How smooth should flywheel be does it have to be perfectly smooth like glass

SOURCE: Ford 8N has a broken tooth/teeth on ring gear. How

Hi..my name is Keith..and i restore 9N's,2N's and 8N's....and to replace the ring gear..you split it there at the back of the engine..and its kind of a big job..so i would check the starter 1st..to make sure its not a starter problem..i hope this helps..if not please write back..i love tractor problems

SOURCE: Ford 8N wont start

It sounds like the conversion was more trouble than it was worth. I won't claim to have the solution to your problem having never worked on an 8N, but I was wondering about the capacity of the points and condenser in the distributor. If the condenser is not 12 V also, it might be causing the points to melt which would keep from getting a spark at the plugs. Check the condenser for voltage rating and also check if you are getting a spark at the plugs by unscrewing a plug, reconnecting the high tension lead, and hold the edge of the plug against the block while cranking using thick leather gloves, insulated pliers, rubber, or other non-conductive material to keep from getting shocked.

SOURCE: my 1949 8N Ford tractor, the starter just spins

My thought is you need a new "bendix" for lack of a better word. The device I speak of spins out and connects with the flywheel. There is the possibility you have electric problems but based on what you say, I think it is mechanical.

Thanks for posting your question at FixYa.com

Pleae vote

thank you

a

SOURCE: How do I remove the starter on a Ford 8N tractor?

Funny you should ask. I just got in from doing just that.

1: Disconnect the battery
2: remove the seloniod (I just unbolted and unscrewed it from the starter and left the wires on it so I wasn't trying to guess what went where later when I get back to reassembling it.)
3: you have 2 bolts at the rear of the starter (the part of the starter that faces the front of the tractor.) You unscrew them to take the starter out. BE CAREFUL - if you pull the starter apart it will be a bear to get the brushes back in.

I had the additional problem of the "bendix" (the part that engages the flywheel) jumping over the flywheel so I needed to remove the bolts on the canister to the left of the starter and move it slightly out of place in order to complete the project. You may not have to do that but I mention it as a aid because I don't know why you're changing out starters.

In my case I found that although the starter was spinning the shaft was being chewed up because the engager (bendex - whatever its called) had jumped the flywheel and was resting against the flywheel. Really needed extra space to pull the starter because of that.

Also saw somewhere that that bendix needs to be drawn in in order to reinsert the starter (something about having to spin it in??? I'll be looking for that shortly myself.

SOURCE: my 8n ford tractor has a new starter and started

The most likely cause of your problem is that the bendex drive on the starter is hanging up. This is caused by the return spring in the drive assembly breaking. First remove the battery cables then Pull the two bolts holding the starter to the block and remove the starter. It should drop out if it is difficult most likely bendex is still engaged just wiggle around until starter comes out.
NOTE: take caution as to not let end caps of starter come off. the bendex can be replaced by itself or you can purchase a starter with new drive bendex on it already.

to test if your push button is sticking take an ohm meter and test from terminal post to block or top of transmission where mounted if you get a reading of continuity then you have a bad starter button you can search for this part number 8N11500. The starter button just screws into the transmission cover and does have a gasket (pn 8N11529) and dust boot for the terminal. it is real easy to remove be sure area around is free of dirt you don't want that in your tranny.

No offence to HOGobal; putting a push button on the guage(aka dash plate ) is a bad ideal. The transmission mounted push button serves to keep the starter locked out if the tractor is in gear and yes the 2N,9N,8N,,NAA will start in gear and take off possiblely causing damage to your property,self and tractor. I have repaired to many push button remounts and have personally seen a 8n over come its park brake and run into another vehicle cause massive damage to the other vehicle. due to heavy duty push bar bumper assembly on tractor. Jack