I have a ford 8n tractor I'm resurrecting. Took the head in to have it surfaced, and got it back with a crack at the base of the water neck. Being it's 70'odd yrs old, heads aren't exactly laying around everywhere. Can find them online, but it's kind of a gamble whether I get a decent one or not. Mine is good in all other aspects now, just got dropped at the machine shop or something I guess. I've yet to jump them about it.

Anyway, I've read up on it and seems there is a good brazing technique for it, just requires special flux and filler to braze, and no doubt some level of skill at it. I'm a brazing fool with silfos, just hate to attempt this and screw it all up.

Anyone in the THF family east of Dallas that can help me out? I ain't looking for a freebie, skill and service is worth paying for.

Thanks!

[img]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ford-8N-9N-2N-Tractor-Engine-Head/363073178482?hash=item5488d90b72:g:a98AAOSwIy5fMsQ6[/img]

$65

Check with some old radiator shop, one that has some old farts working there that are usually sitting around playing dominos when they aren't being watched.

I don't think this link worked right on here but I googled 8N ford tractor heads and several sources popped up. Yesterdaystractor is also a good source for these older Ford 8N parts. I've had some repaired in the past but a good machine shop should be able to repair it.

I bet Big Pig could do it. Send him a PM

Cast iron is a tuff animal to tame. I hope you find someone. I have a cousin who does a lot of SS jobs who I bet has the skills but he’s up in CO.

Someone here recently said they used gobs if JBWeld on a big cast iron pc and it’s held for a long time now.

I've researched a bit online myself. I buy from yesterday's tractor regularly, just got a shipment from them last week. The repop (new) heads are out of stock everywhere I've seen them advertised. The used ones on ebay scare me, most are all crusty and sad looking, which makes me wonder what kind of shape they are in. Am hoping I can find someone to braze it before I have to start gambling.

Find an old school machine shop.

Pre-heat the base metal and use nickel rod.
That’s all I remember from when I’ve had cast welded.
I’ve burned a ton of 60 and 70 rods, but I left the cast welding to the experts.

They have rods to weld up cast iron . Brazing is almost a thing of the past. A good quality welding shop will know.

If you can post a picture of it I may can get you hooked up without leaving Kaufman county. Not brazed but welded correctly.

castaloy would be best and it's fairly easy to do

A cast iron rod with a nickle content is what you need . Never liked, and I have tried the castaloy. Lincoln Tech-Rod 99 (almost 99% Nickel electrode) is what we used a lot on pump housing and cast fluid ends when we were in the biz. Grind crack out, preheat and keep it hot while welding and go to town. Tech-Rod 55 was also used and cheaper by the pound and 55% percent Nickle. A good welding shop will do it.

Grind crack out, preheat and keep it hot while welding

This was key in having some large pcs of cast iron machinery repaired in the dry cleaners When I was still a little fella.
That welder had a heck of a time with it. He didn’t have YouTube to save him though

Nope. Never tried it. I have welded mild steel to cast, but never brazed it

Might try calling Mr. Moore in Gun Barrel City. 903-880-2883. Google Moore Enterprises in Gun Barrel City.

In my opinion, the shop that broke it should make good on it. Any reputable shop wouldn't hesitate to make it right to you, and if they do give you a hard time then you know what kind of people they are and you can feel justified in your response in kind. That's if you are 1000% sure it wasn't cracked when you took it in to be surfaced. I wouldn't want a braised repair, especially since you are doing a restore to a tractor worthy of your time that is or is nearly an antique.

JB Weld. Wonderful stuff

Is it possible to TIG cast iron ??
I know it won’t flow into the gaps like brazing but didn’t know if TIG is effective on cast iron.

No tig but as said nickel rod on it flows easy the trick is to pre heat and weld a little at a time not to get it to hot and immediately start post heating very slowly to cool it down very slowly or it will crack again beside the weld. Tricky stuff but can be done. My experience that’s all !!

Try muggy weld.

Buff the crap out of it with a wire wheel,grind a nice bevel and preheat till it's nearly red run a pass and clean,reheat and run next pass, probably be enough ,heat back up till nearly red and wrap with insulation and cool to ambiant temperature . Be sure to heat the piece evenly and don't get red hot,you can use Lincoln ferroweld rods,take your time and don't get it too hot cause it'll crack somewhere else . Hope this helps

Tig would be the way I would do it .

Cast iron is tricky but can be repaired easily if done right. If it's none load baring I would go to brass. Trying to weld cast iron has it's own problems, the weld will always be the weakest point unlike other metals. They'll need to make sure the area to be repaired has a nice bevel all the the way through and it needs to be absolutely clean of oils and other substances. The head will need to be preheated and post heated to remove all stress, especially if they try and weld it with rods designed for cast iron. If it's a load baring like a bracket I usually try to just build another piece out of steel. Brazing is always the best way to go if you can.

Has anyone suggested Ramball?