[atis] [AT] Troubleshooting no start

[Stuart Harner]

Dean,

I am no expert here, but since you have verified spark and air to the 
cylinders, it would seem the missing part is fuel.

You said that you have fuel to the carb. but is it getting into the 
cylinders?  I would suspect that the carb gunked up and the idle jet is 
plugged.  I have had this happen to my old WD.  In my case it meant a carb 
kit and quick overhaul, but the carb had not been right for some time 
before, so I was expecting it.  But I was surprised when one day it just 
would not start.

To verify this, I would put some gas in the intake somewhere to prime the 
engine.  Some will balk at this, but a careful whiff of ether will 
accomplish the same thing.  If either of these produce a start or at least a 
sputter, you will know that there is no gas getting though the carb.

Good luck, bet it is something simple, it usually is...

Stuart



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dean Vinson" <dean at vinsonfarm.net>
To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'" 
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>; "'Farmall/IHC mailing list'" 
<farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 8:49 PM
Subject: [atis] [AT] Troubleshooting no start


> Dadgummit.  Today was supposed to be the day I got the M Farmall warmed up
> and changed the oil, but it won't start.  Not so much as a pop, and by now
> I've run the battery down by tweaking various things and then trying to
> start it again.
>
> Spark plugs were a bit sooty but I cleaned them all up and put them back 
> in,
> then one at a time took # 3 and 4 back out to watch for a spark while
> cranking the engine.  Both looked okay, spark was there.  I didn't check # 
> 1
> or 2 but don't see why they'd be any different.
>
> Fuel shutoff valve is on and fuel is getting to the carburetor.  Air 
> cleaner
> is still a gunky mess but the tractor has always started pretty easily
> before (during the month or two I've had it).  I disconnected the air pipe
> from the carb and tried again, just to make sure plenty of air was getting
> there, but it didn't change anything, still not so much as a sputter.
>
> The tractor last ran a week or two ago.  Since then I've replaced all the
> wiring, so my initial thought was that I'd screwed something up.  But I
> checked and re-checked it, and it all looks okay.  Good spark at the
> generator A terminal when I polarized it.  Lights work and the ammeter 
> shows
> discharge when I turn them on.  Plenty of cranking power (at least a 
> couple
> of hours ago, before I ran it down). Contacts inside the distributor cap 
> are
> somewhat pitted but everything is dry and looks okay, and it ran before, 
> and
> the plugs are sparking.
>
> Any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this?  I'm at a loss as to what to
> even look for next.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Dean Vinson
> Dayton, Ohio
> www.vinsonfarm.net
>
>
>
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