my 8N rebuild

[Ingersoll444]

Boy, for some reason it feels like Ive already done this...


Well here we go. This is my early 8N. Number shows it to be a 1947. I got it about two years ago, and realy had not used it much. it was a smoker from the day it was brought home, but the story was that the motor had been rebuilt a year or so ago, and just never broken in. Well the smoking never improved. After picking up a brushcutter this winter, and testing it out, the motor went from smoking, to popping antifreeze out the cap, to sounding like it was full of ball bearings. NOT a good thing. Well, in the garage, and the tear down begans.......

[Ingersoll444]

Things are going smothly. Mostly these tractors come apart pretty easy. [lets just hope they go BACK easy]

[Ingersoll444]

One thing nice about the old Ford N tractors, is that they are pretty easy to work on. They were built to be repaird in a feild, by a non professal

[Ingersoll444]

When I said she pumped some oil I was NOT kidding!!!!! YUCK!!!!

[Argee]

Is that going back in or coming out?

[Ingersoll444]

Coming along nicely. the tear down went REAL fast for the most part.

[Ingersoll444]

Is that going back in or coming out?


Well lets put it this way. If you look in my garage, you would have NO idea what kinda tractor is torn down in there. Not much left to ID it.

some times I look out and say "OMG can I get it back together??? :bonk: :bonk:

[Ingersoll444]

Here you can see the rust line where the pistons were in the bore. Also a bottom ridge in the Cyl. New sleves will be going in.

[Ingersoll444]

The big split!!!!

Most of the teardown was done with it still attached to the tractor. Just seemed easyer to me. Well shes off now!!

[Ingersoll444]

Dash off...

There is where the motor rebuild turned in to TRACTOR rebuild. A BAD case of the "wile your at its"

[Ingersoll444]

Lift cover, and shift plate off. She's pretty much opened up now.

[drbailey]

WoW , Ingersoll444,
When you get the N back together and running you will know all there is to know about it. Its fun ,, and interresting .

[Ingersoll444]

WoW , Ingersoll444,
When you get the N back together and running you will know all there is to know about it. Its fun ,, and interresting .

You know, I have read all the forums, and the manual, and some stuff has seemed kinda scary. Like "Wow they make it seem easy, but I have NO idea what they are talking about" But you know, now that its apart, and I have seen, and put my hands on it, it all makes sence. They did a heck of a job on these tractors. Its no wonder they are still so popler, and so many of them.

[draddogs]

Paul, there is something to be said about tearing down something broken and repairing and put back together that gives a satisfaction that is hard to beat... Keep up the good work and I will send you some other things that I need fixed :fing33:

[Ingersoll444]

Well here is how she stands. Not a lot left to the old girl. Been pretty much stalled the last week or so. Got the crank turned down, and the head given a quick skim to flatten it. The head was pretty bad realy. I will have to test fit it when the motor goes back together. But I guess the little it cost for the skim, is an OK gambl. I would realy rather not have to get a new one.

[Ingersoll444]

This is the main shaft in the pump/lift part of the tractor. It looks like it had been welded. Is this normal on the N's, or a past repair? Looks like a good weld, so I am not worryed, just wondering.

[bear]

looks like your doing a good job paul. that shaft breakage is fairly common around here usually about the time the mower hits the ground its done. especially if the dirts a little wet

[Ingersoll444]

Well I finly got them darn sleaves out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ingersoll444]

I finly found something to press them out. A tool used to pull front wheel bearings on a front wheel drive car. One adapter fit PERFECT.

I also got the crank, and head back from the shop. Crank was not as bad as I thought. They went .010 under on the mains, and .020 on the rods. So things are moving at least. Now I have to get the block cleaned

[jodyand]

Thats great Paul I'm glad you are working on it. I was hope you used the butter knife trick on it for the sleeves. But at least you got them out. :trink40:

[Steve (Magnolia, TX)]

The head was pretty bad realy. I will have to test fit it when the motor goes back together. But I guess the little it cost for the skim, is an OK gambl. I would realy rather not have to get a new one.

A quick tip on the head... As I'm sure you're already well aware, there just ain't much that you can take off of the head and not have the pistons hitting it. What I ended up doing (I went through, pretty much this WHOLE scenario about 2 years ago) was doubling up the head gasket. Gave me the clearance that I needed and... a head gasket's about $15 compared to about $125 for a new head...

I haven't had a BIT of trouble with it, either...


Good luck


Steve

[Ingersoll444]

Well Steve I have been thinking that. You know I hemmed, and Hawed a lot over it, but for the $30 it cost me it was worth a shot to MAYBE save it. It was like do I risk losing the 30-40 dollors, or defently spend the 160??? We will see.

[Ingersoll444]

Thats great Paul I'm glad you are working on it. I was hope you used the butter knife trick on it for the sleeves. But at least you got them out. :trink40:


LOL You know I wish I could have seen if that worked. :D It turned out that my motor had the thick, cast iron sleaves though. That trick is only for the thin, steel ones.

[Argee]

When do you think she'll be up and running again? :D

[Ingersoll444]

OK, well looks like I am getting back on track. Vacation is over, and looks like I fixed my mowing tractor problem, so the N's back at the top of the list. I will be pulling the head studs today, and popping out the block core plugs, then shipping the block out to be hottanked. I still have not orderd the parts yet, wanted to get all the big stuff out of the way first.

[drbailey]

Sounds like your still after it Paul , I`m sure that you have mentioned befor , But Are you doing a full paint also ?

[Carl]

Paul,
Think how much more the tractor is going to be worth when it is up and running. Nothing like sweat equity to increase the value of something. Like Draddogs said, There is something about tearing something down and fixing it!

I know that you are, in your imagination, hearing the sweet purr of the engine as you are working with it.

These repairs can really stick in your mind. I used to have a 150 Honda Dream while in Thailand. I can still smell the shelac cooking off as I ran it for the first time after a teardown!

[Ingersoll444]

Drb,
Well I'm planing on a full repaint. Not a show paint for sure, but just somithing a little shiny. It will never look great, becouse one it will be a work tractor, and will be stored outside, and two the tin is REAL rough.

Carl,
Worth? Well probably less then I have into it. :D Hard to say with N's, the prices jump around a lot. Also wile it will be running like new, the tid is still rough, and most people put more stock in looks the performance.

[drbailey]

Paul , Can`t wait to see it all done , I know you are gonna be surprised at the looks and what a thrill to see color go on !! :fing32:

[Ingersoll444]

Oh I cant wait eather. I got the speech this weekend,"We just got the brushcutter, and ou cant eaven use it becouse the tractors torn down" so I guess I have to get on the stick, and get it going.

[Ken N Tx]

Update needed...How are you doinghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/Kenntx/Fun%20Stuff/questionmark.gif

[Ingersoll444]

Well????


Kinda stalled realy for the time being. Between saving up cash after a vacation we took last month, and mowing, and fixing other stuff, she's kinda stalled. I poke around cleaning stuff off, and on, stuff that does not look like much, but adds up in the end, but thats it for now.

[Ingersoll444]

Well we are back on the move. I finly got that broken stud out of the block, and that is heading out to the michine shop to be hot tanked.

To all you N guys, what is your thought on valve seats? These nont look that bad, but hard to tell with the block so cruddy. Should I replace them anyways? With the setup of the valve, and valve gude assambly on these motors, how do you lap the valves? Also I assume when new seats are installed, they have to be michened after. How do they do it with that valve/guide setup?

[Ingersoll444]

Well not as fast moving as Wingnuts TO30 rebuild, but somings moving anyway. I picked up the block from the shop today after having been hot tanked. Hoping to start ordering up the parts later this week. Got to start getting some of these parts up off the floor, and put back together.

[draddogs]

If you are putting new valves in and the seats are not excessively worn you can seat the valves yourself. But if it were me and I came this far I would opt for new seats since you getting the guides done also.