1950ish Ford 8N puking oil?

[Lil Foot]

Wife's uncle's Ford 8N apparently puked a bunch of oil out the breather & dip stick tube. Had been running fine, after bush hogging he pulled it into the pole barn where it puked. I had no time to look it over when I was there, but was wondering if anyone has seen or heard of this before, just to give him a starting point.
If I remember correctly, the hydraulic pump in these is back in the rear housing behind the tranny, so it doesn't seem likely that it is a hydraulic leak bleeding into the crankcase.
That would seem to leave only coolant or fuel as the culprit.
Opinions?

 

[lugbolt]

Only two things I can think of. Either the engine oil level has gotten high, for possibly a few different reasons, or it has significant blow-by. Pretty simple little tractor, a novelty more than a work tractor, so it can't be a lot of possibilities.

 

[BravoXray]

A bad piston or bad rings will cause this due to blow by pressurizing the crankcase. Worn rings would gradually let the problem get worse, but when it happens out of the blue like you describe then a broken ring or burned or broken piston is a possibility. A compression test, or maybe pull the head and do an autopsy. You can get lots of great help at;
http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/nboard/wwwboard1.html
The link is to the Ford N series forum, covering the 9, 2 & 8 N tractors. Many of us still work these fine old machines regularly, and will be glad to help get this one back in service.

Jerry

 

[sheepfarmer]

Regrettably I gave all my Ford 8n books etc to the person who bought mine, but the good news is there seem to be parts available. Somewhere I saw a statistic about how many were still in service in the various counties in Michigan, and it is a lot. TSC carries parts for them even. Guy that bought mine intended to grade a driveway with it, it was sure no parade queen.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Lots of parts around for them. Good old machines.

 

[D2Cat]

Many folks farmed 40-80 acres with those tractors. They were overbuild work horses. They only got pushed out of the limelight with 4x4 became popular, then the smaller size imports took over.

 

[BravoXray]

I hope he comes back with what they found.

Jerry

 

[85Hokie]

Little Foot,

I had an 8n (actually the 53 Jubilee) and was a member of the ford 8n board for a long time.

First thing is to check the oil level - I learn and NOT the hard way, ALWAYS cut the fuel shutoff ....off!!!

Tank above engine, and fuel can place itself into carb...and then move into cylinder and leak by rings - all of this happens when tractor is OFF.

Could have a blown oil ring too - that would allow oil to push up into breather too.

I would do a cold compression test and then the old drop some oil in the cylinder and check again. The numbers are not going to be super high......those engines had a compression of less than 7:1 ! and would run on some crappy gas too.

 

[Lil Foot]

I wish I was there to check it out myself. Unfortunately, it's 2000 miles from here. (UP of Michigan) I have passed on all your suggestions & advice to the owner, my wife's uncle, and he will start checking things out the next time that he visits the tractor. (he lives in Indiana, 360 miles away) He says he will start by draining to oil, and will look for evidence of fuel or coolant.
I will keep you informed of anything he finds out, but I have no idea when that might be.