[AT] Easier to Start?

[Louis]

If it were a tractor that I was repairing, there are two things that I would
do.  The first one is replace the Champion plugs with something else, AC or
Autolite.  The second thing I would check it your entire fuel system.  First
take the plug out of the bottom of your carb and see if the fuel is flowing
at a good rate.  If it is the next step is to check your float level, I
don't have that info right now, it is at my shop.  If you contact me off
list, I can email it to you.  You check the level by screwing a 1/8" nipple
into the drain plug hole.  Have a piece of clear tubing attached to the
nipple, bend it so it goes higher than the top of the float bowl.  Measure
the fuel level to the bottom of the carb body.  If that is alright, remove
the carb and completely disassemble it.  You might have a blocked main
passage or blocked vent passage.  I just had a McCormick W9 in my shop this
past week, it was running alright till just recently. Then the customer said
you would have to have the choke half way on to get it to rev up and stay
revved up. I confirmed and he was correct. I went through the above steps
and found the main nozzle partially plugged.  I made sure all the other
passages were clean, put the carb back on the tractor and it runs like a
top. You might also want to check for a vacuum leak. While the tractor is
running, spray some starting fluid around the intake portion of the manifold
and where the carb bolts to the manifold.  If the engine speeds up at all,
you have a leak.

I say the spark plugs also, because there are several cases where I have
tractors start hard, I then changed the plugs to a different brand other
than Champion, and the hard starting problems went away.

 
Louis Spiegelberg
Spiegelberg Restoration and Service, LTD
440-965-7679
www.srstractor.com
www.facebook.com/srsltd
mailto:sales at srstractor.com
 


-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of 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
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