Tractor Repair: ford 9n tractor, ford 9n tractor, replacement fuel

Question
I cleaned fuel tank and glass bowl, carb, made sure all lines wasnt stopped up. Now after i got back together bowl fills up but not getting to carb n yes i took back apart and blew threw them w/no obstructions? Does tank need certian amount of gas? How does it work? before would run short time till bowl drained and filter in tank was clogged thought would fix but??

Answer
Hello,

   On a 9N, the fuel valve by the glass bowl has a reserve built into it.  If you unscrew it less than 2 turns, it runs until there is only about 1 and a half inches of fuel in the tank.  If you unscrew it all the way, it should run on the reserve until the tank is empty.  As long as you have several inches of fuel in the tank, it should be OK.  If the bowl fills up but there's no gas in the carburetor, it sounds like the float or needle valve in the carburetor could be stuck.  Remove the drain plug from the bottom of the carburetor and see if any gas comes out. If not, remove the fuel line from the carburetor and see if any gas comes out of the line.  If not, remove the fuel line from the glass bowl and see if gas comes out from the bowl.  It could be that the bowl fills from the tank OK, but the outlet on the bowl where the fuel line attaches is plugged. It seems that people buy alot of replacement fuel valve/glass bowl assemblies for these tractors, so they must go bad occasionally.  I know I've replaced a few. I think it's because the tanks get so much rust and crap in them it ruins the valve.  If gas runs out of the line after removing it from carburetor, the problem has to be in the carburetor.  Some tractors had a screen in the inlet fitting on the carburetor where the fuel line attaches.  You could remove the fitting and check it also.  If you had the carburetor apart to clean it, the float could be binding after putting it back together.  I always tip the carburetor upside down and back upright again a few times to see if I can hear the float moving before I put them back on the machine.

                   Good luck, and let me know if you need more help.

                          Arnie