Ford 8N shuts down

Jeff Christner · Jul 21, 2009

Hello - I have an early 40"s Ford 8N. Runs OK most of the time, however, when I run it for 20-30 minutes, it shuts down and then won"t fire again when I turn it over until it cools. Then I can restart it, run for a little while, then it shuts down again. I thought maybe it was a thermostat or something, but don"t find anything like that on it. Water/coolant seems to be circulating OK in the radiator. Anybody have any good ideas? Thanks! Jeff

ScottyHOMeY · Jul 21, 2009

Sure sounds like the ignition coil going bad. Seems to work okay when cool, but develops a break in continuity when it heats up. Pull a plug when it first shuts down like that and see what, if anything, you have for spark.

8N'r--WI · Jul 21, 2009

Jeff---usually 15 minutes run time, quits, restarts after cool is symptom of a bad ignition switch.

Usually 30 minutes run time, quits, restarts again after cooldown is bad coil.

If you jump the ignition switch after it quits, and the tractor starts, that will tell you if the switch is bad.

You can always jump down the page to the "N" tractor board if you have any other questions. You can get a lot of answers from the archives, and the many people that are willing to help.

Tim

rrlund · Jul 21, 2009

Take that automotive type inline gas filter that somebody has put in it back out. Splice the line back together and just use the sediment bowl as was intended. Those things aren't made for a gravity flow system. It's vapor locking.

old · Jul 21, 2009

The others are correct as for possible problem. Just for your info. If you do in fact have an 8N it will have a 4 speed tranny and be made from 1948 to 1952. If it has a 3 speed tranny then it is a 9N or 2N. 9N made from 1939 to 1942 and 2N from 1942 to 1948. To help your self help you check for spark the moment it dies on you. You need a good blue/white spark that will jump a 1/4 inch gap. If you have no spark jumper across the ignition switch and see if that works if not most likely a bad coil. Also when asking for help please tell us if it is 6 or 12 volts and if it has the found mount or side mount distributor. Also if it has he side mount it is a 1950 to 1952 8N

Bob · Jul 21, 2009

CLASSIC symptoms of a bad coil.

Has it been converted to 12 Volts?

The oddball ignition coils these tractors use are failure-prone at the original 6 Volts and give even more trouble on 12 Volts unless the person who did the conversion got the added resistance ahead of the coil just right.

Come on over to the "N" Board!
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RodinNS · Jul 21, 2009

Odds are pretty good that it's the coil, followed by the ignition switch...

Rod

DScott · Jul 21, 2009

(quoted from post at 08:56:10 07/21/09) Hello - I have an early 40"s Ford 8N. Runs OK most of the time, however, when I run it for 20-30 minutes, it shuts down and then won"t fire again when I turn it over until it cools. Then I can restart it, run for a little while, then it shuts down again. I thought maybe it was a thermostat or something, but don"t find anything like that on it. Water/coolant seems to be circulating OK in the radiator. Anybody have any good ideas? Thanks! Jeff

My 8N did exactly that for awhile and it took me a a couple of months to figure out that it was the ignition switch. I installed new switch and no more problem. I hear that a bad coil do this also. You can put a jumper wire from one terminal of the switch to the other to see if it eliminates the problem.

Jeff Christner · Jul 21, 2009

Thanks for all the tips, guys. It does sound like the coil, as there is no spark after it dies and I pull one of the plugs. And it is in fact a 9N - 1942 to be exact, and it is still the original 6 volts. Sorry for the sketchy details - first timer in need of help in more ways than one.

John B. · Jul 21, 2009

I had a farmall F14 that did that and it turned out to be something floating around in the gas tank so don't over look that!! Just a thought!!

Jeff Christner · Jul 21, 2009

I did consider something floating in the tank, so I removed the sediment bowl, cleaned it, and cleaned out the fuel lines and carburetor. Not getting any spark definitely sounds like the coil is the culprit. Can anyone point me toward directions on how to replace the coil? Looks like I can find one easily online for abour $30 or so. Thanks again for all the help.

smallercrawler · Jul 21, 2009

Had early 8N (12v gen/ext reg) with similar problem. Chased fuel, coil, heat, etc. for several weeks. Finally found terminal stud in distributor with cracked corner on paper insulation, where ring terminal attached, vibration would occasionally cause grounding resulting in shutdown. Usually would restart but not always. Used small piece of thin plastic milk jug to replace insulation, ran fine for years until sold. HTH.

Ford 8N shuts down

Jeff Christner

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ScottyHOMeY

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8N'r--WI

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rrlund

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old

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Bob

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RodinNS

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DScott

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Jeff Christner

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John B.

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Jeff Christner

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