Intro, 8N history, and two questions.

I had been on the look out for a cheap, solid 8N for several years now so when my neighbor inherited a ’49 8N (serial # 153063) from the original owner, I was drooling. He had $400.00 worth of work performed (new 6v battery, starter, 6v alternator) and drove it home – where it did not move for two years.

My neighbor and I were out shoveling snow when he mentioned that he might as well sell the tractor because he had no time to use or repair it. How much? $400.00 cdn!!! I gave him the cash and towed it out of the snowbank that afternoon. It is now safe and sound in my barn.

Between now and the spring I am planning to: rebuild the carburetor, replace the distributor cap and rotor, etc., new plugs and wires, new manifold, oil and filter change, clean the air filter, and make an alternator bracket. This should get me up and running.

Question 1 – The alternator was clamped to the manifold, causing damage. I was thinking of taking a piece of 1/8” x 1 flat bar and make an L-shaped bracket. This bracket would fit under two of the nuts on the top of the engine, and the small part of the L would have a hole in it to bolt the alternator adjustment slide to. Sound reasonable? Other suggestions?

Question 2 – Should I paint the carburetor after I re-assemble it or while it’s apart?

Thanks, Mark

Paint the carb after rebuild, like Dell says.

I think the bracket as you describe would work. Its hard to visualize with words, I know. And since my amaizing powers of mindreading isn't working this morning, I'm sure you'll do just fine.

I'm somewhat surprized that you report a 6 volt alternator and 6 volt battery. Are you sure? Hint, 12 volt battery has 6 water caps and negative ground is required by the more common and inexpensive 12 volt Delco SI-10 alternator. 6 volt alternators are not cheap.

One of the principal reasons to convert to 12 volts, is 12 volts on a 6 volt starter really spinns the engine for faster starts (and doesn't hurt it for the short time it takes to start). And of course, to our modern ears, the old rump - rump - rump of a 6 volt battery on a 6 volt starter, sounds really slooooo www. ..... ....Dell

I have wondered for some time WHY so many times I see someone post that he has rebuilt the carb - several times! - and is still having problems. As far as I can tell, the biggest problem with the N carbs is the shut off valve gums up or gets a piece of rust/junk stuck in it or has worn to the point that the valve does not shut off. Then the carb overflows with gas - and the flat head N engine floods REAL easily!

Before I would do all that you have said you are going to do, I would just drain any old gas out of the tank/lines/carb. Then I would pour a bunch of carb cleaner in the tank so as to fill up the carb. Let it set a day, drain it, put some FRESH gas in the tank, and try starting it. You might be plesently surprised.

Oh yes, I would clean the air cleaner so you know it is getting enough air. And I would check the plug wires to be sure they were solid copper. Otherwise I would not replace things unless they really need to be replaced. Those things you say you are going to replace may be prefectly OK and servicable for years to come.

My $0.02,
Larry

chuck
436244

Your mileage may vary