Wednesday musings

In the midst (who talks like this anymore?) of cleaning up stuff I carried some more ammo back to the Tractor Building, soldered a broken wire on my grand daughter's electronic fairy wand, and started the 8N. The most important event was the soldering. J The 8N was second in import to me. Anyway, to make a short story long, I was attempting to start and run it with the fuel shut off so I could drain the gas from the fuel line to the carburetor before removing the carb to refurbish it. I guess the vacuum is such that the tractor will run just a short time – measured in seconds before it quits. After a while I gave up. At least I know the old 8N will start. It is too, too muddy to drive the tractor still. I guess it will be two or three more days before enough ground water either drains off or evaporates so I can actually drive the 8N. Mean time I can remove and service the carburetor.

There is an oil leak, apparently related to the governor so I wonder whether I did not get enough old seal off the housing or the tractor before reassembling the governor to the tractor. I will keep an eye on it and see if I can pin point the leak. Mean time I put a pan under the leak to keep it off the floor.

I was sure I had some 90 weight gear oil for the steering column, but so far have not found it. I am pretty sure I bought some as I can picture the container. Guess I can buy another container which is often how I find missing stuff – replace it and put the new next to the missing item while saying. "Oh, there it is!".

Time to get back to sorting stuff and getting it off the bedroom floor. I have enjoyed being out sick even with a sore throat from strep bacteria. The humidity is high and perspiration is great right now…

Tractor Boy

Farmall Cub Switch Replacement

It was a cold, wet, dreary day in Central Texas. Perfect weather in which to replace the light switch I replaced last week. The first replacement was blowing a 20-amp fuse in less than a second when turned to the farthest right position. Fortunately, I had added a separate fuse holder to the circuitry when the replacement did not have a fuse position. I spoke with the nice folk at Farmall Cub Forever and ordered a three position six-volt switch which arrived a few days ago. This time I took pictures so you can see what I was doing. Again, I replaced one wire at a time. The switch has a protrusion which fits in a notch in the console, and I replaced it so the two were properly aligned. I discovered it was easier to take the console off this time, and I did not need a small monkey to reach in the confined space. I did; however, forget that I placed a piece of board between the hydraulic housing and the hood/fuel tank. So, when I started up the Cub to see how well it would run, there...

Farmall Cub greasing

Replacing gear oil and greasing the ’49 Cub ought to be a straight forward task(s). Well it hasn’t been. The transmission fluid was tan, looking like tan paint. Folks on Yesterday’s Tractor Farmall forum said it meant water had got inside the transmission. I wonder whether this tractor was under water at one time. I bought a Spectricide brand insecticide pump, put kerosene in it, and flushed the transmission, then refilled with 90 weight gear oil. The gear oil looked like and had the consistency of thin honey. Pic 1300 shows the transmission filler plug. A lot easier to reach than the plug for emptying the transmission. Note it has a square head. All of these plugs are square headed. Three and a half pints later, the transmission was back together. After the transmission, I decided to check the steering gear oil. It was not tan. It was black as could be so I flushed the housing with kerosene again and refilled with ¾ pint of 90 weight gear oil and replaced the filler plug. Pic 1301 s...

8N Wood Chipping and Discing

Recently I purchased some new implements for use with the two Ford tractors. They had been on an 18-foot trailer waiting my figuring out how to remove them. I attached a boom to the 8N Ford three-point hitch and tying the disc to the boom with a chain, was able to lift the disc and turn it to face off the trailer and then lift and drag the disc off the trailer. Once on the ground, I replaced the boom with the disc and proceeded to start in my garden area which has not been disturbed in years. The green Coban covers the broken finger I received which chipping Hackberry limbs. In the picture is the very limb which kicked back and got me. My leather gloves looked fine, but my finger sure did not. The 8N Ford does not steer easily on a good day and is very difficult to turn with the wounded left hand. I had to give up the disc operation until the splint comes off so I can better grip the steering wheel. As a result of this adventure, I am going to restore my 640 Ford...

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