We have an old ford 8N tractor that is used like a golf cart. Probably started and moved an average of ten times a day. It has always had a devilish leak in the carburetor. The gas valve is SUPPOSED to be turned off after every use, but it don't happen. I just filled the tank last week. I went out an hour ago and the entire tank had leaked on the ground.
Can anyone suggest a 12 volt gas valve that can be installed to turn off when the key is off. Or, do fuel pumps include a valve - turn pump off and fuel flow is checked.
That's not a 6V system? These valves are probably not recommended for gasoline by the mfr, but I wouldn't be too concerned on a tractor as long as the wetted parts are compatible with gas.
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My Farmall Super-A has the same problem. I need to tear the carb down before winter.
I changed all my 6V tractors over to 12V. Just get a GM alternator and ignitiion coil. Toss the old generator, regulator, coil, and lights. The old starter works just fine. The tractor gets the "hand me down" batteries from the car and pickup. Now that tractor starts in seconds at -45F after sitting for a month. I tried it last time we hit that temp. On two of the tractors, and the forklift, I also installed electronic ignition. REALLY helps cold starting.
You need to rebuild the carb, the needle valve is leaking or the float sticks. It's cheap & easy and will stop your leaks. I almost never shut the gas valve and have no leaks.
"Karl Townsend" wrote in message news:ekQCg.2225$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
Karl, you missed Henry Ford's whole point! Gauges and lights were kind of expensive when the 8N/9N series were made. They needed an annunciator of some sort to tell you that the reserve valve/fuel valve under the tank isn't closed.
The fuel smell IS the annunciator!
Hell... ALL 8N carbs leak. Usually its around the bottom-most jet screw.
FWIW... most vibratory style electric fuel pumps (solenoid type) have a strong enough spring on the check valve so that it acts like a poppet, and will probably stop your leak.
However, there are ways to correct the problem, rather than just work around it. I kept and _heavily_ used a 1948 8N for over ten years, starting in
1988. We mowed 10 acres twice a month with it, all year long except October through December. The only replacement parts I ever needed were a new spark coil, a generator, and a lift cylinder gasket (easy to replace, too!).
The one thing that made that old tractor run better than anything, though, was a paint job!
On that 8N, it's not just a "shutoff valve". Ford figured out the oriface at 1/4 turn open just exactly right for the valve to act as a "reserve valve" too. Open it 1/4 turn to run. When it spits, open it the rest of the way, and you have about five minutes more run time.
Got a bike wrecker near you? Lots of vacuum operated fuel valves on motorcycle gas tanks in the last 20 years.
Then the fuel flow would be reliant on the engine running. The valves usually have either a prime or reserve selection to get fuel into the carb after a long down time.
Any place that installs dual fuel propane systems for vehicles will have 12v fuel solenoid valves that will do exactly what you want. These valves are used to shut off the gasoline flow when switching over to propane. Most larger propane dealers sell or have access to the conversion kits and can provide such a valve. I have also purchased the them on Ebay. There is a used one for a motorcycle on Ebay right now that would probably work:
Any place that installs dual fuel propane systems for vehicles will have 12v fuel solenoid valves that will do exactly what you want. These valves are used to shut off the gasoline flow when switching over to propane. Most larger propane dealers sell or have access to the conversion kits and can provide such a valve. I have also purchased the them on Ebay. There is a used one for a motorcycle on Ebay right now that would probably work:
Can I send this in as a "Tip of the Month" to "Mother Earth News" and "The Organic Farmer" ?
I'm sure they will agree that such a small amount of gasoline leaking into the ground is insignificant.......not to mention the fire hazard presented by gasoline leaking near a running engine.
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