I've been having a very frustrating intermitent problem with my 8n. On occasions it won't start,but has spark and gas, but the plugs are dry. I've tried all I can think of. It will do this for a while(weeks) and then will start, but I don't know why. I'm thinking of making it into a lawn ornament!

I had the same problem and it lasted for weeks. Finally I decided to recheck all the electrical. Took points out, reset, reset the timing when I had the distributor out, changed the plugs, changed the spark plugs....didn't help the problem. Finally I changed the coil. That worked. It has cranked ever since. I took the old coil to the shop and sawed it in half. Two of the poles had crystalized and melted some of the bakelite. I don't know why this happened but it made since to me after I thought about it. I always had had fire on the plug wires, the coil just wasn't producing enough to crank the tractor every time. Hope this helps.

If you're having a fuel problem (which is where I'd start) try this...

Ensure that your 3 fuel filters are clear. Do this by removing the bowl drain from the bottom of your carburetor (make sure you've got a bucket handy to catch the gas) and open up the shut-off valve on your sediment bowl. It should run a steady stream. If it doesn't...
1. Remove the fuel cap from the gas tank. This will test your vent hole to ensure that a vacuum is not being created in the tank.
2. (Assuming #1 was to no avail) Check all 3 filters.
a) The first filter is a 'tube' type screen that is inside the fuel tank. The only way to check it is to unscrew the sediment bowl/shut-off valve assembly from the fuel tank. A lot of times this screen is either missing or badly deteriorated. You're wanting to ensure that there are no large flakes of rust (or other 'trash') caught up in the screen.
b) The second filter is a flat screen that is on top of the sediment bowl. To check it, remove the glass sediment bowl from the base (shut-off valve assembly) and visually inspect it. Again, you're looking for anything caught in the screen.
c) The third (and final) filter is just inside the carburetor. Follow your steel fuel line from the sediment bowl/shut-off valve assembly to where it enters the carburetor. You should be looking at a 90-degree, brass fitting. Remove the fuel line from the fitting, then the fitting from the carburetor body. Your final filter will be affixed to the brass fitting where it goes into the carburetor. It is another tubular screen.
d) Finally, if you've got any other inline filters in your fuel line (or if you've got a rubber fuel line, in place of the steel one) the general recommendation is to remove any extra filters (on the gravity feed system they can cause 'starvation') and replace the rubber line with a steel one (Derek at Just 8Ns carries these, along with the rubber bumper to protect it from rubbing on the underside of the gas tank).

Along the way, you might try disconnecting the air intake hose from the throat of the carburetor to ensure that you're getting good airflow, too... (if this is the remedy, remove and thoroughly clean your air cleaner and remember to replace the oil in the cup every 10 hours of use).

Good luck and keep us apprised of your success (well, I sure hope that it's success)

Steve

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Nice illustration. Very helpful and thank you. Happy N'ing.