Zenith Carb on 8n

G6 at Snook, TX

Well-known Member
I am not looking to put a Zenith on my 8n, my Marvels are working fine. Draining the gas after every usage has been one of the best things I have ever done on these tractors.

Anyhow, the YT site claims that the Zenith carburetor is better than the Marvel. Any truth to that? Or just marginal differences? If better, how so?
 
If your Marvel carburetor is working fine, why are you even asking? Are you planning to plant 400 acres where a little better running or better fuel economy is that important or do you just have excess money to get rid of?
 
IIRC, Marvel Schebler was bought out by Zenith Fuel Systems years ago, so there's no new Marvels (unless you find a NOS one on the shelf somewhere).

AFAIK, the NEW carbs being sold, with the exception of the "Zenith" are from "The Land of Almost Right".
 
Simmer down RM-MN, it was a sincere question to generate discussion. As I said, I am not going to buy a Zenith carburetor, but just because I say that, doesn't mean I can't ask a question for curiosity's sake.
 
(quoted from post at 09:34:43 04/27/17) Simmer down RM-MN, it was a sincere question to generate discussion. As I said, I am not going to buy a Zenith carburetor, but just because I say that, doesn't mean I can't ask a question for curiosity's sake.
site says it is better". Well, just human nature & business. Haven't you noticed by now that whatever a man has is always the better or best, just as is whatever a seller is selling? Ask a Ford owner which is better, a Ford or Chevy? Ask a Chevy owner which is better, a Ford or Chevy. Ask the Chevy salseman, etc., etc.
 
(quoted from post at 04:00:06 04/27/17) Anyhow, the YT site claims that the Zenith carburetor is better than the Marvel. Any truth to that? Or just marginal differences? If better, how so?

When my engine's operating efficiency and dependability is at its zenith, my carb is a marvel to behold.

The old salesmen probably called it, a marvelous difference! :)
 

And I sometimes like to engage in those Chevy Ford discussions. :roll: And sometimes in those discussions I pick up useful information, but I am a person who will ask just to ask.
 
(quoted from post at 12:27:04 04/27/17)
And I sometimes like to engage in those Chevy Ford discussions. :roll: And sometimes in those discussions I pick up useful information, but I am a person who will ask just to ask.

My first truck was a 56 Mercury that served me well but after that it was exclusively '47 to '53 Chev trucks. I sometimes come up with reasons why I prefer those old Chevs to Fords but not ways where I prefer the Ford to the Chev. For current example, my '51 Van has nice floating rear axles, but my Jubilee does not.
But they are both quality built. I swore off Chrysler years ago.
48274.jpg
 
All mechanical things wear.
Take a look around at carb rebuild kits, looking for what parts
you get with a complete kit for a M/S and what you get for the
Zenith. Some parts are almost impossible to find for them and
if you do find them, they're purchased separately and are not
inexpensive by any means.

I actually had to modify M/S parts to fix a Zenith on another
brand of tractor when I couldn't find parts.
They do run and work well when in good shape.

Better? Meh. About the same in my experience.
About the only advantage I've seen is that the needle and seat
don't seem to leak by as readily as some of the M/S have done.
Not an issue if a guy follows the manual and shuts the fuel off.

Ford/Chevy/Dodge? I should stay out of that one.
None of them are what they used to be.
 
All true and interesting.

BuT for me. . . at 25 with my great '56 Merc V-8 pickup, I thought I'd give the /50's Chevs that caught my eye
and to my pleaswant surprise, the Chev trucks were just as good as the Fords.
Then about four years later I bought a 1950 Plymouth in great condition -- was stored in a shed -- home to the farm. But i was in for a rude awakening! That was not a user-friendly car to work on, that seemed rude or thoughtless, compared to my Ford or Chev trucks.

. . . so I parted out the Plymouth.
they were user inconsiderate or klutsey. . . . admitted in the Globe and mail one day that they bought all their components from the cheapest bidder . . . that was their rule of thumb.

The danged firewall wrapped around the bloody back of the engine. You have to reforge one of your wrenches to get to the last mount bolt. . . . and the tranny . .. if I remember correctly, it had an X frame so you have to pull the engine to do a clutch . . .

So due to the times of feeling like the people who put them together didn't care about making repairs easy for the owners
I have to go back to the 40's and earlier to like Dodge.

Ford Chev and Austin
Me myself and I
:D
 

I fought with my MS carb on my 51 8N for two years. Tractor would not run when leaning down hill left as crazy as that sounds. Apparently this is a common problem with a lot of MS/8N combinations. Talked to a guy that had the same problem and he said he put a Zenith on his and it solved the problem. I did the same and sure enough it solved my problem and I was surprised how much better the tractor ran overall. Zenith is by far the superior product in my opinion.
 
(quoted from post at 04:10:29 12/14/17)
I fought with my MS carb on my 51 8N for two years. Tractor would not run when leaning down hill left as crazy as that sounds. Apparently this is a common problem with a lot of MS/8N combinations. Talked to a guy that had the same problem and he said he put a Zenith on his and it solved the problem. I did the same and sure enough it solved my problem and I was surprised how much better the tractor ran overall. Zenith is by far the superior product in my opinion.

David,

You'll come to many similar conclusions about various components if part replacement supersedes correct diagnosis and repair. :)
 

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