Don’t buy a garbage new N-Series Ford Tractor Governor - A 10 second test to save you money

If you own a classic N-Series Ford tractor, chances are that you will need to replace or service the governor at some point. DO NOT BUY A JUNK NEW ONE. This test, which takes second will immediately tell you if the Governor you bought is good or bad. You are better off with a rebuild kit or a used factory example taken off a working tractor. SAVE YOUR MONEY, the “new” governors are absolute junk. Oh, and all the parts places sell the same garbage.

[@Thehoelogdog]

this is where the term "balls out" came from

[@rightpedalconstruction890]

Good to see you posting again!! Ford N series... I don"t own one. I don't have the room for one. I don't need one. This is great info for when I acquire one. Steve BTW really missing the history vid casts.

[@timzfultz4198]

He speaks the truth. Wish I would have watched this before I got the new one dirty. What a waste of my money.

[@danielschuld3398]

Thanks for explaining the functions of how to test them and your unsatisfactory experience with the new one. Very helpful 👌

[@Blyatarina]

Great info, saved my family lots of time and headache. Retuned the POS new one and bought a rebuild kit for the current one.

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

Hell yeah man, I appreciate that, we experienced the same thing a while back. We ended up finding one on Ebay, a good used one, Because of the questionable quality of the new ones. And rebuilt ones

[@brianlohnes3079]

Glad I am not the only one!!

[@heltonthreeotwo]

A place called Yesterday's Tractors in Port Townsend WA is a great source for any N series part's and have very knowledgeable parts guys

[@roberthayes5037]

Outstanding video. Thanks for sharing it.

[@jimlake01]

That’s crazy; I thought you sounded like you, if you know what I mean. Thank you for the fantastic advice; very good to know. I’ll hear you from the track!

[@BIBSTERSrepairshop]

Great tip thanks for the info seems like it’s hard to get good parts anymore great way to explain how a governor works

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thank you!!

[@davidshipulski4532]

Great video. Very in depth. Just what i needed! Thank you!

[@curlracing276]

Thanks for the heads up. I think a lot of people do exactly what you did and buy new parts to fix/replace oem stuff not knowing the oem stuff is higher quality. Mine leaks bad so I’m fixing my leaking governor soon.

[@dennis9081]

Thanks for the tip!

[@jamey90]

So even though these are questionable out of the box, I did get a good deal on a new knock off one for an 8n to use for parts on my 2n. I took my old beat up one and the new one apart to swap out the 2 arm lever for the 8n for my 3 arm lever for the 2n. Visually everything looked identical on the inside. But, I sat the lever and shaft assembly’s down flat on the workbench and put small screwdrivers in the holes that hold the fork that is actuated by the inner workings and the screwdrivers weren’t parallel with each other. Which means when the governor moves the arms aren’t going move the right amount for the conditions the tractor is in. I haven’t started my tractor yet because I’m doing all the maintenance I can, but I’m confident it should work now with my old levers since the hole is in the right place and everything else is identical. It’s still a cheaply made part though so we’ll see.

[@lukebertrichardson7799]

Yes, you are correct,. New governor crap, found new part in GF's old shop, made back in 1960? Something. Cardboard packaging deteriorated and full of dirt dobber nests, cleaned it, threw dirt dobber's homes away, works great.

[@krissnoddy8593]

Nice, you just saved me $225! Thank you sir

[@richardmartin2646]

Thanks man i'm working on a 9 n that set too long just little things to do carb,rad points. running soon

[@bobbysbugbarn8677]

Yea ive got 6 old tractors myself from 1953 to 1985 models. I have burnt a few times myself. Just a few sites I trust. Mostly as you said I repair what I have. If you get time at Dallas race this fall. We can discuss tractors 😆. Later! Oh and great information!

[@michaelwiebrand5666]

potentially saved me a few hundred bucks, thank you.

[@brockdelorenzo7505]

I have no experience with tractors, but have a small piece of land and will be doing very simple projects. I found a 9n in great running condition with good mechanics. It comes with a lot of attachments…Tiller, plow, grater, cement mixer, boom, and a two wheel cart. I am just not sure I want to spend 2700 for all of that. I know that some of these older ones sell for 1000 or 1500. I am just torn because this one comes with a lot of toys. Is this a tractor? You guys think I can learn to use for fun once every other month.

[@alchemy1]

When I span the governor in my 8N, the arm does move forward like yours but I notice it makes a chattering sort of noise inside. Yours also makes a noise but sounds different. Yours sounded like air pop or something.

[@yogibeer9319]

Gokw (God only knows where) China 😂 Thanks for saving us a lot of grief!

[@benkanobe7500]

Thank you. Do the popular salses folks we all know sell the rebuild kit? What about for the Jubilee?

[@f100inc3]

Man, I thought you looked like BL!

[@russpatstone5525]

Sooo...What's a suggestion for a quality governor? They do all look alike.

[@justicebruno5249]

With this stop it from starting? Thanks

[@maniagokm3186]

Thats not a valid test. I have both my old gov and a new two arm like you. The gov spins at about 1000rpm at idle. Your old one moves cause its loose and old. The new one doesnt because the bushings are new, its not oiled and things are tight. You have to spin it faster than your hand can manage to impart the forces needed to make the new arms move. If the new one didnt work on your tractor, there is more investigation to get to the root cause than what you did here. I would suspect the weight of the balls between the old and new might be a possible place for exploration.

[@lovethewordofgodjn321]

👍👍

[@cecilmckeithan5088]

Got a 49 model that won’t hardly pull itself backwards lost power but runs fine otherwise just lacking power was wondering if that could be the issues

[@cecilmckeithan5088]

Found mine had groove in housing it would shift arms when spun but still needs replaced. Also ball bearings have worn spots. For a temp fix I thinking about making a sleeve .

[@kevs56chev]

Bible says don't worship idols, so Brian's at hero status. Pretty sure there are no bad video's on this channel.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Haha - thank you!

[@user-nh7kp7wg4y]

Do buy

[@jnzkngs]

When did the flathead V8s have a governor?

[@brianlohnes3079]

They never did. The N-Series never had a V8 engine. I am going to be swapping one into this tractor but just making it run properly with the regular four banger that is in there now.

[@JohnHBatte]

Sorry he’s wrong and right. The funk flat head kit did have a Governor set up but it was belt driven not gear as the truck engines didn’t have governors.