Ford 641 project

8NLUGNUT · Apr 11, 2012

I bought a 641 last week that was kinda running. Kinda. The sheet metal was off and it actually ran a little. A little.

This one is going to be fun and I should be done and have it running just in time to start shreading now that we are out from under the drought.

It had a Zenith carb on it that was full of sediment from the rusty tank and the float was stuck open on it.

So far I've cleaned out the tank as best as I can, rebuilt the carb, and put a sediment bowl inline.

So now I have a few questions.

1. What are the proper adjustments for the Zenith?

2. It has 216 plugs in it. Are those the appropriate plugs for it? Will it run the 437's like the 8n any better?

3. Someone disconnected the starter safety switch and put a car ignition switch in it. Anything I need to know about the 641 or is it the same as the 8N? Looks pretty basic.

4. The sheet metal pieces look like they were spot welded originally. I'm thinking I might do that but also run bolts like my 8N's. Were they spot welded or some type of rivet?

8NLUGNUT · Apr 12, 2012

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrytPwwqZWo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrytPwwqZWo[/ame]

Today I drained the water out of the carb(shouldn't have to do that too many more times) and sediment bowl and cleaned and regapped the plugs.

The plugs were all over 25 with one of them around 40.

As soon as I hit the starter the 641 fired right up. I was very happy to see that.

I ran it for about 30 minutes and found that there is engine oil dripping from under the shifter area on the tractor. At first I thought it might be water from rain going around and through the rotted shifter boot but I was able to determine that it was engine oil. More work.

I also could not get the lift to come up. That's odd because when we bought the tractor it tested good with two people on it. It was in the up position for the last week. When I put it down to check it today it did not come up. I checked the draft position but that made no difference. The PTO works. Hummm?

Soundguy · Apr 13, 2012

437 plugs work fine.

i'd hook the interlock safety start switch up. same setup as an 8n. in fact.. a 640 is like an updated naa.. which is kinda like an 8n side mount.. 4spd non live pto.. 640 has live hyds though.

if no lift.. bleed the pump.. check fluid too.

leak under the tractor if crank oil is fromt he rear main seal. if she sat along time it may have got hard. might soften up with a lil panther juice.. for now.. but will eventually need real fixin if it leaks bad..

8NLUGNUT · Apr 14, 2012

Panther juice?

Soundguy · Apr 14, 2012

you know.. like snake oil

8NLUGNUT · Apr 14, 2012

Well it was an oily day but it wasn't snake oil.

The water/oil leak for now is gone. It was coming from the transmission inspection hole cover. We'll drive it around Sunday and see if it's really gone but I think it was years of condensation or rain water that had worked it's way in.

We drained and replaced all the oil in the tractor. Everything was contaminated with water. Lots of water. Except the engine.

The lift is now working again.

If everything we did today sticks then it will be time to move on to wiring and sheet metal. Then go shredding.

I'm tired. I need some BBQ.

Soundguy · Apr 14, 2012

that weep hole is there to drain out leaked oil from a rear main or tranny input shaft. if trans is overfull from water intrusion, and you drained and refileld to proper level.. no doubt it quit statically leaking.

time will tell about the health of the seal. again. sometimes a 'high milage' oil conditioner will temporarilly help by sofetening hard seals. .. if the seal is really damaged though.. no panther oil will help it.

8NLUGNUT · Apr 14, 2012

I looked at a friends Jubilee yesterday and it looked like he had a regular oil filter screwed in wher the original went. Is that an after market kit?

I Forgot to add that we put a nice new steering wheel on today. Better than the electrical taped original that had chunks falling off.

Soundguy · Apr 14, 2012

while later engines took a spin on filter natively, however the earlier engines that had a canister had a spin on kit that takes oly minutes to install.. just an adapter plate, threaded nipple and gasket arangement...

soundguy

Soundguy · Apr 14, 2012

remember to service that steering box while you are messing with steering.. and put some neverseize ont he splines and threads.. the next guy to take the steering wheel off ( might be you ) will appreciate it...

8NLUGNUT · Apr 14, 2012

Soundguy said:
while later engines took a spin on filter natively, however the earlier engines that had a canister had a spin on kit that takes oly minutes to install.. just an adapter plate, threaded nipple and gasket arangement...

soundguy

He must'a been running a kit.

Steering wheel.

We just put some axle grease on the spline and threads. I saw the nipple on the box. What do I need to do other than lube? It feels pretty good.

Last one that bailed on me I had to take to Charlie to fix. $$$$$

I don't want to do that again if I can help it.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iv9_Mtz4wc&list=UUvJJw9y-6mF00UdXlp30PpQ&index=36&feature=plcp]Ford 8N broke the steering while shredding - YouTube[/ame]

Soundguy · Apr 14, 2012

should be no nipple oem, as it was an oil sump box.. though many of us convert to a 0 or 00 ep grease.. which is wht I'd put in it... jd cornhead 0ep is fine.. or snapper / stens 00 ep grease..e tc..

8NLUGNUT · Apr 15, 2012

cornhead is good stuff

strum456 · Apr 15, 2012

When did they make the spin on filters standard? I was surprised that my 841 had the old style when i got it. I switched it so all my old fords take the same filter.

8NLUGNUT · Apr 15, 2012

strum456 said:
When did they make the spin on filters standard? I was surprised that my 841 had the old style when i got it. I switched it so all my old fords take the same filter.

Where did you get the kit and is it universal to the 8n and the 641?

I might put it on the 8n also.

strum456 · Apr 15, 2012

8NLUGNUT said:
Where did you get the kit and is it universal to the 8n and the 641?

I might put it on the 8n also.

I think i got mine on ebay. They arent hard to find. It will definitely work on a 600. I am not sure on the N.

8NLUGNUT · Apr 15, 2012

Here's the old steering wheel coming off. I'm sure some have had worse. I know I have.

8NLUGNUT · Apr 16, 2012

All I did today was clean up all the kitty litter I put under the tractor for the oil change and took the used oil to Advance Auto to recycle.

While looking at the wiring I was interrupted by the local peacocks. I tried to explain to him that that hen was his sister and they were both hatched together in my planter but he ignored me.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQbMSXlNqtk&list=UUvJJw9y-6mF00UdXlp30PpQ&index=1&feature=plpp_video]Albino Peacocks - YouTube[/ame]

Soundguy · Apr 16, 2012

8NLUGNUT said:
Where did you get the kit and is it universal to the 8n and the 641?

I might put it on the 8n also.

the canister to spin on kit is for the OHV engines only, and is not applicable to the 8n.

the kit fits all the red tigers that had canisters. when the red tigers went parent bore and sleeveless.. the spin on was standard I believe.. so around 000 4 cyl production I'd think. RickB will know for sure. I'd have to look in a manual to say excatly.. etc.

there are some 8n oil filter spin on kits on ebay.. most of them are plumbed backwards as the people selling them apparrently don't know which way oil flows in an N

you can get the same thing/ head and fitler, from napa nad bend up lines yerself IF you want to do it.. personally.. I don't min dthe lil napa 1010 or fram c3 / c3p 8n canister filter.. it's no big deal to change...

soundguy

8NLUGNUT · Apr 26, 2012

Does anybody have a picture of where the choke is mounted on the dash? I'm going to have to put an aftermarket choke cable on the zenith carb since there was no choke assembly on the tractor. There is a broken switch mounted low on the left side. Could that have been the original hole?