[AT] Easier to Start?

[corley5 at forestryforum.com]

I've got an H Farmall that will foul Champion plugs in no time even
working hard running a hay baler.  I tried ACs and they were a bit better
but would still foul then on the advice of an old mechanic I switched to
AutoLites and haven't fouled a plug since.

Greg W.

> Hi Louis,
>
> Thank you for the thorough email.  I do find it interesting about the
> spark plugs.  I run D21's in my A's because the tractor will not run any
> other way.  About this time last year, my 1945 A started and began
> running strangely,  It smoked, missed, and had no power.  It had
> Autolite sparkplugs, which I pulled and replaced with D21's due to
> advice from a gentleman on the Farmall List.  Ever since then I have had
> no trouble with it!  A similar trick happened on the Super A, since I
> had similar Autolite sparkplugs at the time.  It even started knocking
> until I added D21's.
>
> I wonder what causes the difference?  Do you have a comparable AC or
> Autolite plug you use?
>
> Ben Wagner
>
>
> On 7/15/2012 11:44 PM, Louis wrote:
>> 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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