The Tractor That Refused

The 8n in all its glory

Anyone that enjoys tractors especially old school tractors will appreciate the 8n ford model. When it is working it is a fine piece of machinery that can pull its weight around the farm. The ford 8n was produced and sold between 1947 and 1952. It included the Harry Ferguson 3-point system as its predecessors. One of the major upgrades from the earlier tractors was the four speed transmission which improved all around performance in the little tractor.

One of the biggest things any old timer will tell you is it is a great tractor and it is so easy to work on, can do it while sitting on a bucket. I can attest to this, it is simple to work on as long as you have a basic knowledge of mechanics. You can definitely sit on a bucket and for the most part have access to 90 percent of what you need to work on. The problem with the one we have is it refuses to run longer then 10 minutes. That said, it hasn't ran in over two years and has become a lawn ornament what mainly is a jungle gym for my chickens sadly. The first two years I lived here I fought with this tractor almost every spare minute I had. It has been moved all over my property to be in a better spot to work on until it found its last resting space... for now...

As in all my blogs for the most part I try to share a bit of the story of how and why things are the way they are. I find most people when they read something have questions. At least I know I do and my first question would be how did the tractor get that way and what has been done to it?

Well, in all stories it starts somewhere and this one begins upon the negotiations of closing on the property. Initially the tractor was not in the negotiations. Actually it was straight up said that it was not part of the deal. While working through the negotiations with the seller they asked if I wanted the tractor in one of the latter discussions. I said I was interested and asked how the tractor ran. Which I was told by the realtor that "It ran great, needed a bit of work but was being used regularly to brush hog the property". I was very interested due to the uniqueness of the tractor and the history behind it and so I said yes I would take it. Looking back I should of been a bit concerned when they didn't ask for any more money. I do not like to live in should of, could of or looking back because everyone would do things a bit differently if they could go back and re-live a certain moment. Which leads to nothing that is productive or is of use, instead take the past and learn from it, adding it to a set of skills or knowledge to help you in the future.

The tractor was sold with the property and it sat where they left it for a bit of time alongside the road because I was too preoccupied starting my new job and getting my new home set up. Eventually the time came when I was ready and motivated to start the tractor. At first I went over to the tractor and after watching a few videos tried to start it. Which sadly it cranked, made a bit of a grumble but that was it. I tried a second time and it tried its hardest to turn over but it just did not sound like it had the power. Not having ever worked on a tractor before I began the slow process of trying to see what was going on. I checked the fuel which seemed clean and had plenty of it. I then moved on to the battery and after testing that decided that it needed to be changed. I ran into town and after a few visits to auto stores finally found the right one. I put the new battery in and tested it but was met with the same result. A loud grumble and that was it. I then went through checking the spark plugs, running the fuel line etc and checking the alternator.

From my diagnosis, I was sure I was right, it was the alternator and it was dead. I was not confident in my ability to fix this so I started the long process of calling around trying to find a shop that would work on the tractor. Which is quite difficult when you are new to the area and no one knows who you are. Eventually I found a guy who would fix it but I had to get it over there. This was a major problem as I had nothing that could move the tractor. I eventually called the only contact I knew, the realtor. They in turn sent me a number of a friend that did that sort of thing. (I would come to find out later that he did not do this sort of thing and over charged me tremendously). He came and we had to wrestle and push the tractor onto the trailer but we got it over to the shop.

They confirmed it was the alternator and said they would let me know when it would be done. After about two weeks I had heard nothing and had to call to see where the tractor was at. They said they were still working on it and would let me know. Magically they called the very next day and it was ready. I think the truth was they had forgotten about the tractor and my call gave them that oh crap moment. The problem was I had to get it back and I was not thrilled with the price of the last haul. I called around and eventually found someone who would do it and as I was already suspicious of the previous price and I was reassured when this gentlemen quoted me almost half of the previous cost to go the same distance.

I went over to the shop and the tractor fired up and we got it on the trailer after settling up. I was pretty excited about it being done and ready to be used. We got it to the property and I had to go to work and sadly did not get to test it but I asked to off load the tractor at the front of the property as I wanted to take it for a drive. The next day I was excited and ready to test the tractor and hopefully take it for a spin. I got out there rather early as I worked in the evenings and started the tractor up. To my delight it started right away. I got it in gear and started my slow drive up to the barn... sadly this was short lived. The tractor made it all of 20 feet choked and died. It refused to start at this point and I was back to a tractor that would not run. Now I was starting to get frustrated. Anyone that knows me the number one thing I despise is working on vehicles and engines. I hate it to put it plainly. Nothing makes me more frustrated and angry then working on any type of vehicle. I can be having a wonderful day and a simple oil change can lead to an explosive anger outburst which has led to a wrench being lost in the woods due to being thrown or a coffee cup being shattered out of frustration. I do not know why it makes me that frustrated but I was not made to be a mechanic that is for sure.

Since I had a new battery and the alternator was repaired I moved onto the spark plugs. They seemed old so I decided to replace them all which I did without too much trouble. While I was doing that I went through and started checking all the lines on the tractor, fuel, oil etc. Cleaning and inspecting for damage as I went along. I did not see anything that stood out so after the spark plugs were changed I tried to start it and nothing. So now I had an old rustic tractor that was sitting broken down and I was quite unsure what it could be. Some time passed before I could work on it again so it sat until the weather started to turn cold.

Now I was in a predicament, I needed to work on the tractor but because I decided to have it off loaded at the front of the property there was no shelter to work on it. This was just setting the stage for me to be in a situation that was going to lead to an anger outburst. Working on a vehicle... in the cold. Two things I despise separately together, you've got a combination that is sure to lead to a vulgar laced tirade. Thankfully I had a friend that offered to tow it up to the house if I was willing to sit on the tractor. Which we did redneck style with some straps tied off to the respective bumpers he got me towed up to the house. We got it close to the barn so I could continue to work on it because I now was feeling like this was going to be a much more difficult process.

When I started asking people for advice they all told me the same thing, you'll figure it out it is a simple machine to work on. Go through the basics, which I had already done, but heck why not start over. Which I did and when I got to the battery I noticed that the cables were frayed and no longer useable. Probably a mouse from having it sit out in the field for a few months. So I went ahead and replaced them and tried the battery. I got a few cranks but the battery did not sound right. I ran to the auto store and sure enough the battery was no good. Thankfully they replaced it with no issues and I brought it home but to the same effect it turned but would not fire. So now I went into the fuel system which resulted in me pulling the carburetor which was filthy, I cleaned and completely rebuilt it, while doing this I realized the sediment bowl was clogging and no longer functional. I decided on replacing this along with the fuel line completely. This I did in the freezing cold which is quite miserable when you are covered in gas and your hands are ice. Needless to say I got it done and can honestly say I did not explode in a fit of anger. I rather enjoyed working on it shocking to say.

Once I got it all back together the timing worked out nicely, my parents were coming for a visit and I was rather confident that I had it this time after essentially fixing the entire tractor. Well, everything that I could logically think of anyway. As one can imagine I was quite excited to test this and slightly proud to show my father that I got it running. The moment came and I told him I was going to test it out. We went out and I got the key ready to hopefully take it on its first real journey. As I put the key in the ignition I was really hopeful that it would turn over and start. To my pleasant surprise it did and it sounded great. The excitement of both myself and my father's was pretty high as I put the tractor in gear and began to roll on forward.

The tractor did with ease and cruised all the way across our lake I was excited doing a rocky balboa punch of the sky in celebration. Upon turning the tractor around and beginning the journey back where I left my father he was doing the same. Both of us were enjoying the excitement of the moment. As I got across the lake I was pretty happy, it was a moment of victory on the property and one of the first major fixes that I had done but sadly... it was short lived....

As I was passing my father his celebration turned quickly into yelling for me to shut it off and his face was etched in concern. While I tried to figure out what was going on I looked down to see the oil reservoir bubbling and spitting oil everywhere. I shut the tractor off and got off completely frustrated that the victory was so short lived. I cleaned up what I could, checked to see if there was an issue I could quickly fix, which I did not see anything. I secured things back in place and tried to start it one more time to my disappointment the tractor would not start and it never has since. To say I was dismayed would be to put it lightly. Even though my father was trying to diagnose and figure out the issue I could tell he was disappointed too which made it all the worse. Our moment of elation quickly faded and we were back to a tractor that did not want to start and I had no clue what was going on with it.

I wish I had a happy ending to this story. Like I came back and got it running and have been using it on the property on a regular basis. Making improvements to it and having it be a true asset for the ranch. Or even if I sold it to someone and made some money for it. The truth is the pictures you see is from not more then a few days ago and it has been in that spot since it's first and only joy ride. It is no more then a lawn ornament, a chicken roost and a place where I occasionally sit in the seat waiting for the chickens to head into the coop watching the sunrise. Where honestly I pretend just like a little kid would that it would start right up and I would be driving it around my property in my old school tractor. Instead it sits there as a daily reminder of the tractor that refused and one of the few failures I have not been able to conquer. Maybe one day that will change when I have time to work on it again but for now it remains where it is and at the least it is a point of American farming history. Or as the joke goes all people who live in the south on some property have a broken down tractor that does not run sitting in their front lawn.

I would challenge that instead of looking at it as a negative ask yourself what the history could be behind that old machine and the stories that it could tell of a different time and a simpler life.....

The forever lawn ornament