[Farmall] Troubleshooting no start

[Jim Becker]

Just because it is an easy mistake to make, try moving all the spark plug 
wires to the opposite side of the cap.

Jim Becker        jim.becker at verizon.net

----- 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: [Farmall] 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!