'49 8N Not Running Good

Allen Fuller

New User
Hi all,

I have a '49 8N front-mount distributor. It has been converted to 12-volt with the appropriate resistor. It is not running good. Here are the symptoms.

First, it starts fine and runs fine after starting while not moving. However, when I start brush-hogging, it seems to surge and back off. The longer it runs, this gets better. After warming up after a couple of rounds of the field, it only does this when staring up a small incline or in a turn.

After the above problem goes away, the engine then starts running rough. This is after about 20-30 minutes. Then the longer it runs the rougher the engine runs. This reminds of the a bad coil, but the coil is not hot to the touch. Also, it begins to backfire a little bit. Today while mowing, it gave a big backfire and quit. I started it back immediately and finished cutting, but the tractor continue to run rougher and rougher. It only takes about an hour to mow the small field.

Does anyone have suggestions as to what could be wrong. Perhaps the two problem are not related. The second one sounds like it may be electrical to me.

Thanks,
Allen
 
Hi Allen,

My "48 front mount has done the same a couple of times over the years. Both times it was a fouled (carbon chip) plug. It would run fine on 3 cylinders, but under a strain it would falter and cut off. Pull the plug wires while running, if one doesn"t change the engine sound/speed and the other three do, then you"ve found the one to change/clean.
 
"This reminds of the a bad coil, but the coil is not hot to the touch. "

"The second one sounds like it may be electrical to me."

Guessing doesn't get you much.

I'd guess you have a points problem. Cheap points don't last long & even the good ones need to be checked, re-gapped & lubed yearly.

But my guess isn't much better than yours, so you'd really be better served to troubleshoot the problem.

It takes three things for an engine to run: spark at the right time, compression, & fuel in the right mixture. For the moment, forget about compression & concentrate on narrowing the problem down to spark or fuel.



There are three very important tools you always need to have in your N tool box: a 3 inch piece of wire w/ alligator clips on each end, an old spark plug w/ the gap opened to at least 3/16” ( ¼” is better) and a 7/16 box end wrench. (see tip # 50 at the link below) And, you really do need a working ammeter on the tractor; it is a very important diagnostic tool. With these tools, you can quickly narrow down most N problems to spark or fuel.



Next time it stops, check quickly for fuel then spark. When I say quickly, I mean get off the seat, grab the tools & do it right then. Do not wait a minute or two. First, check for fuel. Get a can & put it under the carb. Remove the bolt in the bottom of the carb; as long as the fuel is turned on, you should see gas flowing out of the carb. Let it run for at least 30 seconds. If it’s a dribble, or runs for 5 seconds & stops, or none at all, you have solved half the problem: it’s fuel related. If gas flows well out of the carb & only stops when you turn it off at the sediment bowl, chances are very good it’s not a fuel problem. So, next, turn the key on, crank the engine & look at the ammeter. What is the needle doing? Does it show a constant discharge, no movement at all, or does it move back & forth slightly? Next, get the old plug, ground it to a rust & paint free spot on the engine, turn the key on & crank the engine. If the spark jumps the 3/16” gap, you probably don’t have a spark problem. If it won’t jump the 3/16” gap, you have a spark problem. If the ammeter needle shows a constant discharge, or doesn’t move at all, that also tells you that you have a spark problem. Jump the ignition switch w/ your jumper wire & see what happens. If it runs, you found the problem. If it doesn’t have spark after you jump the ignition switch, post back for more info on further troubleshooting. (and do not forget to turn the ignition switch off; see tip # 38)



If it does not have gas coming out of the carb at a steady stream w/ the bolt out for at least 30 seconds, you have a fuel problem. First, remove the gas cap. Your vent could be clogged & it vacuum locked. If that doesn’t work, tap the carb bowl w/ a hammer handle in case the float is sticking closed. (don’t whack it w/ the head of the hammer; you can crack the bowl). If you still don’t see gas flowing, the N has three fuel screens; one in the brass elbow, one in the top of the sediment bowl & one on the stem of the sediment bowl in the gas tank. Check the screen in the elbow & the screen in the top of the sediment bowl. (don’t worry about the one in the tank) Both probably need to be cleaned. If you have the fuel knob turned on all the way, & 1 gallon or less in the tank, it may be trying to feed off of the reserve inlet which is probably clogged. Only open it 2 full turns. Put at least 2 gallons in the tank. (and do not forget to turn the gas off; see tip # 9)



There are ways to check for spark & fuel that work & ways that don't. For example, having gas to the carb is nice, but having it past the float is what counts! That’s why removing the 7/16” bolt in the bottom of the carb is the way to check for fuel. And, same thing w/ spark at the plugs. Some folks think that checking for spark means pulling a plug wire off & looking for one. Well, it's the distance the spark jumps at the plug that gives you the info you want. It takes about 17kv to jump a 3/16" gap & 22kv to jump ¼” in the open air. Remember, it’s 14psi outside of the engine & about 90psi at a 6:1 compression ratio in the cylinders & compressed air creates electrical resistance, so you really need the 17-22kv to fire the plugs when the engine is running. A store bought plug checker will work better than an old plug because it won’t shock the snot out of you like an old plug might!
75 Tips
 
Allen.......yer 15-min timeline is typical BAD weaksister ignition switch. ($10, cheap) When the ignition switch goes bad, it creates weak sparkies just as you complain and NO power. .......Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister
 
Hi all,

Finally got around to looking at the 8N today. Since the spark plugs were old, I changed them. It runs better, not good, but a lot better.

Dell, I also looked at the switch. It is not the factor two-wire switch. It has several terminals on it with wires coming from them. This must have been done when my father had the 12-volt conversion done in the early 1990s.

Thanks for all your help. I will keep pursing this. However, I will most probably have to get someone to repair it since I am not knowledgeable about engines, etc.

Thanks again,
Allen
 

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