[AT] Mags

[Ralph Goff]

Ken Knierim wrote:
> All of my Case tractors have Case magnetos on them... while there may
> have been others installed on them over the years, I've had good
> service from the genuine Case mags. The tractor I have in the shop is
> a 1941 DH (very similar to the DC-4) that was always crank started (no
> electrics on it). When I got the head torn down, I'd never seen valves
> in such poor shape, but I knew it ran because I'd crank-started it
> myself after it sat for 20 years. I'd have to say the mag (Case
> base-mount) was able to light the fire adequately... maybe that's what
> you need to get the DC-4 to start. :)
> 
> And don't forget to choke the heck out of it while you're doing it...
> All my D's are quite picky about this. They usually fire on about the
> second or third compression and wake right up.
> 
Ken, I know other people have told me these Case tractors were generally 
good starters but I have a 35 year history with this tractor's starting 
problems. When it belonged to a neighbour that I worked for I learned a 
lot about crank starting as the electric starter was weak. This tractor 
was usually parked on a long hill on the creekside as a means of roll 
starting. It was temperamental and unreliable and no mechanic ever 
seemed to be able to solve its problem for long.
I think now its a combination of having been parked so long that there 
may be carburetor problems as well as ignition.
I can remember choking that engine on starting and the gas would be 
running out the bottom of the carburetor but still no start. I think 
this DC4 will be spending most of its time sitting in its parking spot 
in the quonset until the day I am looking for a project. I'm a bit 
biased towards my Cockshutt tractors it seems.

Ralph in Sask.