Best way to clean 8N

Hey all, Just joined this lovely site today, I have found it very useful and every part I have ordered for our '48 8N has been very satisfactory. Anyways, our tractor has seen almost continuous work on our land since my Grandfather bought it in 1952. It looks like it has never been cleaned/degreased since then. Any tips on the best way to clean it? I've thought of maybe some engine degreaser and maybe a pressure washer? Although I don't know if a pressure washer would be too wise a decision for something this old. Thanks!

I use a degreaser (Purple Power) and a pressure
washer. I am careful to avoid the distributor, the
oil dipstick, the shift lever where it goes thru the
cover and area where the draft control plunger goes
thru the lift cover.

A pressure washer is great but make sure you don't aim it at any delicate areas like all electrical and definitley not at the radiator or front grill that would be toward the radiator fins.
If you want to get it clean enough for a restoration you will still have to get down and dirty with elbow grease, putty knife and wire brush. You may want to do deep dirt/grease areas by hand first then pressure wash.

If you use a degreaser, make sure to not get it on any non metallic parts. If you get it on the distributor cap, it will discolor it.

(quoted from post at 00:46:28 01/11/13) Hey all, Just joined this lovely site today, I have found it very useful and every part I have ordered for our '48 8N has been very satisfactory. Anyways, our tractor has seen almost continuous work on our land since my Grandfather bought it in 1952. It looks like it has never been cleaned/degreased since then. Any tips on the best way to clean it? I've thought of maybe some engine degreaser and maybe a pressure washer? Although I don't know if a pressure washer would be too wise a decision for something this old. Thanks!

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Be very careful when cleaning your tractor, next you know you be wanting to paint it and just fix a few little things and next it is completely torn down in your shop! Mission creep is always a concern!! Glad you got your grampa's tractor, that is great!

I use a degreaser (Purple Power) and a pressure
washer. I am careful to avoid the distributor, the
oil dipstick, the shift lever where it goes thru the
cover and area where the draft control plunger goes
thru the lift cover.

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It has been proven that water cannot get into the transmission because of a bad shifter boot.

It has been proven that water cannot get into the transmission because of a bad shifter boot.

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Really? So, if your hydraulic fluid is all milky due to lots of water in there, is condensation is the only way it can get in there?

(quoted from post at 19:34:54 01/10/13)

It has been proven that water cannot get into the transmission because of a bad shifter boot.

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Really? So, if your hydraulic fluid is all milky due to lots of water in there, is condensation is the only way it can get in there?

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Not the only way, I've heard most gets in through the draft control spring/rod
where it goes through the top cover. It's a common sump on a 9/2/8N.

If you want to strip all the grease and some paint, you could use oven cleaner.
If you don't want to damage the paint, just use a degreaser.
I've used a pressure washer on all of mine.
Just use some common sense as other said and watch the
delicate areas. Radiator, electrical, etc.
Congrats on keeping the family tractor going, and welcome to the forum!

Hand scrape as much as possible then apply Purple Power, or ammonia with spray bottle, let it set and work,low pressure rinse and repeat. If I use high pressure wash I remove all electrical and change all fluids.

The thing to understand about pressure washing is
that you can control the aggressiveness of the
washing by keeping the nozzle further from the
work. In other words, the further you hold the
nozzle from the surface being cleaned, the less
impact (and cleaning power) you are using. If you
have a very high pressure machine, you should keep
it further from the work, but can cover more area
(with a fan spray nozzle) while having the same
cleaning power as a lower pressure machine used up
close.

I have had good luck using a 3000 psi machine on
equipment as long as I avoid getting up close an
personal around electrical components and places
where shafts extend out of housings. Use
discretion in wielding the cleaning wand and you
will be fine.