My First Ford Tractor and Questions (PICS)

This past weekend my dad and I went and picked up this 1945 Ford 2N Tractor . The tractor belonged to my Great Uncle and I was always told that when they were ready to sell it that I would have first chance at getting it. Since my uncles passing about a month ago my aunt has been selling things off and here was my chance so I jumped on it. The deal was for the tractor and all the implements it would be $1500. The implements consist of a middle buster, Harrow, Sickle-Bar Mower, Snow Blade, Dirt Scoop, Dirt Drag, Brush Hog, Ford Front Loader, a Two-Bottom Plow, and a Parts Plow. Some of these implements will need work to use them but it will be worth it.

The tractor was supposed to be in running condition but when we got down there the tractor wouldn"t turn over even with a charged battery, so we had to wench it onto the trailer. We then loaded by hand a few of the implements around the tractor. After everything was strapped down good, we headed for home.

Here is my question. Since this is my first Ford Tractor, I may be missing something on trying to get the thing to run. I know the engine is not stuck because we tried to pull start it to get it running but no luck there. When I turn the key to on, the Armature moves up, but when I press the starter button there is nothing. The starter doesn"t even turn over.
What do you think guys? Any suggestions as to why it won"t turn over?

Thanks for the help and I hope you have enjoyed the story and pictures.
From Denton, Nebraska.
Andrew Kean

Good deal on a family momento, hope you have many years of fun ^ work with the items. They gave you a nice price.

What kind of battery did you use, and did you hook iy up positive or negative ground? Was the tractor the original 6volt positive ground, or has it been converted to 12v negative ground & an alternator?

I would see if power is showing up at the starter, a hand held multimeter is fairly cheap and will help you trace things down.

Do the N series have any safety interlock for starting, my 100 series needs to be in nutral to start, donno if the old Fords have such.

What happened when you towed it to start it, did the engine spin over, or what?

--->Paul

Beatles, I may me telling you something you are aware of, but did you check to make sure that it"s in neutral? There is a safety lock that prevents the starter from engaging when in gear.
If that"s not it then try this: make sure it"s in neutral, using your truck with it"s 12v system, with the tractor ignition on, hook your jumper cables pos. from the truck to a good ground on the tractor (I usually clean up one of the bolts that hold the motor/bell housing together, then quickly touch the neg. cable to the post on the starter...if this doesn"t turn it over, and the engine is free then ya know it"s a starter issue. Sometimes they get kinda tight from sitting or you might need a new solenoid.
If it does turn over it may just be wiring, but more than likely it"s the switch(es); The button you push on the starter switch activates a plunger that pushes against another plunger that activates the solenoid. There is a depth adjustment to make sure you get posotive connection when you push it. Semi regularly it is necessary to pull both out and clean and adjust them. The main switch simply unscrews from the top, the secondary is down behind the Pos/Neg terminal block, is held in via a plate with two bolts and comes out forward. Believe it or not, YSC (Yuppie Supply Co.) or NTSC (No Tractor Supplies Co.) usually has both parts in stock, at a reasonable price, AND they actually fit without modification. Remember, unless someone has swapped in an 8N motor at some point, all of your 2N parts will carry 9N designation...we have a guy at our TCS that regularly tells people there is no such thing as a 2N simply because all the parts listed are for eithert 9N or 8N. Enjoy your new lil buddy, it"ll do alot more than ya think, and it"ll get along real well with all those green ones ya have when they are parked together in that nice new shop of yours! Pete

First get the IT manual for it, you can oder it here on YT, you want the FO-4. 2nd post this over on the YT Ford N series page as you will get a lot more help.

If it's been setting you may have to do a tune up. If you have never done one on the Ford front mount it's an experance. As far as getting it to tuen over like you were told check the start with jumpers first. DO NOT HOOK 12 VOLT to the system. You will fry something. Just do as the other poster says. Once you have good spark turn on the fuel and pull the drain on the botom of the carb and chedck flow into a clean can.

Search the arcives on the ford N forum for the 50 tips. They were written for the N tractors but can be applied to almost any brand.

Rick

You might want to visit the 9N-2N-8N forum on this same site. There are guys there who can tell you anything you want to know about this tractor. Looks like you made a nice buy, what with all those implements. Hope you get it running without any kind of major surgery.

when you turn the key on does the ammeter go to positive or negative on the gauge? bill M.

The 39 and early 40"s that had the starter button on the dash did not have the safty interlock but all of the tractors with the button on transmission case did. So you need to be in netral.

While holding the switch, tap the starter with a hammer.

I agree with Jerry S - ask the fellows on the N board.
You might try loosening the starter and cleaning between the starter and bell housing. Needs a good ground there and they get gunk/corrosion there.

for 1500 for the tractor and the impliments you got a deal people only hear of, never find, these old fords are about as simple to fix as it gets, you probably need to go and clean everything up on it these tractors are famous for bad grounds which will cause those kinds of problems, electrical, needs to be clean, bright and tight, also another real weak point is the ignition switch check to make sure your getting power to both sides with the switch on , these go out regularly, then give her a full tune up and change all the fluids, once you get this going you'll be amazed what it can do for its size, the N board here is your friend for this tractor, also i highly recomend you buy the owners manuel as well as the service manuel, both are available right here on this site it will be a real help, once you understand what they are, there simple to work on , ol henry ford designed the ford N tractor to be operated, repaired and understood by a farmer at home who was used to farming with horses, you can operate a computer, so once you get into it you'll have fun

It goes positive and when I press the starter the starter as well as the engine don't turn at all.

It is a starter/switch/wiring issue as I know the engine turns over because we tried to pull start it. This tractor was running not to long ago, like within the last 6 months as my Unlce had someone come by and give it a tune up and charged him $200 to do it. I will have to look at that safety lock and see if that's not it. I thought I had it in neutral as that's the first thing I check before starting a tractor, but it may have to be in a certain position. Thanks for the advise, I will have to look at what you suggested and check tonight if I get a chance.

I used a twelve volt battery as I believe that it's been converted to 12 Volt negative ground with alternator. I did use a multimeter to check for voltage and I know there is power running down the wire to the post but didn't get any power to the starter. I will have to look at that safety lock and see if that's not just it. Thanks!

Andrew,

Congrats on your new man toy.

Nice you are keeping it in the family.

Pete

Yes, they do have a sweet spot for the gearshift even with being in netrual. 1944 2N bought by Dad in May of 1944. Also a 1941 9N bought used a few years ago.

may be the least of your problems but the ammeter should be showing discharge when you turn the key on or during cranking,could be as simple as the ammeter is hooked up backwards. Bill