Does someone want to help out a silly little girl?

   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #1  

Jodi24

New member
Joined
Oct 31, 2004
Messages
2
Alright, you all are going to laugh at me, and I don't blame you. But any help that I can get will be truly appreciated!

Long story short, I have acquired an 8n. My father taught me how to drive it way back when, and don't you know, everything he has taught me has gone out the window. I just had a tune up done on her and she was brought to my house this morning. I will be *** if I know even how to get the old girl started.

Laugh all you want... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But I need serious help. I DO know the difference between the clutch and the break pedals... I can't tell you what position the key is supposed to be in when on. I do know where the shifter is and how to use that, I know where the lever for raising and lowing the three point hitch is. Other than that... I am lost.
Take pity on me... I am only 26..... Don't laugh at me too badly!
Thanks a whole bunch!
Jodi
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #2  
You want to send a Message to SoundGuy, our resident expert on old Ford metal

good Luck, Jodie!!!!!!
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #3  
Welcome to the forum, and you don't need to apologize here. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

There is a key to turn on (flat I believe) and a starter button to push (when the clutch is in -down). There is a choke to pull for cold start which just gets more gas to the engine to fire. If the engine sputters when cold, pull the choke out briefly again. Put it in a slow gear, and let the clutch out slowly. You are off and running.

Just THINK what you are doing all the time. Go slow until you are familiar with the movement, and the ability to stop.

Enjoy. The 8N is a great tractor.

(and Soundguy is the guy!)
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Thanks a bunch guys! I appreciate your kindness! I figured I had the key in the on position when it wouldn't come out of the cylinder, that's just a given right? Been a long day! Anyhow, The clutch is down, she is in neutral and I press the starter and nothing. I am pretty certain that I am doing something wrong, because she was running this morning. I am going to have to call the tune up guy and have him give me a tutorial on how to work her... Didn't really want to do that, he'll talk to me like I was a nine year old, better to have folks talk to me like that here, at least I can't see your faces!! HAHA...
My father raised me to have a fondness for all vehicles, especially the classics, I am so happy to have this tractor and just want to do things right. Sounds, silly doesn't it? She has been in the family since my old man was a baby, She has out lived him, and probably will out live me, I want to make sure of that! I know I have a gem of a tractor here!
Thanks guys!!!
Jodi
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #5  
The key should be turned clockwise to get it to the "Run" position. Actually, you can crank the engine whether the key is on or not on the 8N's.

The transmission must be in neutral but if memory serves me you don't have to have the clutch pushed in.

Check the battery cables. I have had 2 8N's and when they wouldn't crank at all it was generally because of loose or corroded battery cables.

One of the great things about 8N's is they are very simple and easy to work on. Buy one of those IT tractor manuals for the 8N and it will show you everything you will ever need to know about it.

A bit of advice: When you get ready to shut if off for a few days turn the gas off and let it run until it dies, then turn the key off. That will prevent the gas from drying out in the carburetor and gumming up the works.

If it sits for a few weeks and will crank but won't start take the distributor cap off (make sure key is "Off") use a small screwdriver to push the movable part of the points so you can slip a piece of 400 or 800 grit sandpaper that is folded up so you sand both sides of the points at the same time. Let the movable part of the points go so it will "hold" the sandpaper and pull it through. Do this once or twice, not enough to really remove any metal, just break the "glaze" on the points. For some reason the points would glaze over if I didn't run it for 5 or 6 weeks. I used to keep a piece of sandpaper on the tractor.

Safety Note: Do NOT have the engine revved up when you let out on the clutch or you could flip the tractor over backwards! Just give it a little gas then let the clutch out and then accelerate.

Have fun!

Bill Tolle
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #6  
Jodi,

I can't help with your question... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

But I might help in the long run by suggesting that you take some time and read the archives in the safety forum...

Tractors have different safety issues than other vehicles. Be carefull, take time to understand and enjoy for a LONG lifetime...

Tractors are such amazing tools. They can help so much and hurt so quickly if we are not aware of both their strenghts and weaknesses...

Have fun working that tractor...by the way...you called it a she...I thought girls had boy tractors and boys had girl tractors... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #7  
Hi Jodi, Welcome aboard. The 8N will in fact only start in neutral. Sometimes the push button needs to be pushed a few times to work. At least mine did. The key has to be turned to the right to make it stay running. The clutch does not need to be depressed except in the winter when the hydraulic oil is thick and cold. I have an IT manual that you can have if you send me your address. I sold my 8N a few years ago and do not need it anymore. email me at jhrobert@charter.net
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #8  
Hi Jodi,
First I would not think of laughing at you. Having never run an 8n I am not sure I would have any better luck than you starting it. What I would suggest is that you find someone that is familiar with those tractors to do a little tutorial with you. If the service guy has attitude forget him and find someone else. There are things like popping the clutch or using implements on the back of the tractor that can be dangerous unless done right. They are not hard things to do but need to be done properly to be safe. I’d bet ten minutes with an experienced user would bring back much of what your Dad taught you. It will be great to have that memory around.

Let us know your area and there might be someone here on the forum that could give you a little help.

MarkV
 
   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #9  
Jodi, I have an old 8N Operators Manual and I'll try to help you. I'm attaching a photo to this post that shows all the main operator controls. You also need to know the location of all oil dipsticks, where to add oil and what type to use, air cleaner servicing, and how to clean your radiator and check the fluid. these are all normal things that need to be checked often on an old tractor. If you can get some help from your dealer or someone else who can give you one-on-one help, it would be the best. Otherwise, I'm sure if you have a specific question, you can get a great answer right here on TBN.
<font color="blue">
Some people replace the old ignition switch with a standard one that doesn't use the starter button. They do that because of problems with the standard starter button or for other reasons. You can check that by turning the key past the ON postion to see if the engine cranks. If it does, you don't need to use the starter button as noted below. Can you see a wire coming from the base of the starter button? If not, it may not be hooked up. Also, the old starter solenoids had a button on the bottom you could push up and that would power the starter. That's probably too much info for now, but if you know what a starter solenoid looks like, it is under the battery in front of the steering column. You can see it by looking behind the air cleaner area.</font> <font color="purple">Oops! The solenoid on an 8N is in front of the battery on the left side, I believe. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif </font>

Here is the procedure in the OM for starting the engine:

"To start the engine, turn the ignition switch ON, and partially open the throttle (Hand throttle below steering wheel - pull toward you to open, push away to close). Hold the clutch pedal down and put the shifter into Neutral. (The procedure says to continue to hold the clutch down during starting, but if it is not very, very cold, you can realease the clutch after putting the shifter in Neutral.) When the engine is not warm, pull the choke out and hold it while pressing the Starter Button on the top of the transmission casing. (If the transmission is not in neutral, the starter button will not operate the starter.) After the engine starts, use the choke as required to keep the engine running smoothly until it warms up."

When the engine is warm, starting the engine does not require use of the choke. As a matter of fact, choking the engine excessively may cause flooding and the spark plugs may have to be removed, dried, and the cylinders vented. Also, these older Fords are notorious for having condensation collect in the distributor and cause hard starting. If you can keep your tractor in a dry place, it will make it much more reliable.

I'm going to try to not give you too much info at once. This and what others have said should get you started. I'm sure Soundguy will also have some excellent advice. Good luck with your 8N. The only thing I might remind you is that the 8N is a gasoline engine. Don't make the mistake of filling the tank with diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

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   / Does someone want to help out a silly little girl? #10  
Jodi 24, Just having a little recent experience with an 8N, I'm thinking maybe the actual starter button isn't being pushed hard enough some of those switches must be depressed very hard to make contact especially if they haven't been replaced or at least cleaned up.. And the throttle is on the right of the steering column give it a little throttle before you set the choke, Since you just had it tuned up there should be no real problem with getting her going. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 

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