Piston thrown

[PuppyRulz]

I have a Ford 8N tractor, I bought 1 year ago, in decent shape. I use it for cutting grass and light landscaping. It has had no major issues and I always keep oil in it. Not sure what happened, but after cutting grass recently, it decided to throw an entire piston out the side of the engine with fire and other metal shards. This is scaring me from getting another similar tractor, bc I fear it cannot be trusted not to do this again. Does anyone know what may have caused this to happen suddenly? (It was definitely not out of oil or low). I want to prevent this problem in the future and I don't want to be scared of my lawn equipment. I need to cut grass tho. Any advice appreciated. Thx.

 

[old]

I have a Ford 8N tractor, I bought 1 year ago, in decent shape. I use it for cutting grass and light landscaping. It has had no major issues and I always keep oil in it. Not sure what happened, but after cutting grass recently, it decided to throw an entire piston out the side of the engine with fire and other metal shards. This is scaring me from getting another similar tractor, bc I fear it cannot be trusted not to do this again. Does anyone know what may have caused this to happen suddenly? (It was definitely not out of oil or low). I want to prevent this problem in the future and I don't want to be scared of my lawn equipment. I need to cut grass tho. Any advice appreciated. Thx.

Thats a common problem with any engine. It simply threw a rod which means it was at one time run very low on oil or the oil pressure wasn't what it should have been and that caused a rod bearing to go out and that can happen to any engine.

 

[Janicholson]

I have a Ford 8N tractor, I bought 1 year ago, in decent shape. I use it for cutting grass and light landscaping. It has had no major issues and I always keep oil in it. Not sure what happened, but after cutting grass recently, it decided to throw an entire piston out the side of the engine with fire and other metal shards. This is scaring me from getting another similar tractor, bc I fear it cannot be trusted not to do this again. Does anyone know what may have caused this to happen suddenly? (It was definitely not out of oil or low). I want to prevent this problem in the future and I don't want to be scared of my lawn equipment. I need to cut grass tho. Any advice appreciated. Thx.

Welcome to YT forums. In most cases there is dramatic noise prior to destructive disassembly. In some cases the failure is of a component like a rod bolt fracture that allows zero indication of a immanent failure. So what of that. Ford 8N tractors are definitely not known for self destruction. in fact they are about as reliable as the best of the tractors in that category. They are under powered and conservatively built. Many are still chugging along. Should you purchase another, or have that one fixed? There are much more user friendly and capable tractors available that could replace it for the money to fix it. Most of the contributors here are by their experience or education capable of doing their own wrenching and have thousands invested in tools. Which means they would probably repair it with a different motor block and make sure the internal parts were refreshed. Were I you however I would purchase a Massy Ferguson. or Kubota tractor that suits you, and sell the Ford for a bit of capital toward its replacement. If the Ford is pretty good looking and has OK or better tires it could bring close to $800 to a interested buyer. (guess as I do not know where you are located or the local market there.) Jim

 

[kenbob]

I agree about the 8n being a good reliable tractor, but in my area with lots of acreages they seem considerably over priced. Unless you can get another tractor really cheap with a good motor, for not much more investment you could get a tractor with live pto and maybe even spin out rims. Newer fords with ohv 5 gears and live power are not much more than an 8n here.

 

[Blackhole49]

I have a Ford 8N tractor, I bought 1 year ago, in decent shape. I use it for cutting grass and light landscaping. It has had no major issues and I always keep oil in it. Not sure what happened, but after cutting grass recently, it decided to throw an entire piston out the side of the engine with fire and other metal shards. This is scaring me from getting another similar tractor, bc I fear it cannot be trusted not to do this again. Does anyone know what may have caused this to happen suddenly? (It was definitely not out of oil or low). I want to prevent this problem in the future and I don't want to be scared of my lawn equipment. I need to cut grass tho. Any advice appreciated. Thx.

75 year old tractors do break. I've had 2 8ns over the last 40 years. Current one was pretty much retired 4 years ago. This is the perfect time to get yourself a "Swiss Army Knife", color of your choice, and don't look back. Mine is orange.

 

[zuhnc]

Once again, many times over, no one knows where "HERE" is. to those that don't want to even approximate where "here" is. That makes it extremely difficult for other members to offer help, if where ever "here" is close by.

I, for one, would really like to offer some hands-on help to members, in my area of expertise, but six pages of frustration by some posters, me not knowing where they are, precludes such help, even though they might be within 50 miles of me. zuhnc

 

[old]

Once again, many times over, no one knows where "HERE" is. to those that don't want to even approximate where "here" is. That makes it extremely difficult for other members to offer help, if where ever "here" is close by.

I, for one, would really like to offer some hands-on help to members, in my area of expertise, but six pages of frustration by some posters, me not knowing where they are, precludes such help, even though they might be within 50 miles of me. zuhnc

Yes hard to help others if they are way to far from you or don't let you know they are right around the corner

 

[used red MN]

Hello PuppyRulz, welcome to YT! If you are concerned about the engine blowing up again and the parts hitting you causing an injury you sure as heck better not get in your car and go anywhere. The odds of you being injured in a vehicle accident are far, far greater than those of being hit by parts of an exploding tractor engine.

 

[old]

Once again, many times over, no one knows where "HERE" is. to those that don't want to even approximate where "here" is. That makes it extremely difficult for other members to offer help, if where ever "here" is close by.

I, for one, would really like to offer some hands-on help to members, in my area of expertise, but six pages of frustration by some posters, me not knowing where they are, precludes such help, even though they might be within 50 miles of me. zuhnc

You getting wet over your way?? It's been raining here for a few hours now