[AT] Easier to Start?

Thu Jul 19 05:56:00 PDT 2012

Ben, after 62 years in the school of hard knocks I should know something. 
LOL

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Ben Wagner
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 8:42 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Easier to Start?

Well Charlie, I don't think it was flattery this time!

I used Charlie V.'s suggestion about switching carburetors, and the
Super A started right up.  I am assuming then the problem was in the
Super A's carb, so I blew it out, cleaned the lines, and it started on
the third crank.  It has never done that before with my hand crank, so
there is some improvement.  I'm interested to see how well it performs
this week at the Bridgewater Lawn Party tractor show.

I told you that you were always right on; you better believe me next time!

Ben W.

On 7/16/2012 9:29 PM, charlie hill wrote:
> Well you flatter me by saying I'm always right on.  I'm wish it were true.
> Anyway that has been my experience with Zenith and M-S carbs.  I hope I'm
> right.
> If not it won't be much lost but a little bit of your time.
>
> Charlie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Wagner
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 6:52 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] Easier to Start?
>
> Charlie, I'll try your suggestion, since you have always been right on.
> Either way, it won't hurt anything, and my arm will thank me!
>
> Ben Wagner
>
>
> On 7/16/2012 4:57 PM, charlie hill wrote:
>> Ben,  If you're having to run with half choke you're either getting air
>> from
>> somewhere you shouldn't or not getting the fuel you need.
>> The reason I told you to clean it again after you were sure it was clean
>> is
>> because I've been down that same road before.   It only takes an itty
>> bitty
>> little piece of whatever down in the passages of the carb to cause what
>> you
>> are experiencing.  The first time it happened to me a mechanic friend
>> heard
>> my tractor run and said "you've got trash in your carb"  I told him I had
>> just cleaned it carefully.  He said " YOU'VE GOT TRASH IN YOUR CARB!"  I
>> took his word for it and tore it back down.  I cleaned it again even more
>> carefully and ran wire again into all the little passages.  I never saw a
>> thing come out of it.  I put it back together and the tractor cranked and
>> ran like a top.
>>
>> Check for vacuum leaks in the intake too.
>>
>> Charlie
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ben Wagner
>> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 8:50 AM
>> To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
>> Subject: Re: [AT] Easier to Start?
>>
>> Hi Charlie,
>>
>> Thank you for your very detailed breakdown on cleaning my carb.  I
>> actually hesitate to tear back into it, since I have taken it apart
>> three times since the restoration in hopes of finding the elusive
>> problem.  I have eliminated most recently:
>>
>> ~fuel flow
>> ~clogged/constricted main jet
>> ~trash around the float needle/seat
>> ~trash in the passages
>>
>> If my carb is indeed clean, and assuming my air filter is working
>> properly, what other problems might I have to cause the engine to only
>> run on half choke?
>>
>> On another note, on my 1945 A, I have a "needle valve main jet
>> adjustment" screw that allows me to adjust the mixture.  It screws into
>> the main jet.  In the Super A parts book, the screw is listed, but it is
>> listed as only available on kerosine/distillate engines. I'm assuming,
>> then, that it is not needed for a gasoline engine, correct?
>>
>> Thanks to everyone for their help so far!
>>
>> Ben Wagner
>>
>>
>> On 7/15/2012 11:55 PM, charlie hill wrote:
>>> Oh and while you are at it take the fuel line off and blow carb cleaner
>>> through it (assuming it still has the factor metal fuel lines on it) and
>>> blow compressed air through it and repeat until you're sure there is no
>>> trash, rust, scale or gunk in it.  Check your sediment bowl strainer and
>>> make sure it is right and clean.  If someone has put an inline fuel
>>> filter
>>> on it take it off that might well be part or all of your problem.  Most
>>> of
>>> the inline fuel filters you see are designed for a pressurized system 
>>> and
>>> don't gravity flow enough fuel to feed the carb on an updraft system.
>>>
>>> Charlie
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Ben Wagner
>>> Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2012 9:03 PM
>>> To: Antique tractor email discussion group ; Farmall/IHC mailing list
>>> Subject: [AT] Easier to Start?
>>>
>>> Good Evening,
>>>
>>> It's been awhile since I have had to bring you an issue on my Farmall
>>> Super A.  It has always been hard to start, taking a long time of
>>> cranking (normally two periods of three seconds each) before it will
>>> begin to fire.  Lately, the electrical system has acted up, and I am
>>> trying to start it with a hand crank.  It's great exercise, but not the
>>> greatest use of my time.  It took a good 20 some turns with the hand
>>> crank to get it to start firing tonight.  I'm surprised my arm can still
>>> type!
>>>
>>> Is there any sort of "trick" some of you know of to convince a tractor
>>> to start easier with a hand crank?
>>>
>>> In case it is important, the Super A has a good magneto, D21 spark
>>> plugs, and a Zenith carb.  It also only runs well on half choke, and
>>> there are no adjustments on the Zenith beyond the idle mixture.  I know
>>> the impulse coupling works, unless I am mistaken.
>>>
>>> Thanks for your help.  I'm sure all of you have had the tractor that
>>> won't start well with a hand crank!
>>>
>>> Ben Wagner
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>> _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing list
>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing list
>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at

_______________________________________________
AT mailing list
http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at 