8N hard to start in the cold

Howard 24 · Dec 12, 2009

My 1952 Ford 8N is hard to start when it is cold. I put new plugs ,wires,points,condinser and coli on it. I also put 5w 30 oil. It used to hit and try to run but always floods. I sprayed some ether in the carb and now it will not hit at all. I also had the carb rebuilt. Any help would be appreciated

bo · Dec 12, 2009

Check the compression. If the cold shrinks your pistons and rings then your compression will drop and starting will be a bear.
Pull all the plugs, advance the throttle all the way and check each cylinder. Record the readings. As you check the cylinders, record the reading of the first, put a tablespoon of oil into the cylinder and record again. If compression goes up, you have bad rings, if it doesn't then it indicates the valves are bad.

Dean · Dec 12, 2009

Howard:

If you have flooded it since you installed new plugs you will need to sandblast the plugs or install another new set. Modern gasoline and flooding of engines with Kettering style ignition systems do not mix.

As an aside, ALLWAYS hold the clutch down when cranking any engine to avoid loading the starter with the cold oil induced oil in the transmission, etc.

Dean

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Dec 12, 2009

Bo has excellent advice. Also make sure the battery, cables, and starter are up to par. If your electrical system is still 6V, you need 02 gauge cables MINIMUM. 00 gauge would be much better.

Rob in NE · Dec 12, 2009

Gap in the points can be picky, might double check that if you haven't allready

Anonymous-0 · Dec 12, 2009

One I had was hard to start, until I rebuilt the starter. It got new bearings and brushes. I think it was dragging from worn bearings. Then it got new wiring especially sturdy battery cables.

Gerald J.

old · Dec 12, 2009

Points set correct?? Since that one should be a side mount the points need to be set at 0.025. Also what does your spark look like?? It needs to be a blue/white and jump a 1/4 inch gap or more. Also once flood the plugs will be fouled out and need to be cleaned by heating them up to burn off the extra gas that fouled them

trucker40 · Dec 12, 2009

If you have spark you might put some oil in each cylinder.Ether will dry the cylinders out and lower the compression maybe.Squirt oil in and it might get some compression and fire.

david - or · Dec 12, 2009

Back in the mid 1960's it was my job to start the 2N for snow plowing duty in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. As my dad taught me (he'd learned the trick from the local old-timers) I'd fill a 3 gallon plastic bucket with hot water from the laundry tubs in the basement, carry it out to the tractor, pour the water slowly over the intake manifold, carb, and cylinder head. Once the intake pathway got warmed up it was much easier to start, even if I had to resort to hand cranking it (which I frequently did due to the weak 6 volt system).

Years later, I converted my restored 9N tractor to 12 volts, and it starts easily in any weather. Of course, it doesn't get nearly as cold here in Oregon as it did in Upper Michigan.

8N hard to start in the cold

Howard 24

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bo

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Dean

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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Rob in NE

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Anonymous-0

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old

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trucker40

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david - or

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