If your tractor turns over, but won't start, here are the most common problems and how to fix them. Don't worry if it seems to crank slower than your car, that is normal for a 6 volt system. Remember, one of the options back in the day was a hand crank to start this engine! Try stepping on the clutch, even with the transmission in neutral, stepping on the clutch removes a lot of rotating parts, so it should turn over a little easier.
Engine turns over but won't start, you smell gas. Did you forget to turn the ignition on? The start pushbutton simply grounds the terminal from the solenoid, so these engines will crank with the ignition turned off. I have occasionally put the key in, turned on the gas, climbed on, put it in neutral, stepped on the clutch, grabbed the choke, hit the start button, and proceeded to flood the engine. For some reason actually TURNING the ignition key ON is not in that sequence. I don't know why, but it has happened enough times that I put it here. If nothing else, you can have a good laugh at my expense.
Won't Start, getting gas & spark - You have spark and gas is getting to the carb, but the tractor won't start. If the tractor has been sitting for some time, it is likely that your gas has gone bad or has water in it. Drain and replace the gas with new. There is a drain plug on the bottom of the carb that will let you drain the entire system and fuel tank into a can. Stick a fresh set of Autolite 437 plugs in it also. If you keep your fuel tank more than half full you should have less problems with bad gas.
Won't Start, water in distributor cap - If you have trouble with your tractor during high-moisture times like, after a good rain, snow, or after power-washing it, check inside the distributor cap for moisture. Dry it all out inside (maybe put a fresh set of points in it) and you should be on your way again. This seems to happen more with the front-distributor engines. Replacing the gaskets on the coil and distributor cap should make the distributor assembly more waterproof.
Won't start, weak or no spark - run a jumper across the ignition switch terminals and try it. If it starts, replace your ignition switch. Don't leave the ignition switch jumpered for long periods with engine off or you could fry the points and the coil. If it wasn't the ignition switch, check for voltage at the small wire on the coil. On a side mount, look very closely at the wire coming from the coil to the distributor. This wire often gets damaged where it passes through the distributor housing. This will cause an intermittent failure that can be very hard to find because almost anything you touch could seem to make it run better for a moment or two. On a front mount, this same problem is often caused by grounded points where the capacitor connects or the coil spring connector on the bottom of the coil is not making good contact with the points (just stretch the springy thingy a little). The front-mount square-can coil is also not a very durable part and some of the replacements seem to fail right out of the box. So, even if you just replaced the coil, you might want to try a different one.
Won't Start, Flooded - Most of these engines require very little choke and are VERY easy to flood. My 8N is very forgiving. Even if I have flooded it, all I have to do is shove the choke lever back in and it starts with a big cloud of black smoke, cough, choke, gasp. Some engines just won't start until you put in a fresh set of plugs. Use Autolite 437 plugs. They run a little hotter and stay cleaner.
-- Edited by OscarZ on Sunday 24th of November 2013 10:35:12 AM
dashboard said
Nov 24, 2013
In an effort to generate some conversation here… How about some troubleshooting assistance or at least help me see if I’m going in the right direction?
I’m helping my brother in law with his Ford 8N tractor that is very temperamental when it comes to starting. It has, fresh fuel, a newly rebuilt carburetor, new points, wires, plugs and a new battery (6V).
It cranks very slow but I think they all do. Every once and a while it will just pop right off but most of the time it just cranks and cranks without starting. However, if you tow it, when you engage the clutch it starts right up.
I can't tell from the pic, is it the early front-distributor or later side-distributor? They changed in 1950
The early ones are known for having problems with moisture. Side distributor are more reliable and start easier.
dashboard said
Nov 24, 2013
It is a side mount distributor, forward right side.
Derek69SS said
Nov 24, 2013
Mine starts hard too since converting back to 6V...
Starts easy while warm, but needs to be choked a lot when cold. It started a lot easier when it was 12V, but Dad couldn't it keep from burning up coils... changed it to 6V right before he sold it to me.
http://www.myfordtractors.com On the site I found the following.
CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START
If your tractor turns over, but won't start, here are the most common problems and how to fix them. Don't worry if it seems to crank slower than your car, that is normal for a 6 volt system. Remember, one of the options back in the day was a hand crank to start this engine! Try stepping on the clutch, even with the transmission in neutral, stepping on the clutch removes a lot of rotating parts, so it should turn over a little easier.
Engine turns over but won't start, you smell gas. Did you forget to turn the ignition on? The start pushbutton simply grounds the terminal from the solenoid, so these engines will crank with the ignition turned off. I have occasionally put the key in, turned on the gas, climbed on, put it in neutral, stepped on the clutch, grabbed the choke, hit the start button, and proceeded to flood the engine. For some reason actually TURNING the ignition key ON is not in that sequence. I don't know why, but it has happened enough times that I put it here. If nothing else, you can have a good laugh at my expense.
Won't Start, getting gas & spark - You have spark and gas is getting to the carb, but the tractor won't start. If the tractor has been sitting for some time, it is likely that your gas has gone bad or has water in it. Drain and replace the gas with new. There is a drain plug on the bottom of the carb that will let you drain the entire system and fuel tank into a can. Stick a fresh set of Autolite 437 plugs in it also. If you keep your fuel tank more than half full you should have less problems with bad gas.
Won't Start, water in distributor cap - If you have trouble with your tractor during high-moisture times like, after a good rain, snow, or after power-washing it, check inside the distributor cap for moisture. Dry it all out inside (maybe put a fresh set of points in it) and you should be on your way again. This seems to happen more with the front-distributor engines. Replacing the gaskets on the coil and distributor cap should make the distributor assembly more waterproof.
Won't start, weak or no spark - run a jumper across the ignition switch terminals and try it. If it starts, replace your ignition switch. Don't leave the ignition switch jumpered for long periods with engine off or you could fry the points and the coil. If it wasn't the ignition switch, check for voltage at the small wire on the coil. On a side mount, look very closely at the wire coming from the coil to the distributor. This wire often gets damaged where it passes through the distributor housing. This will cause an intermittent failure that can be very hard to find because almost anything you touch could seem to make it run better for a moment or two. On a front mount, this same problem is often caused by grounded points where the capacitor connects or the coil spring connector on the bottom of the coil is not making good contact with the points (just stretch the springy thingy a little). The front-mount square-can coil is also not a very durable part and some of the replacements seem to fail right out of the box. So, even if you just replaced the coil, you might want to try a different one.
Won't Start, Flooded - Most of these engines require very little choke and are VERY easy to flood. My 8N is very forgiving. Even if I have flooded it, all I have to do is shove the choke lever back in and it starts with a big cloud of black smoke, cough, choke, gasp. Some engines just won't start until you put in a fresh set of plugs. Use Autolite 437 plugs. They run a little hotter and stay cleaner.
-- Edited by OscarZ on Sunday 24th of November 2013 10:35:12 AM
In an effort to generate some conversation here… How about some troubleshooting assistance or at least help me see if I’m going in the right direction?
I’m helping my brother in law with his Ford 8N tractor that is very temperamental when it comes to starting. It has, fresh fuel, a newly rebuilt carburetor, new points, wires, plugs and a new battery (6V).
It cranks very slow but I think they all do. Every once and a while it will just pop right off but most of the time it just cranks and cranks without starting. However, if you tow it, when you engage the clutch it starts right up.
Thoughts?
The early ones are known for having problems with moisture. Side distributor are more reliable and start easier.
Starts easy while warm, but needs to be choked a lot when cold. It started a lot easier when it was 12V, but Dad couldn't it keep from burning up coils... changed it to 6V right before he sold it to me.