Often they don't have the porting right. Sometimes there's machining swarf inside them. And every aftermarket one I've seen has had a really blunt main adjusting jet that's nearly impossible to tune well. Even the higher quality and more costly replacement ones are still seldom as good as the original.

The common consensus is that you're far, far better off to rebuild the original. Rebuild kits are cheap, and those single barrel M/S carbs are about the easiest carb you could imagine to rebuild.

 

[560Dennis]

My local equipment dealer told me this about eight n , said I’ve taken in several 8n on trade. All were because the owner complained hard starting issues. He said the biggest reason was they put the too small a battery in them ,because they were cheaper than the correct battery size. He took out the small battery and put in the correct size battery and the problem went away.
Made out very well on the trades he said.
So I would make sure the tractor has correct battery and correct size cables are on the tractor.

 

[amsterdam]

If it turns over slow that sounds like a battery or starter problem. The carburetor doesn't affect cranking speed.

it turns over fast it’s acting like it’s not getting enough fuel it finally starts and runs great

 

[NDIHC]

it turns over fast it’s acting like it’s not getting enough fuel it finally starts and runs great

Gotcha. That sounds to me like it could be a choke problem. Can you see if the choke closes completely? Others here will have more useful information than I do since I have very little experience with Ford tractors. In fact I have no experience with them other than I drove an 8N a few times when I was about 12 or 13! And I rewired a Fordson Power Major once if that counts.