8N head lights and emblem

Today I decided to do my best to mount the head lights on the 8N Ford. Ibought them in 2005 and fortunately they did not spoil while waiting in thedark closet to be mounted. Some purists would say in 1952 the 8N had a roundlight bracket on the hood dog leg. Others such as I say we like the look ofthe wing bracket. Of course those of us who like it also get to likedrilling a hole for the rear screw post of the wing to pass through the dogleg and allow it to fit flush. I used increasingly larger drill bits until Igot the hole just the right size.

With a little trial and some error, I found that I could reach under thehood better if I removed the distributor cap. It is much easier on the leftside of the tractor. Once I got them mounted then the real fun began. UsingOEM wiring harness, I experimented to figure out how to get power to thelights. At first it did not work and then I realized since this tractor hasa negative ground I needed to run the battery wire from the positive post tothe light switch. It worked!

From there it was figuring where to run the wires and how to connect them to the short wire from each head light. I didnot have any of the original harness retaining clips so I used 1950s stylenylon ties. :-) Fortunately I found a few holes in the gas tank bracket ofthe hood and was able to get the pull ties through the holes and secured theharness. It sure seems to be a generous amount of wire. When I was finishedI tried the lights again and both worked.
The front emblem is the earlier version which is baked enamel, I think. By1952 a cheaper aluminum emblem was being used. I like the earlier one. Thatemblem did require some drilling too. Next time I need to hire a smartmonkey with small hands to be able to reach into the cramped spaces to usethe tools. Not having any kind of monkey, I used the fine SEARS stubbywrenches and removed a piece or two of both the tractor and me in theprocess.

The 8N looks good, runs well, operates as it should. By Wednesday I willhave a new set of decals for the 8N and will add the hood Ford name as wellas a few more where I have painted. I have a muffler in the same dark closetthe lights were in. I will look to see whether the 8N is in need of one. Assoon as the decals are on, it will be time for a movie of the tractor movingalong.

Tractor Boy

8N week end

This has been a busy week end with two big projects. The first, and most important to SWMBO, was to open the pool for the season. Pic 36 shows the end result. It does not show us working to remove two years worth of leaves and mud, then scrubbing the liner, then adding 10,000 gallons of fresh water. I managed to catch four frogs and transport them to the creek at the nearby park. We actually got in the pool yesterday and today. It is a great way to cool off in these 90 plus degree days.

I decided to paint the hood and console on my 1952 8N tractor. It is certainly not a professional job, but it does show the proper grey hood and fenders, and the Ford red (vermillion) console. I painted a few other places too. The radiator cap is freshly painted black and drying so it is not on the tractor. The hood has been dented by the previous owner driving into something. The amount it is off true made adding the front emblem a big challenge. Also the little speed clips they supply for the hood ornament are tough to put on by feel. Pic 28 shows the beauty of the Red Belly 8N with a properly painted (color anyway) console. I put in replacement gauges a couple years ago. Pic 29 shows the left side view where you can see original red as well as the console, and of course the hood. Pic 30 shows the emblem mounted. I think by 1952 Ford was using a cheaper ornament than the one I out on. Pic 31 shows a better view of the color. Pic 32 shows the fenders I painted a year ago. Pic 35 shows the right hand side of the 8N The red canister which is the air filter was overhauled and painted at an earlier date.

Tractor Boy

Knobs and 8N Tractor

This is really two stories:

Tractor Girl wanted new knobs on her folding doors that enclose the washer and dryer. The originals are at the point of closure, so she wanted some at the fold to better control the doors. I could have gone to a hardware store or even Wally World and bought a couple wooden or plastic knobs. Instead I decided to make some from T-6 (6061) aluminum. I cut off a length of ¾ inch aluminum rod. (pic 24) Using my little lathe, I turned it to about .338 inches, center drilled it, bored it with a quarter inch drill held in the tail stock, and threaded it ¼ X 20. (pic 25). Of course I turned the outside to make it pretty then cut it off using a cutting tool. (pic 26). The finished knob (pic 21) and the knob on the door (pic 27). When I got done I measured the knobs and found they were not the same size! One is .008 inches longer than the other. They are far enough apart on the doors that the casual passer by will not notice. A person with a good electronic caliper or micrometer in hand will be barred from that part of the house.

The second story was even more fun. I drove the 8N, which started easily, to the front of the house where I used my pressure washer to blast off some grease and generally clean the tractor. After I dried it some I put it away and along comes my four year old grand daughter Aleia who asked to ride the tractor. So, I started it up again with Aleia sitting on the seat in front of me, backed it out of the Tractor Building, and we proceeded to drive it across the back yard. We drove to our private road, then West to 60th street with Aleia steering some of the time. At the main street I looked to make sure no cars were coming and we pulled onto the street to make a U turn. Then we drove east back to our yard, swung into the drive way and under the trees where Grandma (Nancy) waved and we waved back. We turned North to drive through the back yard and, making a wide turn past the struggling black berry bushes, we drove into the Tractor Building (in first gear). We shut the 8N down and secured the building. What fun! The round trip was at least 1,800 feet.

Since I rebuilt the carburetor and the governor, replaced the throttle plate, cleaned the air cleaner and replaced its filter (with something I made), and changed oil as well as hydraulic fluid, greased the fittings, and aired the new tires, the 8N runs like a high strung pony. Previously I ran with throttle wide open. Now I have not run the throttle half way open. I also straightened the choke rod a bit and it now returns to open position automatically instead of needing to be pushed open once the engine is running. I do like these old tractors!!! J

Tractor Boy

Chores for today 10 May 08

Today I completed the newspaper post extension. I milled two pieces of aluminum to hold the added 4X4 treated lumber to the top of the plastic post which was too short from day one. I started the milling process last night and finished it this morning. Two yellow jackets had taken up residence in the news box. I sprayed one last night and the other this morning as he disputed ownership of the abode. (Pix 15 and 16) The holes in the plastic were off so I had to adjust the holes in the aluminum plates. It is quarter inch thick and I enjoyed cutting it, squaring it, and milling the holes.

Next I mowed half the yard and treated a few fire ant mounds. My Ford 640 tractor covered by a slightly too small tarp is visible to the right. (pic 17)

The two-inch water pump got all the water from the swimming pool that it could. I have a small electrical pump that attaches to a garden hose and will get most of what is left. There are at least four frogs living in the pool. I am sure they wonder what happened to their deep safe haven. The pump is visible to the left. (pix 18 and 19)

Gunner is the dog on the left, and Mocha is the one on the right. Mocha can eat a baseball in minutes. So, no more baseballs for her to play with. The two dogs stay active rough housing with each other. (pic 20)

I almost forgot to mention it was about 92 degrees today and I got sun burned.

Tractor Boy