Steering adjustment for a Ford 8N tractor.

[Tractor Maintainer]

I have a Ford 8N tractor which was recently purchased in very good running condition. It was built in 1947. It has one problem with the steering. When the steering wheel is turned in one direrection and then turned in the oposite direction, there is a third turn of the sterring whell before the opposite direction is taken up b the linkage to the front tires. I suspect that the problem is either the ball nut or the left and right sector gearing adjustments. I would like to know without disassembly what the source of the problem is. So my question is how to determine where the source of this problem is? I have an I & T Shop Service Manual for the Ford *n tractors, which is very good.The serial number of the tractor is prior to to serial number 216989 => year produced 1947 ). Do the sectors need adjustment or the ball nut? ]

 

[Soundguy]

if you have the manual, you have 100% of the information already.

check to see if you still have the old style box with round sector covers.. or if someone has retrofit a later oval cover design.

assuming rond covers. you remov ethe bolts in the covers and attempt to rotat ethem to reduce the sector backlash you are seeing.

many times there is no adjsutment left. or not enough.

thus you would then be rebuilding the box.. bushings.. thrust bearings..e tc.

also keep in mind that worn draglinks will cause steering play.

not a hard box to rebuild.. jsut have to take 50% of the tractor apart to get to it.

 

[rwagaman]

I have a 1950 ford 8n.it steers great to the right but when I want to turn to the left you need both hands and have to crank like heck but going back to the right its once again easy

 

[Soundguy]

probably time to check the box out.

observe the steering wheel. with the front up off the ground. when steering lock to lock, does the steering wheel rise and fall?

most of the time this issue is a disintegrated upper bearing, and the underlying cause is a lack of lube in the box.

when you take her doen to replace the thrust bearings, reset the shim stack, and lube the box with 00 or 0 ep grease. ( not nlgi #2 grease!!! )

adjust sector backlash and then report back.


good time to check spindle bushings as well.

 

[Russ45]

New to me and 1st time vintage tractor owner. That being said the 8n that I bought now has a steering problem, it turns to the right but won't engage to the left, steering wheel turns but nothing happens. I'm not sure if a roll pin has come out or if it's more serious than that. Any help at this point would be helpful. In the interim I will try to find a manual for this tractor.

 

[Russ45]

I think that is the prelude to what has happened to my tractor. Mine steers easy to the right but is not steering at all to the left. I'm trying to find out how to fix it. good luck

 

[Soundguy]

so.. no matter how many times you turn it to the left it just freewheels?

if you then turn to the right, does it hit a hard stop or oversteer right?

 

[Soundguy]

ps.. old or new style box ( round vs oval side covers )

 

[terrym6150]

I just purchased a 1951 8N. The left front wheel is straight and the right front wheel is pointed out to the right. I measured the back inside tire to tire the measurement is 46" the front from tire to tire is 51 inches. so I guess it is about 2 1/2 inches out...seems like alot. Is that fixed by repositioning the right pitman arm? If so how do you remove the arm from the spline once the nut is removed?

 

[Soundguy]

the sector arms are master keyed to the sector shafts. ( you cannot change their index )

You need to look at a few things:

axle position on both sides.

draglink tubes. ( ends are adjustable at tie rod ), and can be swapped side to side.

are both sector arms swept back when wheel is centered. ( it is possible to assemble the box with the sector gears out of time. this also limits the max steering range. )

lastly, check the short front spindle arms for bending or bad weld repairs to the arm itself leaving an indexing problem.

post back.

pics always help. especially of the sector arms.