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Paul Farley 11-04-2009 12:07:37 208.205.249.215 739764 Report to Moderator	A few weeks ago I shut down my Ford 8N (1950),side mount, 6V. In doing this I shut the fuel valve and let the tractor run the carb dry. Today, I was going to move my trailer and attach a blade. The tractor would not start, then after much pursuasion started and ran at about 200 rpm very rough. I began checking the usual suspects, "chur sparkies", fuel valve, wires, plugs and then I removed the drain plug on the carb body. Had plenty of fuel. I tried it again and it runs perfactly! Question: Does runing the carb dry cause problems with the float valve or the jets?? Perhaps opening the drain plug removed the evil sperits! Thanks folks. PaulF [Reply]   [Send Email]
HCooke 11-05-2009 05:29:46 75.207.102.13 739849 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   I don't not run them dry, but I do use Stabil in the gas. No problems.   [Reply]   [Send Email]
heybusdriver 11-04-2009 22:14:04 70.71.132.55 739822 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   I turn mine off & run it dry if I am not going to using it for a week or more. I've left mine dry every year when I close down my property 170 miles away from Oct to April , never had any problems yet , turn on the sediment bowl & it starts within seconds. Stan 1949 8N146710 1949 8N179555 1949 8N197904 1950 8N254079 1951 8N362039 & a 1950 parts tractor In a pear tree   [Reply]   [Send Email]
JW Axtell 11-04-2009 20:09:07 74.47.176.152 739811 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Dennisinoklahoma, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   JMOR said: (quoted from post at 23:44:48 11/04/09) It is clearly largely a matter of preference/opinion......even my son & myself disagree on this one. His experience is totally with non-ferrous metal carbs & he has a lifetime of good experience running them dry & bad leaving them full. Myself, I don't like ferrous bowl empty, just as I don't like gas tank empty (condensation, water, rust), so given that I have tractors with both non-ferrous carbs & with ferrous carbs, I treat them differently...run some dry, leave others wet. Works for me. I never let on set over the winter like some do ........run 'em hard, run 'em often. Interesting. I have always been a store them for winter dry person. However, I never gave any thought to ferrous/non-ferrous properties to the carbs. I now think as you do and will not let the ferrous bowls stay dry in storage.   [Reply]   [No Email]
JMOR 11-04-2009 19:44:48 72.181.156.161 739810 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Dennisinoklahoma, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   It is clearly largely a matter of preference/opinion......even my son & myself disagree on this one. His experience is totally with non-ferrous metal carbs & he has a lifetime of good experience running them dry & bad leaving them full. Myself, I don't like ferrous bowl empty, just as I don't like gas tank empty (condensation, water, rust), so given that I have tractors with both non-ferrous carbs & with ferrous carbs, I treat them differently...run some dry, leave others wet. Works for me. I never let on set over the winter like some do ........run 'em hard, run 'em often.   [Reply]   [No Email]
PaulF 11-04-2009 17:50:34 208.205.249.215 739804 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   Thanks guys, When it started running "well" it generated a huge plume of black smoke when throteled up! Something in the carb is a little out of alignment (I rebuilt it this summer), it probably flooded. I was fairly sure running dry was not a problem, thanks for the confermation. PaulF   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Jerry Kirkpatrick 11-04-2009 15:24:12 68.221.134.110 739780 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Dunk, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   Paul Farley said: (quoted from post at 15:07:37 11/04/09) A few weeks ago I shut down my Ford 8N (1950),side mount, 6V. In doing this I shut the fuel valve and let the tractor run the carb dry. Today, I was going to move my trailer and attach a blade. The tractor would not start, then after much pursuasion started and ran at about 200 rpm very rough. I began checking the usual suspects, "chur sparkies", fuel valve, wires, plugs and then I removed the drain plug on the carb body. Had plenty of fuel. I tried it again and it runs perfactly! Question: Does runing the carb dry cause problems with the float valve or the jets?? Perhaps opening the drain plug removed the evil sperits! Thanks folks. PaulF I've had my '51 6v/sidemount 8N for 10 years. I most always shut the fuel off and let it run dry...as long as I have the patience to stand there and wait so I can immediately shut off the ignition. Otherwise, I'll shut the fuel off, let it run a minute, then shut it off with the key. Never had any starting problem that I could trace to either procedure.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Ultradog MN 11-04-2009 15:13:32 71.34.13.162 739778 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   I agree it will not hurt anything to run it dry. I always wanted to find a wartime magneto for my N so I could just shut off the key, walk away and let it run out of fuel without waiting for it.   [Reply]   [No Email]
36 coupe 11-05-2009 03:14:33 216.220.250.129 739827 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Ultradog MN, 11-04-2009 15:13:32   My JD all fuel tractor has a magneto and no ignition switch.Fuel valve on the dash must be shut off and the engine runs the carb dry.This is done to keep anyone from shutting the engine down with kerosene in the carb.   [Reply]   [No Email]
NOXJohn 11-04-2009 13:23:46 67.234.168.0 739768 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   Some times when you run a carburetor dry and then let it set, rust will form on the interior parts due to compensation. I put stabil in gas and do not run dry.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Dean 11-04-2009 12:34:01 67.172.13.37 739767 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   Paul: Runninig the gasoline out of the carburetor on your vintage Ford tractor should not cause any issues with your float valve or jets if the carburetor is in proper condition and the fuel screens are in place and clean. I do it on all 5 of my vintage Fords and have been doing so for decades. That said, it is possible for the float to drop far enough to wedge between the tapering float bowl if the usually ignored float drop adjustment is not properly set upon rebuild. In this case, the engine will likely flood when the fuel valve is first opened and the engine is cranked but will likely operate normally once started as the engine vibration usually dislodges the float allowing it to float as intended. It is also possible for floating debris within the float bowl, which should not be present if the screens are properly maintained, to enter into and possibly clog one or more jet (usually the main jet) as the fuel level drops. Dean   [Reply]   [No Email]
old 11-04-2009 12:30:10 4.245.3.160 739766 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   I run them dry all the time. The gas now days is so poor that if you leave gas in one for a couple of months it will get all gummed up   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Roger in Iowa 11-04-2009 12:12:08 97.73.64.155 739765 Report to Moderator	Re: Running carb dry, is it a bad idea? in reply to Paul Farley, 11-04-2009 12:07:37   Should have caught the fuel in a glass to see if it had water in it. Check the sediment bowl. It may be full of water. Been there and seen it.   [Reply]   [No Email]