TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Ford 9N, 2N & 8N Discussion Forum

cold starts

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

RandyinWNY

12-22-2003 04:36:18

Report to Moderator

Hi fellas, I got a couple of quick questions that maybe you could help with. MY '52 8N I got this summer generally runs great. But as soon as it got cold out(below 25) things changed. It is really hard to start. It turns over great and has great spark, it just seems to take forever to fire up. When it does finally start it runs real rough and if I try to move it in gear it will stall right out. Then after it warms up a little it will run better but when under a load such as pushing snow it will again die out. Now mind you that when it warms up completely(about 20 minutes or so)it runs GREAT all the time. Is this normal for 8N's to run poorly when very cold? I went to TSC and ordered a magnetic block heater. Will this help?
I also was told that maybe I should change my 30W oil to 20W. Is this OK for the engine?
Thanks guys for any and all help.
....Randy

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Cap-in ID

12-22-2003 22:52:41

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

Randy -- the post from RWK in WI has it right. If it ran great last summer in warm ambient temps and runs great in cold temps after being throughly warmed up but won't pull under load when cold then your mixture is adjusted too lean. You can check this by holding or clipping the choke part way out while putting the engine under load when the engine is still relatively cold and seeing if it will pull better that way (just like leaving the manual choke part way out while warming up the old cars) The correction of course is to enrichen the mixture slightly by screwing out the mainjet adjustment 1/8 to 1/4 turn. Play around with it while the engine is still cold not after it has warmed up because you won't need the extra fuel as much then. As one of the correspondents on this board is fond of saying "your milage will vary" and of course it will, but not noticably. Of course the other options are to preheat the coolant or engine before firing up or letting the tractor warm up completely before putting it to work. Have Fun. -- Cap --

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

RandyinWNY

12-23-2003 04:15:49

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: cold starts in reply to Cap-in ID, 12-22-2003 22:52:41

Thanks alot Cap, I will play with the adjustment just as soon as it gets cold again. Right now it has warmed up to about 35 to 45. BUT in January in western N.Y. I can count on it being around 0 to 10 degrees out. Then I can play with it.
Thanks again Cap.
....Randy

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Cap-in ID

12-23-2003 08:04:27

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-23-2003 04:15:49

Randy -- Here's a bit of "just fun" info. Back in the earlier days of engine developement Ford recognized the need for a solution to just the same problem you are facing. The need for different fuel mixture at different temps, altitudes, and working conditions. Ford, being a "true believer" in the KISS principle of engineering (KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid) used a very simple and effective solution on the Model A (and B) car engines. In the front seat area under the dash on the passenger's side there was a "choke" rod which when pulled out operated the choke butterfly BUT the 1/2 inch button on the end of that rod had a little raised indicator incorporated into it and the genius of the design was that you could also rotate that knob/choke rod and adjust the main jet mixture. Screw it in a bit for leaner mixture, screw it out a bit for richer. It was common practice for us proud young "A" drivers when starting the "Model A" in cold weather to richen the mixture a 1/4 turn or so before firing up and then after having driven long enough to have warmed up the engine you screwed it back in to normal operating mixture. A very simple solution to the problem later solved by "automatic chokes" Too bad he didn't incorporate that feature into the tractors but there are many other simple logical solutions incorporated that amaze us when we stop to think about them. Enjoy your example of "early technology" -- Cap --

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

CJ in Michigan

12-22-2003 09:06:44

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

Have you done a compression check?

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

RandyinWNY

12-22-2003 11:27:04

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: cold starts in reply to CJ in Michigan, 12-22-2003 09:06:44

The 8N has great oil pressure. 45 psi when cold and 40 when all warmed up and working. This "hard starting" problem only started since the real cold weather hit. All summer its been great.
Thanks....Randy

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jeff (WI)

12-22-2003 09:00:53

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

Until the last few days, it's been COLD here in December...teens and twenties. I've been starting the 'N in the early mornings without any problems--and it's parked in the woods without any walls to shelter it and has 30W oil. Hit the starter button, pull the choke for a second, and roars to life with no misses at idle or under load. My point...I think something's not right with your 'N, cause it should start and run just fine in the cold. Good luck! Jeff.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Glen

12-22-2003 07:00:52

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

This sounds weard, but last year we needed our 9n to push snow. Started up let warm up. But everytine We went to move it would cut off or stall. Come to find out the battery terminals needed cleaned. After that started up ran great.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Bob - MI

12-22-2003 07:00:22

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

Randy,

I live in the cold country also and my 2N is sometimes a little reluctant to fire. I have implemented an old trick from my motorcycle days and turn the engine over several times with the choke on but the ignition off. Turn the ignition on and it will fire on the first turn. I'm certain that I probably need a rebuild but until that time this is working for me.

Good luck with yours

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Leroy

12-22-2003 06:52:34

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

The after market manifolds sold by TSC many years ago were made different than the orignals and they would cause what you are describing. I have a 44 2N Dad bought new in May of 44, in the late 50's it developed a crack, welder tried fixing it, didn't know that much about welding, burnt a hole through, instead of turning welder down kept turning it up till the manifold was completly gone, Dad went to TSC and bought a new one, always had problems starting a couple year ago talking to an old time dealer found out was made with longer spaces and would not suck the gas corectly, replaced with new after model with corect style and starts beter than I ever remember it doing, CHECK your manifold to see if it is the correct model.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

RWK in WI

12-22-2003 06:20:41

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

A couple of tricks I have learned.

#1 If your choke is working but is spring loaded so it goes off unless you hold it, you can hold it by clipping a spring type clothes pin to the shaft behind the choke button.

#2 For the winter it sometime helps to adjust the main adjustment of the carb. a little bit richer ( 1/8 to 1/4 turn ).

#3 Gas bought in the winter runs better in cold temperature than gas left over from the summer.

I hope this helps you.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

maybe==bj/8n/mt

12-22-2003 05:26:54

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

What you report sounds exactly like what should happen if your choke isn't doing its job. Check the door in the choke plate to make sure it is sprung shut and check your linkage to make sure it is actually actuating the choke plate.

Your mileage may vary

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Bruce (VA)

12-22-2003 05:04:03

Report to Moderator

Re: cold starts in reply to RandyinWNY, 12-22-2003 04:36:18

Randy, I'm sure others on this board w/ who operate N's in cold or colder climates than yours will offer assistance, but two things come to mind. First, the slightest bit of water in the fuel will cause icing in the carb, so use dry gas in every tank of gas. Secondly, fabricate a carb heater from sheetmetal; get some hot air off of the exhaust manifold down to the carb. Changing the oil to 20w would help more on starting than running, but it wouldn't hurt anything to do so.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy