[Ford-ferguson] More on 2N won't start

[Mike Sloane]

Dave Mayfield wrote:
> Mike, Just my opinouin mind you but, 70psi maybe low by the book, but it's
> not all that bad. The main thing is that the pressure is equal across all
> cyclinders. I would first adjust the vavles and then see how it go's. I
> would bet the valves are dirty, pitted and so on. I would pull the head and
> look at the vavles, pull them out "easy" and clean and lap them, then adjust
> properly.
I appreciate your taking the time and trouble to reply, Dave, and I 
agree that consistancy across all cylinders is importatnt. But my 
experience with engines of all kinds tell me that the problem isn't 
valves: if you have low compression in one cylinder, and, after putting 
an ounce or two of oil in the cylinder, the pressure jumps up 
considerably, the problem is almost certain to be rings. If there is no 
change after putting the oil in, the problem is usually valves (or a 
hole in the piston!). I do agree that 70 psi isn't all that bad for a 60 
year old engine that has spent the last 20 of them sitting out in a 
field with no carburetor or muffler (there were acorns in the valve 
chamber when I took the manifold off, but I got that all cleared out). 
When the engine last ran before the PO left it, the iexhaust valve for 
the bad cylinder was open (it was stuck open), and moisture caused the 
rings to "freeze" to the piston. In any case, there was a considerable 
amount of "blow-by" coming out the breather cap the last time the engine 
ran a couple of years ago, which is another indication that the rings 
are not doing their job. I feel hopeful that the liners will be OK and 
not require replacement, but I like to be prepared for the worst and be 
pleasantly surprised when things turn out to be less than that. :-)
> 
> The oil pressure is other matter, you might try changing the oil, but put in
> 30% percent diesel, then let it run a while to clean things out. Drop that
> oil out and replace. I have a 8n I have been using for years, it starts out
> with 20 pounds of oil pressure then after a few minutes it drops to zero.
> It's been like that for years, runs fine. I suspect that the oil line to the
> pressure gauge maybe somewhat plugged, I am sure it really has suffecent
> pressure or it would have gone South by now.
As far as the oil pressure, I agree that almost anything more than 0 is 
OK for these old long stroke engines, but If I have to go to the trouble 
of dropping the pan, I might as well check out the pump and bearing 
clearances while I am there.

Images of the tractor can be found at: 
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/1946_ford_2n/>

Mike
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Sloane" <msloane at att.net>
> To: "Ford-Ferguson List" <ford-ferguson at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 12:08 PM
> Subject: [Ford-ferguson] More on 2N won't start
> 
> 
> 
>>I took a compression test on the engine: 70-30-70-70 dry, 70-70-70-70
>>with oil in the cylinders. The manual suggests that 90 psi is the
>>minimum acceptable pressure. So I guess it looks like a ring job in in
>>store for me this winter. I have no problem with the procedure for
>>removing the radiator and hood, and swinging the front axle out of the
>>way. But the manuals I have for the Ford N tractors all show a special
>>tool for installing the liners. If the problem is more than just rings
>>and the liners have to be replaced, how is that done without that big
>>round plunger shown in the manuals? The books caution that the liners
>>are so thin that any pressure on them while inserting them can cause the
>>liner to deform.
>>
>>Everything else looks to be pretty much standard stuff for a 4 cylinder
>>flathead engine. I may also need to do either the bearing shells or the
>>oil pump, as the oil pressure dropped considerably as the engine warmed
> 
> up.
> 

-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
Email: (msloane at att.net)
Website: <http://www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Blog: <www.mikesloane.blogspot.com
Tractor images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>
Work: none - retired

All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies. -John
Arbuthnot, writer and physician (1667-1735)