Ah gots me a new toy.... Starting an 8n that's set for a bit

Mdparrott

Member
Picked her up last night for a song. She needs a little TLC.

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32737.jpg


48 8N.

Seller said it sat for two and a half years. He was Bush hogging, hit a stump and broke the steering box. Never fixed it, said it ran strong when he parked it. Motors not locked up.

My plan is to fill the cylinders with a mixture of ATF and Marvel mystery oil for 24 hours, pump the oil out of the cylinders before putting in new spark plugs, and trying to get her started. Just in case something in there is stuck.

Anything else I should consider or check before initial start? I plan to clean the tank and lines good with fresh gas and change applicable fluids.

Advice, suggestions and opinions welcome. I know we had a recent thread on the forum from someone else who is also starting a tractor that set, but searching I couldn't find it. TIA.
 
Sounds good though personally, I would not bother to fill the jugs with atf/mmo, but would just shoot a few ounces into each hole and turn the engine over by hand to
distribute it. Filling makes it hard to get out unless you have the perfect tool just waiting to be used. Also, I'd probably forget I'd filled them and hit the starter, raising all kinds of hell. I'd also do a quicky carb cleaning.

Oh, add "clean the points" to your list, and check for spark immediately upon trying to start it if it doesn't.
 
I agree with Kyle,
If the engine is free shoot a tablespoon of oil down each hole and turn it over.
Then as you said, fresh gas, get spark, etc.
I would not spend a dime changing fluids or any thing else. Yet.
There is plenty of time for that after you get it running again and can evaluate whether it's worth putting any money into.
 
As the others have said and I might add prime the oil pump...spin it over with plugs out to see if you can get the gauge to jump up a little, she's gonna be dry and you might get lucky and it fires right off...I'm never that lucky but you might be... Dan
 
Good find, md.


Question for you all. I've been on here for a little while now and have read many times "turn it over by hand", but quite frankly I don't know what you all are saying.

Can anybody please explain how I would do that? I know I'll have to in the future. Thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 14:48:14 02/10/16) I think they were referring to using one of these hand cranks to turn over the engine.
a214714.jpg

Ah, thank you. I need to get one and figure how to use it lol. Thanks for explanation and picture.
 
(quoted from post at 17:56:16 02/10/16)
(quoted from post at 14:48:14 02/10/16) I think they were referring to using one of these hand cranks to turn over the engine.
a214714.jpg

Ah, thank you. I need to get one and figure how to use it lol. Thanks for explanation and picture.

You can do it without the crank. Push the fan belt down for extra tension and turn the engine with the fan blade. Easy, especially if the plugs are out so there's no compression.
 
(quoted from post at 19:44:45 02/10/16)
(quoted from post at 17:56:16 02/10/16)
(quoted from post at 14:48:14 02/10/16) I think they were referring to using one of these hand cranks to turn over the engine.
a214714.jpg

Ah, thank you. I need to get one and figure how to use it lol. Thanks for explanation and picture.

You can do it without the crank. Push the fan belt down for extra tension and turn the engine with the fan blade. Easy, especially if the plugs are out so there's no compression.

Thank you for explaining that to me, ScoutB. I had a feeling most people were talking about spinning it with their hands.
 
I'm not usually in a big hurry, so I would put the ATF in the
cylinders and let it set for a few days or a week.
By then, especially if the rings are stuck, most of it will have
leaked past into the crankcase anyway and lubed the cylinder
walls on the way there.

While that's soaking, clean and gap the points. Set the timing.
Look it over good for things that may need attention later.
I agree that I wouldn't spend money on the fluids, etc yet,
but it wouldn't hurt to check them, the air cleaner, etc.
Look for mouse damage to the wiring and nests in tubing/exhaust.
Priming the oil pump was also a good suggestion.

You can turn them over by pushing the fan with the plugs out.
To get most of the residual ATF out a spin of the starter, key
off, plugs out generally works but can make a mess.

A hand crank is what I use when I want to turn them.
Ford hand cranks can be hard to find around here.
A Farmall Cub hand crank works fine to turn them with.
Fits right through the hole in the grill and doesn't rub.
Not sure I'd want to use it to actually start one though.

Let us know how it goes. Looks like a straight old tractor.
Radius rods are in better shape than the one I drug home last
month and yours has the original style seat on it already! :)
 

That's not bad at all!
I find often, that the valves may be stuck.
I take the valve covers off and oil the valves good while turning the engine over by hand with a small pry bar or large screw driver through the timing hole to the flywheel.

Joe
 
Thanks for the comments, fellas.

She is a pretty straight old tractor. Hood and dog legs need to be replaced, have rusted through along the seams on both sides. I have to rebuild the steering box, I can tell that at the least the top bearing is broken.

The most expensive is gonna be a new (newer?) rear tire and probably another wheel. Has a spot of rust on the outside, pretty sure will find its rusted through. PO did keep fluid in the tires so I'm banking on rust inside as well.

PO said she ran good and strong when he parked her.

First thought I'd fix her up and clean her up, put on a new tire/wheel and flip her. Now I'm thinking I need another spare tractor. ????
 
I second the spare tractor idea!

Having just got one going that sat for 15 plus years I will tell you CLEAN every electrical connection and make sure they are working properly....I couldnt get spark from mine and every damn part was working correctly....couldnt figure it out....finally saw a random post about a bolt that runs through the dist....ended up being my problam......

Cleaning and inspecting the entire electrical system only takes about an hour....cause the electrical system is so darn simple.....
 
I have a few teeth missing on the flywheel, and it almost ALWAYS stops in that spot. The front bumper won't let me use the hand crank. With the key off, trans in neutral, and PTO engaged, I use a pipe wrench on the over running clutch on the PTO. Grab it on the non splined part, and spin the engine backwards to get into the good teeth. Should work for you. Just be absolutely sure everything is off, and in neutral except the PTO.
 

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