8N seat spring broke

[simonmeridew]

My '51 8N has a coil spring under the seat, a decreasing radius type spring, that broke the other night (too many donuts???) Anyway does anyone know where I could buy another?
simonmeridew

 

[Soundguy]

Was it a farmerized setup with a combination of the original 'U' spring with that coil added as a helper.. or was it the front hinged replacement seat that had the coil spring in the rear?

If it was a farmerized one.. I'd think you could make somthing with a bolt and a car valve spring or perhaps s bolts and springs, and some thick rubber bumpers.. perhaps even some sort of heavy balloon.. perhaps surplus air ride or air shock stuff??

Soundguy

 

[wolc123]

He is probably talking about the coil spring located under the seat that atttaches to the top link 3 pt bracket. The draft control (used for constant depth plowing over uneven ground with the lever in the down position) will probably not function normally with a broken coil spring, but the seat stiffness is not affected. TSC may carry this spring as they stock many 8n parts, Antique Tractors - Yesterday's Tractors : Antique Tractor Headquarters has draft control plunger springs for $27.72, or check with your NH dealer. Luckily you have the tractor that is easier to get parts for than any made before or since.

 

[simonmeridew]

I don't think it is a farmerized arrangement. (I have had the tractor for about 30 years and have at one time or another rebuilt or replaced nearly everything so my question is not about a newly acquired tractor) It is a 1951 8N, I think originally sold out of Quebec. It does have the seat assembly pivoting in the front, with a kind of shock absorber behind it, a round metal pan that fits the coil spring behind that, and the seat hinges behind that so that you can drive standing up. I'll try to enclose a pic, looking backwards at the assembly, with the seat pivoted up. I pulled the spring out of the pan so that it shows better. Without the spring in there you sit so low that the clutch is harder(for my 60 year old legs) to depress, and visibility is less, also the ride becomes quite harsh due to no spring action.
Do you think the "draft control plunger spring" is the one I want?
Let's try the pic. I can email it if it doesn't work. Thanks for your help


simonmeridew

 

[Farmwithjunk]

My '51 8N has a coil spring under the seat, a decreasing radius type spring, that broke the other night (too many donuts???) Anyway does anyone know where I could buy another?
simonmeridew

I believe what you have there may be a seat spring INTENDED for an International Harvester letter series through early number series tractors. Try VAlu-Bilt (Valu-Bilt) or (1-888-828-3276) It's listed in their 2007 catalog on page 112. Cost is $25.19, and part # is719526.

 

[mjarrels]

Yep... looks like a Farmall spring... have one like that on my 1949 "C"... Had a 1949 8N one time and no spring like that under the seat.

mark

 

[wolc123]

Your draft plunger spring is the other spring in your picture and that one looks ok. The broken spring is definitely not an original part, it must have been added by a previous owner. Maybe you could find a farmall replacement, or switch back to the original ford 8n curved seat spring.

 

[simonmeridew]

Hi Wolc
As soon as I re-read your first post I knew what you were talking about. Yes my draft control spring is fine. Thanks for your advice. I think I'll order the Farmall spring and go with that. I've gotta say though, the pan and the part under the seat the spring bumps against look stock rather than cobbled. The little shock absorber has long since lost its umph though. And thanks Farmwithjunk for your help.
simonmeridew

 

[Soundguy]

Re-read his message.. he said it was a 'decreasing radious' type spring.. and may have been from too many donuts.

This tells me it is a spring with tight diamater coils at the top and large ones at the bottom.. and probably used to support his seat.. a common arangement.. and the fact he said donuts.. probably means he thinks 'weight' was too much.. I really really doubt he is talking about the draft control spring.

TSC doesn't carry that spring either.

Soundguy

He is probably talking about the coil spring located under the seat that atttaches to the top link 3 pt bracket. The draft control (used for constant depth plowing over uneven ground with the lever in the down position) will probably not function normally with a broken coil spring, but the seat stiffness is not affected. TSC may carry this spring as they stock many 8n parts, Antique Tractors - Yesterday's Tractors : Antique Tractor Headquarters has draft control plunger springs for $27.72, or check with your NH dealer. Luckily you have the tractor that is easier to get parts for than any made before or since.

 

[Soundguy]

There were lots of aftermarket and upgrade seat / spring setups. That yours is a front hinge and ahs a shock on it tells me it is probably not farmerized.. but may be something like a monroe ez ride type seat.. or similar upgrade.

BTW.. you can get new shocks for those...

Hit the YTmag ford N board and post that pic.. it may be something that you can get thru dennis carpenter.. etc..

Soundguy

Hi Wolc
As soon as I re-read your first post I knew what you were talking about. Yes my draft control spring is fine. Thanks for your advice. I think I'll order the Farmall spring and go with that. I've gotta say though, the pan and the part under the seat the spring bumps against look stock rather than cobbled. The little shock absorber has long since lost its umph though. And thanks Farmwithjunk for your help.
simonmeridew