9N will not start

WMRICH

Member
I own a 9N Ford and about 3 years ago it just quit running when I was mowing. Checked the compressions and they were 80 psi on all cylinders, I thought it must be the carb as there was spark but I changed the points and condenser at that time and cleaned the carb, I did not get it running at that time , so it sat for the last three years, lately I took it to a shop and they put a new coil on it and got good ignition but it backfired and would not start, the repair person said the compressions were all in the 60's and he said it had to be bad valves. Well I ran into a gentleman in Minnesota who repairs Ford 8N's 9N's and other fords and he told me if the compression gauge is holding presser after you stop turning the engine the valves are ok, he said if you put some oil in the cylinders and do a compression check and the compressions come up its stuck or bad rings. I put the oil in the cylinders and they all came up to 100psi. He also told me you should be able to get it started with 60psi and once you get it running put Sea Foam in the oil and the rings should loosen up, Well for the life of me I cannot get the tractor started, backfires and sputters a lot though, any one have any ideas ?
 
Do you have a friend that can pull it . This way all the battery voltage will go to the distributor and coil . Instead of the starter. And if it sat for 3 years the gas isnt any good. So you may have to drain the tank.
 
(quoted from post at 17:17:13 08/23/20) Do you have a friend that can pull it . This way all the battery voltage will go to the distributor and coil . Instead of the starter. And if it sat for 3 years the gas isnt any good. So you may have to drain the tank.
Pulling it sounds like a good idea, I have put fresh gas in it, and a clean carb as well.
 
(quoted from post at 23:23:36 08/23/20)
(quoted from post at 17:17:13 08/23/20) Do you have a friend that can pull it . This way all the battery voltage will go to the distributor and coil . Instead of the starter. And if it sat for 3 years the gas isnt any good. So you may have to drain the tank.
Pulling it sounds like a good idea, I have put fresh gas in it, and a clean carb as well.
Please remember that you dont have to go 90 mph to get it to turn over. Please use caution!
 
Check to make sure the firing order is correct. 1,2,4,3. Also I would make sure the brakes work before you try to pull start it. How good is the battery by the way?
cvphoto53981.jpg
 
I know that the plug wires are alright, as I said it was at a service garage where they put a new 12v coil on it, I have also checked it. It just sputters but I have not tried pulling it, also found out That Auto Lite 216 plugs might help.
 
(quoted from post at 18:28:54 08/23/20) I know that the plug wires are alright, as I said it was at a service garage where they put a new 12v coil on it, I have also checked it. It just sputters but I have not tried pulling it, also found out That Auto Lite 216 plugs might help.

I would still check the firing order. It's easy to do it wrong.
 
(quoted from post at 17:36:34 08/23/20) I own a 9N Ford and about 3 years ago it just quit running when I was mowing. Checked the compressions and they were 80 psi on all cylinders, I thought it must be the carb as there was spark but I changed the points and condenser at that time and cleaned the carb, I did not get it running at that time , so it sat for the last three years, lately I took it to a shop and they put a new coil on it and got good ignition but it backfired and would not start, the repair person said the compressions were all in the 60's and he said it had to be bad valves. Well I ran into a gentleman in Minnesota who repairs Ford 8N's 9N's and other fords and he told me if the compression gauge is holding presser after you stop turning the engine the valves are ok, he said if you put some oil in the cylinders and do a compression check and the compressions come up its stuck or bad rings. I put the oil in the cylinders and they all came up to 100psi. He also told me you should be able to get it started with 60psi and once you get it running put Sea Foam in the oil and the rings should loosen up, Well for the life of me I cannot get the tractor started, backfires and sputters a lot though, any one have any ideas ?
Well I ran into a gentleman in Minnesota who repairs Ford 8N's 9N's and other fords and he told me if the compression gauge is holding presser after you stop turning the engine the valves are ok,..." Well, he is definitely one to stop listening to! You say you are positive firing order is correct, but you didn't say that you checked & verified it????? Gas 3 years old! Don't expect it to run!
 
To answer Jim question the battery is still good enough to crank it quite a bit before it runs down, thanks for posting the firing order in the photo.
 
I would say that the guy in Minnesota know quite a bit about 8Ns he and his father have been working on them for 50 years they own a ford shop, when a compression gauge holds presser for long term, it only stands to reason that the valves are not leaking
 
After pulling the 9N with another tractor I was able to get it started, although it runs ruff. Thanks for all your help.
 
Are you: OEM 6V/POS GRN or a 12V NEG GRN switch over job? 92.357% of all non-starting uses are due to incorrect wiring regardless if 6V or 12V. What does the AMMETER show at idle when running? Have you or someone else messed with the front mount distributor? Get out your Essential Manuals and verify wiring with your VOM set to continuity, no power applied, NOT a test light with power. Got lights? Disconnect for now. Got a good battery? Simply put it on a charger doesn't mean the battery is good. It must sustain a full charge under load, specific gravity met. Take to a local shop, have unit bench tested under load. A battery that has set for three years, let alone 3 months, will be severely discharged and junk. Jump starting is only applying power to the host battery and won't last long. The OEM 6V setup includes: 6V AG battery; 1-Wire/3-Brush Generator WITH A BELT TENSION DEVICE; Roundcan Cutout Circuit (NOT a VR); 1-Wire Starter Motor -NO SOLENOID; OEM Ballast Resistor; 6V square coil; Ignition Key Switch; 30/30 AMMETER; neutral safety starter push button switch, and all wired correctly including correct battery cables for 6V -thick babies. If 12V, gen and cutout are removed, alternator (1-wire best)and 12V battery installed, Ballast resistor as is, coil needs an external 1-OHM ceramic resistor or switch to a 12V coil and eliminate external resistor. Any way, if not wired correctly, you will have issues. Don't assume your shop knew what they were doing with your old gen. Many guys don't have a belt tensioner on gen and thus it will never charge the battery. If firing order is wrong it can cause backfiring. 1,2, 4, 3 CCW-see pic. Start over, go slow, you can do this yourself. You also can jump state the tractor using your car or truck 12V battery -and not have to muck around with trying to pull it all around the yard. There is specific way to do that, but we'll get to that later. Shown are OEM 6V/POS GRN info from manuals. If you have 12V, wiring is different and not shown in any OEM manual.

FORD TRACTOR 9N & 2N OEM 6V/POS GRN WIRING:
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/QWaC1aah.jpg">​
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/CJedLEch.jpg">​
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FRONT MOUNT TIMING PROCEDURE:
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FORD TRACTOR FRONT MOUNT DISTRIBUTOR TIMING APPLICATION GAGE:
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FORD FRONT MOUNT DISTRIBUTOR – WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MOUNTED 180° OFF:
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FORD TRACTOR FRONT MOUNT DISTRIBUTOR FIRING ORDER; 1,2,4,3 CCW:
Tbt5WvEh.jpg


OEM FORD 2N-10000 GENERATOR WITH BELT TENSIONER ATTACHED:
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FORD 9N/2N TRACTOR ESSENTIAL OWNER/OPERATOR/PARTS/SERVICE MANUALS:
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Tim Daley(MI)
 
Excellent information ,the tractor as I said did start and run with a lot of smoke for about 20 minutes after pulling it with another tractor . The battery in question did not sit idol for three years it did have a trickel charger on it and I did turn the tractor over about once every month during those three years, but still it would be good to have a new battery, this 9N was converted to 12 V before I got it and it has an alternator, it does have the 12V coil on the frount mount distributor.
 
Glad you were able to get it started.
Her's a little info for reference:
.....Well I ran into a gentleman in Minnesota who repairs Ford 8N's 9N's and other fords and he told me if the compression gauge is holding presser after you stop turning the engine the valves are ok

Almost every compression gauge made, especially better quality ones like a professional would use, have built in check valves. So once the gauge fills with pressure, it will hold this pressure indefinitely, whether or not the gauge is still screwed into the cylinder head.


......he said if you put some oil in the cylinders and do a compression check and the compressions come up its stuck or bad rings.

Or a just plain worn out engine (worn cylinders)
 

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