[AT] Troubleshooting no start

[Mike Sloane]

Whether or not you have the problems John described, I can add some 
suggestions to his solutions:

1. You can use an unlit propane torch with the valve cracked open and 
moving the tip slowly around the area of the manifold and carburetor 
when the engine is finally running. The vacuum will suck the propane in, 
and the engine will speed up. This is less messy than using a flammable 
liquid and also somewhat quicker.

2. For a homemade inexpensive spark checker, I have an image of one I 
use, consisting of an old spark plug, a hose clamp, and a battery 
charger clip. See: 
<http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/tools__equipment/ignition_tester.html> 
(I posed the tester on a painted bolt for clarity, but, obviously, you 
need to clamp it on to a good metal ground.) Open the gap on the plug, 
as John suggested - it takes more energy for the spark to jump under 
compression than in free air.

Based on everything I have read about this tractor's problems, I would 
have to say that it either has very low compression or weak spark under 
compression. I had a Ford N that was very hard starting, and it turned 
out that the rings were broken on two of the pistons. It would run, once 
I got it started, but a compression check showed two cylinders with 
about 30 pounds compression. Burned valves can also cause poor compression.

Mike

John Hall wrote:
> Somewhat following this thread. I like the idea of a hole itn the 
> intake. If you get it running you should be able to spray a flammable 
> penetrating oil where it bolts up to the head and see a noticeable 
> difference in the RPM"S, or at least some smoke out the exhaust.
> 
> Intermittent kill switch sounds good also.
> 
> As for checking spark, how strong is it? When we check a magneto it has 
> to jump a 1/4" to be hot enough to work. Maybe you could rig up 
> something with an old plug to try this.
> 
> John Hall
> 

-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
<mikesloane at verizon.net>
Website: <www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>

Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition
of this is the beginning of wisdom.
-Theodore Rubin, psychiatrist and writer (1923- )


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