[AT] Easier to Start?

Thu Jul 19 09:48:46 PDT 2012

I am going to throw my 2 cents in.

I bought a JD 420 over 20 yrs ago.  It ran on half choke only .... still
does today.  I wonder how many hours I have spent trying to solve this
problem. I have had the carb boiled clean and set by professional, evening
putting on test engine and all is well.  I have tried the LP thing 3 times
(how do you get it in all of the right places with the fan blowing it
everywhere), I have rebuilt the engine once, replacing all gaskets.  It just
comes to a time, is it worth it!  It starts and runs great on half choke, so
why bother any more ... I know, I know, it is NOT right, but who cares any
more. It is just not worth any more time or money.
Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Mike Meulenberg
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 11:31 AM
To: at
Subject: Re: [AT] Easier to Start?

Has he checked and set the float level to factory specs?

Mike M

----- Receiving the following content -----
From: charlie hill
Receiver: Antique tractor email discussion group
Time: 2012-07-19, 09:26:28
Subject: Re: [AT] Easier to Start?

Ben if it ran without the choke using the other carb then the problem isn't
in your air cleaner.
there is still some sort of problem in that carb.
To answer your question, I'm not that familiar with IH air cleaners but the
Allis stuff is similar.
When you remove the oil cup from the bottom and look up in the cleaner there
is some sort of metal grid there to hold that "wool" in place. It can be
removed. It might require de-soldering it. Maybe someone else knows. Once
that is out the steel wool pulls right out. It can be bought.
I know it's available for AC tractors and I'm sure it is for IH as well. 
With that said, if you have to
run with the choke pulled a restriction in your air filter would help not
hurt. You are running too lean.
There is some sort of restriction in your carb.

Charlie

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Wagner
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 8:50 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group ; Farmall/IHC mailing list
Subject: Re: [AT] Easier to Start?

Charlie V., I did try your suggestion to pinpoint the problem. The Super A
did start much better, even though it didn't run well. I think it was
running rich, but I didn't want to destroy the settings which work well on
my other A, so I reinstalled the old carb.

Interestingly, for those following this thread, the Super A still only runs
evenly with 1/2 choke. Even after the cleaned carburetor, it still only runs
well with 1/2. It doesn't smoke, has plenty of power, and consumes less fuel
at that setting than any of my other tractors running with no choke.

I wonder if some trash is in the sediment bowl housing? The only other
option is junk in the air cleaner. Those two options seems to me to be the
only way to cause the problem.

Is there a way to remove the "steel wool" substance in the air cleaner so as
to clean it well? I'm assuming the bottom (inside the cup) with the radial
lines comes out, but for some reason the bottom on my Super A doesn't want
to budge. Am I thinking correctly here? Does this model air cleaner come
apart?

Thanks for the tip, Charlie! I'll remember that one for future reference.

Ben W.

On 7/16/2012 12:47 PM, Charlie V wrote:
> Ben,
>
> ,Having read all of the good suggestions given so far, I will offer 
> one more. If Mike Sloan's (Hi Mike) propane suggestion does not help, 
> how about "borrowing a carburetor from one of your other Farmall A's 
> and putting it on the problem one. If the gas line is at a different 
> position on the borrowed carb, borrow the other gas line to go with 
> it. The time investment will be small compared to what you have 
> already done. That should tell you once and for all if the 1/2 choke 
> problem and the hard starting is carb caused. After you prove that it 
> is, you would need to look to replace that carb with another (used 
> preferably), or get a good kit for yours, or find a clogged fuel 
> passage that has been missed so far.. If the problem is not carb 
> caused, you would at least not waste any more time going down that 
> road.
>
> Some might ask why mess up a good running tractor for one that runs 
> poorly. It should not mess up the good running tractor for any longer 
> that the time needed to change the carb over, test run, and change it 
> back.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Charlie V.
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 15, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Ben Wagner <supera1948 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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
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