2N having trouble with a 5ft Bush Hogg

HankyPank

New User
Hello older model Ford tractor owners. First, I'm new here and wanted to say hi. Secondly, I've had a 2N for a little over a year now that was given as gift from my father-in-law. I've already had to do some
pretty extensive work on it, like replace the clutch plate, and changed the oil and all other fluids, and fixed some minor electrical issues. Now, I'm seeing that I need to replace the hydraulic piston this
winter, but I've seen something referred to as the "Zane Thang", but can't seem to find the reference to the actual part or where to get it or even how to install it. I do have the manuals for the tractor, so
I know that will help in the long run.

So, on the reason I have posted this, I just bought a heavy duty 5ft bush hog, got it hooked up fine, and it works fine until I get into some taller grass or go up a slight hill in the field. Then it bogs down
and almost shuts off on me, plus it seems to overheat and shut down after an hour or so of bushhogging. Is this a common occurrence or is this an indication of another problem? Is there something else I should
be doing, or is the bush hog too big for this tractor or what? I'm pretty well clueless on being a farmer or having a tractor and just doing the best I can to figure it out as I go along.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
" Then it bogs down "

When is the last time you changed the points, plugs, condenser, cap & rotor & set the timing?

" it seems to overheat "

See tip # 24.

If it spewed water out of the radiator, chances are good that your distributor got wet. Replace the gaskets when you replace the points, etc.

" but can't seem to find the reference to the actual part or where to get it or even how to install it"

http://www.bramblett.com/zane/
75 Tips
 
To my knowledge, all of the points, plugs, condenser, cap and rotor was changed before I got it, and the timing was set at the same time.
 
HankyPank ,One more thing is to make sure the front end of your bush hog is 1/2"-1" lower than the rear/back end at cutting hight.If the front is higher you are actually cutting the grass twice requiring more horse power to do that and eating up what little power your over worked 2N has to offer.
 

i tried posting the link for the zane thang, but this site won't let me. just search for zane thang - the first result returned by bing is zane's (zane bramlett) website.

come on, Yesterday's Tractors - why are u censoring a link for a product u don't offer? :roll:
 

oh, duh. i see it let bruce post the link. maybe it was that he didn't use the URL tags to make it clickable.

either way, i don't understand why this link would be on the no-fly list here.
 
That may be a part of the problem then, I don't know if the front is that much lower, I think it might be about even.
 
I just copied the link and pasted it into another window and it popped right up for me. It looks like a completely worthwhile investment if I'm going to use this tractor until I get a new one.

Thank you.
 
See tip # 40; these old tractors need a lot more attention than a new vehicle. You should pull the distributor annually anyway (tip # 67) to check the points & lube the cam. See what everything looks like & replace what needs to be replaced. If the PO didn't use quality points, they could easily be worn even in one years time.
75 Tips
 
If actually overloaded (all systems good) then cut higher or take 3/4 or 1/2 width cut instead of the full 5 feet.
 
(quoted from post at 17:03:51 09/01/17) " Then it bogs down "

When is the last time you changed the points, plugs, condenser, cap & rotor & set the timing?

" it seems to overheat "

See tip # 24.

If it spewed water out of the radiator, chances are good that your distributor got wet. Replace the gaskets when you replace the points, etc.

" but can't seem to find the reference to the actual part or where to get it or even how to install it"

http://www.bramblett.com/zane/
75 Tips

Okay, what exactly does the Zane Thang do, and does anyone have a picture of one? I'm not sending anyone $95.00 until I have more concrete evidence that I can not live without this thang on my 8N.
 
(quoted from post at 15:01:08 09/01/17)

Okay, what exactly does the Zane Thang do, and does anyone have a picture of one? I'm not sending anyone $95.00 until I have more concrete evidence that I can not live without this thang on my 8N.

u CAN live without it. it provides position control for 9Ns and 2Ns. your 8N came from the factory with position control.
 
The front of the bush hog is riding on the ground, so i don't really know how far off the ground the blades are. I use 1st gear with the throttle wide open.
 
Thanks, I'm going to have the tractor dealer right up the road from me go over it in November and take care of all of that. I don't have a clue what I'm doing, I'm not very mechanically inclined, and I have a feeling I'll be getting in over my head as soon as I loosen the first bolt.
 
You might want to find out if the tractor dealer has ever worked on a 2N ford distributor.

That being said......

These things aren't all that difficult to work on yourself.
75 Tips
 
I have a Zane Thang on a 2N. Easy to install and works well. I have never heard of anyone complain about one. Gives you position control. Otherwise, with a 9 or 2N your lift will either be all the way up or down. No in between. You can raise your mower and use limit chains to keep the mower at a height you want. Here is a YouTube video showing how they work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v HgyQQdSLGoc
 
(quoted from post at 13:50:15 09/01/17) The front of the bush hog is riding on the ground, so i don't really know how far off the ground the blades are. I use 1st gear with the throttle wide open.

You don't want it on the ground. Start off with it four inches off the ground in the front, 5-6 inches in the rear. Next time you mow set it a little lower. There is usually a lot of trash material right on the ground that you are pushing through along with the growing grass and weeds.
 
Zane has asked for people not to post pictures of his Thang. Trust me it works. The position control on my 2N is better than the position control on my 8Ns.
 
L.Fure, the ZaneThang gives you the ability to have position control on a 9/2N.
I have one and was worth it to me to spend the $$ on it.
 
I put a Zane Thang on my 9N a couple of years ago. It's the best money I've spent on the tractor so far.
 
I run a 5' bushhog on a 48 8N, I had similar issues with the bogging and fighting the lift.

1 Get a set of limiter chains or make a set then you can dump the lift all the way down and the chains will hold the bushhog at a constant level. Set it up with the back of the bushhog higher than the front so you are only cutting once per turn instead of all the way around.

2 Sharpen the bushhog blades so you are cutting grass not beating it.

Also,you're bushhogging, not finish mowing,don't set it too low.
 
(quoted from post at 17:53:08 09/01/17) I just copied the link and pasted it into another window and it popped right up for me. It looks like a completely worthwhile investment if I'm going to use this tractor until I get a new one.

Thank you.

I was one of the early buyers of the "Zane Thing" for my 9N. Very worth the investment.
 

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