Hello Everyone

Been working on this for a couple weeks now and just about given up.
I have a 1949 8N 6 volt positive ground front mount distributor tractor.
A few weeks ago i had it running idle while installing my winter chains. When all of a sudden the tractor just dies like i switched it off. Thinking now that's odd because this tractor has never failed me in three years that i have had it. Even in the coldest of winter parked outside with a tarp over it it would still start and run. So have checked all can think of on the basic fuel spark air but to no avail.
Spark to coil and plugs, good gas flow and all. So has anyone else had the same problem out there. Or am i missing something all together here. Have put new points cap plugs and all in it but still nothing. Help in Washington State.

After cranking with the choke on, are the plugs wet or dry?

If they are wet, the problem may be ignition or fuel.
....The spark may be too weak to fire the mixture, the engine may be flooded from over-choking, or there may be water in the fuel.

If they are dry, the problem may be in several areas.
....The choke may not be closing fully.
....Try hand-choking at the carburetor inlet while cranking.

If hand-choking does not get the plugs wet,you may have a vacuum leak which prevents the fuel mix from being drawn into the cylinders.

How is the compression?

Hi Bruce
Was finally able to get out to the tractor today temp up to freezing now.
So after cranking and checking plugs they are dry. so pulled breather pipe off carb and hand over inlet of carb have some suction there but hand is dry even after chocking it. So this leads me to believe like you have said a vacuum leak. My jets
are Main is at 2 turns out and the idle mixture is 1.5 out. so thought let you know where i am with it? So you think it may be in the exhaust area where i need maybe new
gaskets i the intake side maybe not sure.

Hi Bruce Thanks for your response. The plugs came out dry i have done a carb rebuild and there was some small debris but not much. All the jets were clear not much corrosion at all. When i tried starting it one time or over several try's and finally decided to pull the cab the air breather pipe had a lot of gas in it from over flooding it looked like. Have not done a compression test i don't have the tool for it yet. you mention a vacuum leak where would i be looking for that at? Plugs i do have in it are Autolite 216 set at 15 and points set at 25. Right now sitting on 17 degrees here outside temp
i know the oil will be some what thick at this time so will need to put a heater on it. And make sure the battery is charged up good. I live quite away from town and it will be a couple days before i can get a compression tester for it. As soon as i can will test them over.Thank you for your time and help. Hank.E

You have the points and sparkplug gaps backwards. 15 on the points 25-28 on the plugs.

Hi Rob
Yes i do have them set at that 15/25 thanks for verifying.New points Plugs distributor and rotor plus condensor

If the plugs are dry after hand-choking, that implies the no-start is not ignition related (at least for now).

While hand-choking, do you feel a strong vacuum at the carb inlet?

I would begin by spraying starting fluid into the carb inlet (choke open) while cranking. ....If it fires your problem is most likely with the carb. ....Re-check your float level and carb adjustments. ....Fresh gas or old gas?

If the engine doesn't fire with the starting fluid, compression may be too low, valves not seating, vacuum leak at the manifold to head gasket or carb to manifold gasket.

I can't remember if it's possible on an 8N, but some manifolds can corrode internally connecting the intake passages to the exhaust passages. ....The engine may have good compression, but no vacuum at the carb.