'51 8N Lift Problem

Hi all,

New member here and proud new owner of a late '51 8n. It has the 8-N-C block.

I got an issue with my lift. It don't want to go up all the way. It goes up about 2/3rds of the way then stops. It lifts weight fine, as I have a dirt scoop and filled it up. It lifts the same with nothing on the arms or a bunch of weight on the arms. Lifts quickly, just not to the top. The hydraulic pump doesn't seem to be making any strange noises either.

Today I changed the hydraulic fluid (removing all 3 drain bolts per the instructions on this site) and filled it up (per instructions on this site, to the bottom bolt on the inspection plate).

It still wouldn't go up all the way after the fluid change. A guy can wish it was the easy things right?

So I followed the instruction in the FO-4 to adjust the quadrant. And no matter what I do, I can't get the rocker level flush with the housing at the top of the position control. It get's flush with the housing when I still have about 3 or 4 inches to go to the top of the position control. no matter how I push or pull the quadrant.

Through the inspection hole, when I manually pull forward on the rocker lever, the arms do go all the way up. But when I do it with the position control, I can see that the rocker goes flush with the housing inside, then as the arms get 2/3rds of the way up, the rocker lever pushes back away from the pump housing, even though the position control lever is all the way up.

So, I got linkage issues apparently and I'm not sure what to troubleshoot next. Should I try replacing the position control spring?

On a side note, it looks like the previous owner always put his implements in the top hole of the top link, so I am guessing things took some abuse in there.

Thanks much,

Chris

Try looseing the 4 bolts on the quadrant and sliding it rearward.

A cam follower pin may be in your future.

Yup, slide it back tightened up the bolts, tried it, no luck.

Slid it all the way forward too, tightened everything up, still no dice.

Time to look up what a cam follower pin is...

Ok, after a little more research looks like I need Zane's book and jig (and pin!)... and gaskets I assume!

More than likely your pin and cam is probably worn under the top plate. Remove the top plate under your seat, and inspect. I welded up and filed down the cam,(easy, usually wears only 1/2 the width of the cam, you can use the other side as a guide) and replace the pin. I purchased the Zane Thang jig set up tool to adjust the linkage and now works great.