FUEL SYSTEM

Open the fuel valve two full turns for normal operation, and all the way out to get the remaining one-gallon reserve.

The Ford 8N Tractor fuel system has three (3) screens. All three of those screens need to be clean for proper fuel flow. A good way to test the system is to put a can under the carb, remove the large plug at the bottom of the carb, and then open the fuel valve on the tank. You should get a good steady stream of fuel. If the flow of fuel slows down significantly after what is in the carb is gone, start looking for the problem.

One screen is in the tank. You have to completly drain the fuel and remove the fuel shutoff valve assembly to clean that one. Don't forget to also drain the reserve fuel supply by screwing the fuel shutoff knob all the way out. If you don't you will still have about a gallon of fuel in the tank when you remove the valve.

A second screen is located just above the glass sediment bowl at the bottom of the fuel shutoff valve. Loosten the bottom nut, remove the glass jar, and the screen is above the seal.

The third screen is attached to the fuel inlet elbow on the carb. Remove the fuel line and unscrew the brass elbow to get to that one. It is made right on the end of the brass elbow.

If any of the screens is clogged, look immediately upstream to find the source of the problem. Usually the problem will be a dirty or badly corroded tank. Flushing and cleaning the tank may help, but if the problem is corrosion, you need to fix it or get a new tank. There are several tank repair products available that coat and seal the inside of the tank and may fix your problem.

When replacing the threaded fittings don't forget to use sealant on the threads or they will leak. The fuel line is a tapered seat so there is no need for sealant on the fuel line fittings. Just make sure both the pipe and the socket are clean.

The fuel shut-off valve on the sediment bowl is there for a reason; shut the gas off when you turn off the ignition key, every time! If you leave it turned on, sooner or later, the needle valve or float in your carb is going to fail. You could end up with several gallons of gasoline diluting the oil in your engine!

UNLEADED GASOLINE: Even though this is an antique engine, it is not necessary to add lead to the gas or use hi-test gas. The Ford tractor engine is a low compression (6.5:1), low hp (25-30 hp) industrial engine with hardend valve seats for long life. It will be perfectly happy and run best on the cheapest low-test unleaded gas you can buy.

If you plan to let your tractor sit over the winter months, you should put some Sta-Bil in the fuel to keep it fresh. It is also a good idea to keep the tank full of fuel at all times unless you are draining it for long-term storage. This will help prevent moisture and rust from forming in the tank.