A little disheartened

Rodeo man

Member
I bought an 8n about 3 weeks ago. I've always wanted one, I just had never pulled the trigger on one. It's about as straight as you could ask for. It ran great when I picked it up. Come to find out the alternator was out the guy had been charging the battery to sell it. No big deal actually. Then it started running terrible. Replaced everything from sedement to carb. Also no big deal. This evening I tried to start it, and I think the starter is caput. I'm not loaded with free time. It'll be days before I can tackle the starter. Are these things undependable? I'd really enjoy using it. Working on it everyday is for the birds. On the other hand, it'll be a brand new baby once I replace a couple more things.
 
(quoted from post at 23:10:25 07/10/14) I bought an 8n about 3 weeks ago. I've always wanted one, I just had never pulled the trigger on one. It's about as straight as you could ask for. It ran great when I picked it up. Come to find out the alternator was out the guy had been charging the battery to sell it. No big deal actually. Then it started running terrible. Replaced everything from sedement to carb. Also no big deal. This evening I tried to start it, and I think the starter is caput. I'm not loaded with free time. It'll be days before I can tackle the starter. Are these things undependable? I'd really enjoy using it. Working on it everyday is for the birds. On the other hand, it'll be a brand new baby once I replace a couple more things.
They are old & things wear out, but if one doesn't neglect the regular maintenance, starts & runs them at least once a month, you can run them for years without serious work. When you first buy one, there are usually bugs to be worked out, primarily because the previous owner didn't do things he should have all along. I probably go 5 or more years with nothing but gas, oil & grease on my two. About that time I need a battery.
 
I bought a 46 2N in 2001. Pretty good shape but smoked. Used it like that for about 7 yrs and had the engine rebuilt. Fixed it up some, rattle can paint job. Still 6v without a starting problem. Cutout kept sticking so I replaced the contacts with a diode. Don't use it hard but I use it often. Never fails to start. I have had "0" problems with it. Love it. It's on tractor photos under 2N Richard, AZ.
 
What does the starter do? Once you get the bugs worked out
you'll love it! My 73 year old 9N starts all winter long to plow us
out. I ran the two bottom plow on some land I'm working on,
and right now it's waiting to finish up some box blade work.
We've had a lot of thunderstorms the last two weeks, so things
are a little muddy, but she's patient. I had a month or so when I
first bought her that sounds like yours, but they are easy to
work on, and are for the most part solid little contraptions.
Good Luck!
Jerry
 
(quoted from post at 04:10:25 07/11/14) I bought an 8n about 3 weeks ago. I've always wanted one, I just had never pulled the trigger on one. It's about as straight as you could ask for. It ran great when I picked it up. Come to find out the alternator was out the guy had been charging the battery to sell it. No big deal actually. Then it started running terrible. Replaced everything from sedement to carb. Also no big deal. This evening I tried to start it, and I think the starter is caput. I'm not loaded with free time. It'll be days before I can tackle the starter. Are these things undependable? I'd really enjoy using it. Working on it everyday is for the birds. On the other hand, it'll be a brand new baby once I replace a couple more things.

I have to say that I enjoy working on the tractor. I get a sense of satisfaction taking something apart and putting it back together knowing that I have improved it (think gomer pyle cleaning his rifle FMJ). That being the case however, I know where your coming from. When I first got my 8n it had a lot of bugs that needed worked out, and still has a few. Every time I went to do something with it I ended up having to fix something first. It gets old. Once you get your major problems worked out it should be a dependable machine. Once you get to the point where you don't have to do something but want to make it better working on it isn't so bad.
 
(quoted from post at 04:45:00 07/11/14) What does the starter do? Once you get the bugs worked out
you'll love it! My 73 year old 9N starts all winter long to plow us
out. I ran the two bottom plow on some land I'm working on,
and right now it's waiting to finish up some box blade work.
We've had a lot of thunderstorms the last two weeks, so things
are a little muddy, but she's patient. I had a month or so when I
first bought her that sounds like yours, but they are easy to
work on, and are for the most part solid little contraptions.
Good Luck!
Jerry
Part of my problem is that I am not a very good mechanic. It or just be a loose connection, maybe even a battery cable, IDK. When you hit the button it makes one pop down on the starter. Everything feels tight, and battery is fully charged.
 
Try hitting some jumper cables to the starter and see what happens
before you pull it. But first note if you have a positive or negative
ground so you don't jump it wrong. A lot of these old tractors have
bandaid repair jobs done on them just to keep them running a little
more. When you do need to fix something, fix it right and before
long you'll have a pretty dependable tractor.
 
To answer your question they are not undependable provided you get the bugs worked out as JMOR suggested. That can take a little time so patience is the key. With that, and a methodical approach to figuring it out, it can be dependable. I would advise, if you haven't done so, to get it to where your tools are and where you can put an hour into it here and there. First thing I would do is get a known good fully charged battery in there with clean terminals. Don't do any electrical testing with a defective or low battery. If you can't load test it, take it to an auto parts store and have them load test it for you. When you have a known good fully charged battery in it remove the cable ends where they terminate one at a time and clean them until they are bright, put dielectric grease on them and retighten. Since you stated you have an alternator remove the negative cable end and isolate it when cleaning the starter cable end. Post back. Gerard
 
just the way it is until you get it straightened out,
but then you can just use it and change the oil once in a while with zero problems....about forever.
I used to fix things as they arose, but after dealing with problems
that always crop up when you are in a hurry.....
I now buy my old junk and as soon as I unload it, I completely redo the wiring, go thru the ignition, charging, cooling, and fuel system from gascap to carb drainplug. (Don't throw new parts at it, if the old ones are good, they are better anyway, just clean and reset)
Too much work, and expense?
Believe me, you will have to do it sooner or later, I'd rather choose when.....
 
Pop or click?

If it's a pop, chances are it's a bad cable or connection.

If it's a click from the solenoid, it's a low voltage issue.

The solenoid is making a noise because of low voltage. That is likely caused by:

1. A weak battery (charge it per tip # 60& & check it per tip # 49))

2. Dirty grounds/connections (remove the cables & clean the connections)

3. Bad cables or incorrect sized cables (replace them - see tip # 41)

4. Bad ground between the starter & the block. (pull the starter away from the block & clean the mating area - see tip # 36)
75 Tips
 
A couple of things you need to learn:

1. Don't ever buy a new tractor & expect it to operate at 100% from the get-go.

2. Diagnose problems before you start buying parts.

Check out tips 39, 40 & 42 at the link. Get a set of manuals & read them.

$100 or so will replace every wire & cable on that tractor.

" Part of my problem is that I am not a very good mechanic."

Nobody is a born mechanic. We all had to learn. Read the manuals & ask questions. It's not that hard.
75 Tips
 
Close as I can tell when these ole tractors first came out Henry made them "field fixable". Almost anything that might stop working can be fixed while in the field working with minamial tools.

1st things 1st, congrates on getting your N.
2nd, make sure your get your copy of FO-4 repair manual as just about anything that needs working/repairing will be in it complete with some nice exploded views of it..
3rd, don't be afraid to ask for advice/suggestions from these guys as there are really smart and VERY patient with people like you and I when it comes to helping us.

When I got my 1943 2N a few years ago she was in a bad state of 'cobbled together with a lack of maintainance'. Rear tires dated to 1968 and were in VERY bad shape so I replaced the worst one that year. Sitting over the winter the 2nd one bit the bullet so I changed it the 2nd year along with the sad looking fronts. I paid someone to do rears but did fronts myself while recovering from a by-pass surgury. This past winter I had to change points in a snowbank (a 30 minute job in blowing snow). This spring I needed to replace the 71 yr old radiator.
Show me ANY car/truck made "today" that will have the original radiator in 20 , much less 71, years.

Take your time and in no time at all you will have a tractor that you are proud of and eNjoying.
 
A side note. If you don't have much in tools I highly suggest you DO NOT go to Harbor Freight and get the 300 peice set for $50. There is nothing more frustrating than working on stuff with cheap poorly made tools. Get Craftsman or equal tools. Amazing what you can find at garage/yard sales but leave the SWMBO at home cause she will want to spend your tool $ on candle holders and other decorations for the house (don't ask me how I know!).
Also when you get to the point of prefering to spend time working with/on your tractor "DO NOT" tell her. Tractors tell you when they need fixing but don't nag you about getting it done ~wink~
 
You'll be OK!! When I bought my '52 8N about 3 years ago, there was a 'knock' in the transmission. The farmer I bought it from said it had been like that since he bought it 15 years before (he had like 8 tractors, the N was used for the family garden) and he had never bothered to try to find out what was causing it because everything worked correctly other than the 'knock'. Well, I used it for a couple weeks (just pulling the brush cutter in the beginning) and decided I needed to find/fix the problem.

I found this site (and the 'other' N site) and started asking questions. Bought the F04 manual and a parts manual. Found a couple gear teeth in the tranny sump when I drained it. Visual inspection in the tranny and I realized the broken teeth must be from the lower counter shaft, that I could not see without pulling out the gears above. Did not want to tear it down, not knowing which gear I needed until I got it apart and then have to find that gear and then order it -- all the while the tractor would be out of service. Found a complete tranny (minus the housing) on eBay at a great price so ordered that, and also ordered all the gaskets I thought I would need. When it arrived I split the tractor and tore out all the tranny gears to find a gear with two broken teeth. Just replaced the lower shaft and all gears from the eBay tranny, put it all back together and it has been great since. No more knocking.

I am not a mechanic but these things are really easy to work on (other than dealing with the heavy weight of almost every component!!) I have since rewired it (found the reason that the battery kept needing to be charged was not a bad battery but that the wiring was hammered and it was not being charged by the alternator (which was working correctly). Also rebuilt the hydraulics top cover and have since added a live hydraulics kit. I have also replaced a worn hub and did a complete brake overhaul. You really don't need any elaborate tools, just a few wrenches and sockets will take almost anything off. When you need something special - like the 2 1/8" socket (I think) for the rear hub, just get that. Soon you will have a box of 8N tools!! Most replacement parts, gaskets, etc., are available for them. If you need an item that is no longer produced, you can usually find one on one of these forums or on eBay.

Congratulations on your 'new' N and don't get discouraged!! Soon you'll have it working fine and will wonder how you lived without it!! All I have is a good sized garden and probably about 3 acres to mow (my son's property - the 'excuse' I used to finally buy the 8N I had wanted for years!!) But, I have also used it to dig a trench for a water line, dug to repair a bad septic drain field line, etc., etc. I use it almost every day for something - and unless I have a plow or brush mower or disk hanging off the back, then I have my carryall on it all the time. It's great for hauling anything around from chainsaws to brush to grandkids.....
 
if the bat is dead from no charge system.. the starter is gonna act up.

fix it one system at a time.

I would not characterize any of the early ford models ( without sos trannies ;) ) undependable. :)
 
The newest one you can buy would be 62 years old.
I don't think I'd classify that as undependable. :)
Weak battery equals weak spark unless you have a magneto.
A weak battery also won't turn the starter.
If you tried to start it with a weak battery the starter drive gear
may have stuck in the flywheel. Many times it can be freed by
putting the tractor in high gear and rocking it back in forth by
pushing on the rear tire hard enough to turn the engine a bit.
It does take quite a bit of push. Two guys can do it easier.
Best of luck!
 

I tightened both battery cables, and wiggled/tightened anything associated with the starter. It fired up for me. I actually used it to spray some pastures this evening. I've got a 300 gallon pull behind sprayer with a boomless nozzle. It pulled it full of water, just fine. I don't mind spraying anyway, but it sure made the job pleasurable.
 

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