Brakes?

My mom just got an old 8N and has asked me to learn how to use it and service it. The only problem I have really had is stopping. I know these tractors are pretty heavy so how quickly should they stop? If I push in the clutch and hit both brakes hard it will continue to roll for a good 5-10 feet on level ground. Is this normal or does this sound like it may warrant a look at the brakes and or tranny seals?

Also does the 8N have an ebrake? I have poked around to see if I could find one but have had no luck. Thank you for your help and great site.

Quote: "Dell, yer self-appointed SAFETY PREACHER preachin' the gospel of ORC's on PTO's for brushhoggin'"

Aaron, you don't say in your post whether you are running a brush-hog-three point mower-or not when it won't stop quickly.

With many Fords, the momentum of the blade on the mower pushes the tractor forward quite a ways, even if the wheels are locked up.

This is one of the biggest causes of accidents among newly-minted brush-hoggers.

The device Dell recommends, an over-run clutch, can prevent many such accidents. In addition, it doesn't hurt to habitually disengage the PTO every time the tractor is stopped.

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I put them on two of my three N's & they work just fine.

While you are waiting for the I&T FO-4 manual to arrive, these tips might be helpful:

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Check back with any other questions; lots of folks here can help.

First-off gitt an I&T FO-4 manual $25, (cheap) readily available at sponsors of this great N-Board, most agricultural emporiums, Borders Books, Amazon.com; www.n-news.com has great archive of 3-point implement manuals. Your local CNH (ex-Ford) dealer evens sells it, isn't that amazing? Even my local John Deere (byte my tongue) parts counter is selling it. Gittcha one and read-itt.

Your 8N tractor ain't that heavy, it only weights 2460lbs (without driver) per N-Ford Owners manual.

How fast should it stop? Welp I can SKID the tires on my 8N. Having big clod-hoppers and the brakes adjusted is partly why and having UN-GREASY brakeshoes is 'nutter' reason. The 8N-brakes are adjusted by "spoon", (kinda bent screwdriver blade) ask an automotive parts counter person to show you one. You can use a short-handled screwdriver instead.

The brakeshoe adjuster is a "star-wheel" accessable thru back of brakedrum slot.

While yer at the autoparts store, gitt'cha 2-spraycans of brake-cleaner. ($10, cheap) squirt the straw thru the back of the brake adjuster slot and WASH yer brakeshoes by swinging yer jacked-up rearwheel roundy-roundy. It'll drain out the drum gap. Use it ALL for just one brake. This will generally fixx yer greesy brakes problem and beats replacing seals and shoes.

Remember, greezy brakes are usually caused by OVERFILLED hydro-tranny oil. pull the dipstick plate bolt at 6-o'clock and let any overfill drain down the side of the tranny overnite.

tip: you haffta jack-up yer rear diffy so you can adjust yer brake shoes. You adjust the star-wheel until swinging yer wheel stops from brake shoe tightness. simple, eh?

Each rearbrake has individual parking brake pawls. thats them flippy-things that fit in the notches behind yer heels. Stomp down on brake pedal and flippy the pawl into a notch. Simple, eh?..... ..HTH, Dell

I will take a peak at adjusting the brakes over the weekend. Sounds like it will be pretty much the same as adjusting the brakes on my car.

While I'm in here I actually have another question. :). While I was looking for the pawls I noticed yet another lever underneath the seat on the right hand side. It seems to be spring loaded (crushed my finger in it). Judging by where the sound is coming from when I flip it I think it has something to do with the hydrollics. What does this thing do?

Sorry for so many questions. We've only had this tractor for 2 days. It's my first time around one and I cant get enough of poking around at it and cleaning it up. I think this thing has more levers than any thing I have ever seen. Everywhere you look there is something hiding. Thanks again.

The little lever under yer right knee is not for "flushing" it is draft/position hydraulic selector valve. Forward/down is for draft which is PLOWING. Vertical/UP is for position control like brushhoggin' and platforms lifts. It is tied in with yer hip-located Hy-Trol 3-point lifter.

NEBBER EBBER pull ennythang from that handy-dandy 3-point toplink under yer butt-buckett 'cuz you'll pull yer tractor over on top of you quicker'n jack-schitt. And yer mother will be crying over yer grave. UNDERSTAND?

'nutter' BIG secret, 80% of all carb problems are found in the ignition system; so keep yer itchy-twitchy fingers off'n them handy-dandy carb tweek'ems. You think you have carb problems, ask us for advice, ok?..... ...Dell, yer self-appointed SAFETY PREACHER preachin' the gospel of ORC's on PTO's for brushhoggin'

Might need adjustment.. or new friction material. Might have greasy shoes due to bad axle seals.

I don't think you need to worry about tranny seals.. they won't effect brakes ( clutch.. yes.. )

No real ebrake.. though there are pawls onthe brakes to 'set' them to keep them engaged when you aren't on the tractor..

soundguy