why am I disappointed with my 3400?

Ok, so I've had my 9n for the last 6 years, I got it to move dirt in my woods/swamp. I use a slip-scoop (reversible Linebach Line), trying to deepen the swamp into more of a pond and dry up the other half of the woods. I picked up a 6foot box and have a hard time filling/pulling it.

Over the winter I picked up a basket case 3400, 3cyl gasser. Rebuilt the motor and have it running pretty good (think I've got a float height issue) but I still prefer running the N over the 8 speed power steering 3400.

The trees are pretty tight and it seems like I'm juggling gears trying to imitate the fwd/rev speeds of the N.

Low reverse is sloooooow, High rev is a little too quick unless I'm slipping the clutch. Low 4th is decent, High 5th is too fast.

Even with the diff lock it seems to get stuck in the swamp more than the N does. Granted, it's apples and oranges as I'm running the scoop on the N and the box on the 3400.

I've got less than 4 hrs on it - do I just need to readjust?

I am not a ford expert nor am I following you around , I
find the N tractors easier to use just overall not as
useful as the newer tractors. You will probably find using
your 3400 in wide open pasture mowing more pleasurable and
given some seat time you will find it more useful most
everywhere . This is my opinion.

The tractor is looking very good.
A couple of thoughts:
Back when I was a kid there were 3 channels on TV.
Now there's 300 or some such.
But you still hear people say there's nothing on tv.
A 9N has 3 forward and one reverse.
That tractor has 8 forward and 2 reverse.
But there's still never the exactly perfect gear.
Maybe you'd like an SOS...
You say you've had your 9N for 6 years.
Probably you've put a bunch of hours on it. Know exactly what it will do.
You also say you've got 4 hours on the 3400.
Maybe had some pretty big expectations that aren't being met.
Probably don't have the hang of it all yet either.
I like the 8 speed. I'm used to it and can select the right gear or range without thinking about it.
But I do remember getting frustrated with haveing to shift two sticks all the time. I sill do.
I think you'll learn to do that less as you get more hours on it.
What do you have for ballast on the rear?
Fluid I hope as I don't see any wheel weights.
Those tires look like 12.4X28s.
That machine should have 13.6X28s on it and it needs at least 600 lbs of rear ballast to go with the bigger tires.
You have the HP but not enough bite to fully utilize it.
That model should have had a foot throttle from the factory. Do you still have it on there?
The best thing I ever did to mine was add the foot throttle - from a 3400 I parted out.
I use it a lot.
Frees up one hand to do something else - like shift two levers instead of one
I say hang in there with it.
It's a great tractor.
And I suspect if you were to put your N away for a year and used only the yellow one you would cry if you had to go back to using the N. I know I would.

I would check the float for a leak BTDT... Heat it with a hair dryer if it has gas in it, it will bubble out... You have to be careful not to get the solider to hot its a low heat solider and melts EZ...

I have had my float out 3 times soldering it I must have got lucky the last time I have had no farther issues with it but do have a new one on the shelf if there is a fourth time...

It was a funny issue, as long as you were going straight all was well. When you made a sharp turn it would load up so bad you would have to stop and turn the engine up full throttle to clear it out...

After I messed with the float it would work fine for a hour are so then as the float loaded up with fuel the fuel level in the bowl would rise. The flooding of the engine on turns would start out gradual and keep getting worst to the point it would flood on every turn......

BTW after I got my 3000 I pert-near retired my N's... I even sold my favorite N to a bud I knew would work the ell out of it with no mercy... And he does 8)

I agree with what Hobo says about not looking back at the older models.

when I got my forst 55+ machine.. my 8n and 2n and naa pretty much retired.

Also.. don't use your clutch as a speed control.. you will wear it out fast...

if not using a pto implement, then use throttle as your speed control..

Thanks guys

Rears are 13.6x28 but dry, I'll get some antifreeze in them soon.

It has the foot pedal (no connecting link) but I keep tangling my foot on it when I hop off on the right - I was thinking of taking it off.

Carb issues, rich running and loading up are keeping me from using the throttle for speed control, I've been keeping it around 1600 rpm, it will idle at 800 like it's supposed to but it chuffs and chugs. The carb has got to come apart and have the float re-checked.

As others have noted, put the N away for a little bit and you might not go back.

I have an N and a 3600 here at our little hobby place. The N gets out of the shed more for convenience than anything else, it is nice to not have to change implements sometimes so I get it out when I need/want two things running for some reason. Otherwise the 3600 is my first choice for everything except scraping out the low shed that the 3600 with ROPS doesn't get under.

Kirk

(quoted from post at 19:47:49 09/22/15) As others have noted, put the N away for a little bit and you might not go back.

I have an N and a 3600 here at our little hobby place. The N gets out of the shed more for convenience than anything else, it is nice to not have to change implements sometimes so I get it out when I need/want two things running for some reason. Otherwise the 3600 is my first choice for everything except scraping out the low shed that the 3600 with ROPS doesn't get under.

Kirk

Click to expand...

It is a little hard to imagine preferring lower HP and 5 less gears. I agree in time you will learn to appreciate the new(er) tractor.

Had time over the weekend to tear into the carb, rust sediment in the fuel bowl & that stupid Holley pumppiston assembly got stuck in the bore again (I've polished the brass piston & plunger and the aluminum bore it slides in....)

Popped so much the airhorn plug slipped and the muffler toppled off the extension pipe!

I'm suspecting that the timing & points are off again (I set the timing with the vac line hooked up. The points feel like the PO stripped the set screws out, I was hoping it would hold but the fouled plugs lead me to believe I'll be pulling, welding, & re-tapping the plate)

Meanwhile the N just starts and runs great....