8N 12 volt conversion problem

jbull380

Member
Hello this is my first post here. I've been lurking for
a while getting most of the info I needed but got to a
point where it looked like I needed to post a
question or two.
I purchased a Ford 8N with the side mount dist. It
had some sort of hack job 12 vt conversion but the
alternator was hooked and probably never was. It
had a toggle switch for a key and the starter button
was bypassed and replaced with a button on the
dash. It also has a four post solenoid instead of a
three post. I purchased a conversion kit, key switch,
starter button and new ammeter. I wired it exactly
as pictured below. The only thing is it still has the 4
post solenoid. I'm getting no power to the starter
when the button is pushed. Am I missing something
obvious?
Untitled URL Link
 
If it has the correct 4 post solenoid it is either on back wards as in battery cable and starter hook up back wards or you have the small wire on the wrong terminal. Now if it is a car type solenoid it will not work since the N series uses a ground to make the solenoid close up and a car type uses battery voltage to the post to make it work
 

Well it's probably an automotive part. Everything else looked like it was out of an auto parts store or salvage. I'll pick up a new one tomorrow after church. Thanks!
 
Get the correct 3 wire solenoid made for the 8N and you will save your self a lot of problems
 
You need the correct 3 wire solenoid AND you need to put it on
oriented the right way. The solenoid should mount on the starter
with the small terminal pointed in towards the block.
It will not work if pointed outward.

If you have a solenoid mounted somewhere other than on the
starter, it can be made to work but it still has to be the correct
type (ground to the stud) and has to have the wiring hooked
up correctly for the ground from the neutral safety switch to
activate the solenoid correctly. This one uses a 9N starter on
an 8N. It works fine but is obviously not original.


mvphoto24940.jpg
 

New solenoid installed and the starter drive works. I have no fire to the plugs though. I think the previous owner put a 12 volt coil on it since he had a 12 volt battery installed with a 12 volt solenoid and no resistor between the coil and power supply. The alternator was not even wired when I got it. It would start up and run great though. I have a multimeter coming. I need to see what the output if any on that coil. The saga continues......
 

So I'm setting out on the patio enjoying an adult beverage running the day's events in my head. It suddenly occurred to me I didn't remember putting the rotor bug back in the distributor. It was lying in some tall grass. Good thing I have a sense of humor.
 
Glad to hear you got it running.

For the fuel leak, if it is leaking at the top of the glass bowl clean
that area real well making sure you have all of the old gaskets
out of it then install a new gasket. I like cork gaskets, others
like the rubber ones. Both are readily available.

If it is leaking around the shutoff valve stem many times you
can just tighten the nut a little and that will solve it.
 
I do appreciate the input. I expect I'll be fixing little things on it for a while but I do need it serviceable because I have work for it to do now. Mostly box blading my driveway and brush hogging.
 

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