1951 8N 30 year tuneup

[mapper]

I never had any issues with ethanol gas in my 48 8n. I did however always turn off the fuel valve under the fuel tank.
My tractor would be a bit hard to start if it sat for a month or two in damp conditions, but that was easy to remedy by giving the points a quick polish. (well as easy as it ever was to work on a front mount distributor)

 

[Soundguy]

Yup, easy has different levels.

 

[fried1765]

I never had any issues with ethanol gas in my 48 8n. I did however always turn off the fuel valve under the fuel tank.
My tractor would be a bit hard to start if it sat for a month or two in damp conditions, but that was easy to remedy by giving the points a quick polish. (well as easy as it ever was to work on a front mount distributor)

"I never had any issues with ethanol gas in my 8N".

Me either!
I don't want to just hope that ethanol "issues" will not arise.
I want to avoid them, by simply using only non-ethanol gas.

 

[Tennsawdust]

It's good to give them a little refresh every few decades.

Fortunately we have a station just a few miles down the road that carries pure gasoline. It costs a little more, but it sure beats the fight that is involved in replacing fuel lines on tiny little engines every year!

 

[Soundguy]

Tell me about it.. I lost a good chainsaw and weed water to bad gas before.. No fun.

 

[wolc123]

I have been running ethanol-free 91 octane in most of my small engines and two strokes (boat motors, chainsaws, etc) since it became available (for about 50 cents more per gallon) a few years ago. It sure helps them start and run better after sitting a long time. My two lawn mowers, (14.5 hp 4oulan/B&S and 15 hp JD/Kohler) and old farm tractors still get the cheapest 10 % ethanol 87 octane that I can find. The 8n has done well on the ethanol gas.

 

[Soundguy]

the N was made to run on lower than 87 anyway. Good deal.

Wish we had a local non ethanol station that didn't make me drive 20m one way to get it. For now, for my weed eater and chanisaw I've been running the 'canned' gas that is pre mixed and non ethanol. says it lasts 2 years in the can.. but I use multiple cans per year, so no storage issues.

 

[fried1765]

the N was made to run on lower than 87 anyway. Good deal.

Wish we had a local non ethanol station that didn't make me drive 20m one way to get it. For now, for my weed eater and chanisaw I've been running the 'canned' gas that is pre mixed and non ethanol. says it lasts 2 years in the can.. but I use multiple cans per year, so no storage issues.

20 miles? You are lucky!
Nearest non-ethanol gas to me is in a neighboring state....140 miles away.
As a result, I use 100LL aviation gas (14 miles away).