[AT] Spark Plug Fouling Ferguson TO20

Sun Jun 23 23:25:55 PDT 2019

I own a JD H that did the same thing whenever I parade the tractor.  So I had to do two things. I lean out the carburetor and put carboard over the radiator whenever I parade and I also switched to a two range hotter plug made by Autolite (1114???). The current versions of Champion plugs do not have a good reputation in our older tractors. However, your fouling situation sounds like oil fouling vs fuel caused fouling.  That may not be solved by a change of plugs but it sure would be worth trying since plugs are not all that expensive. Whenever, I have these kinds of problems they are usually solved by working the living crap out of the tractor for an hour or so making sure I get the tractor up to an operating temperature of 200 degrees or better for a long period of time  It does wonders for everything inside the engine including the oil. The worst thing we do to our antique tractors is not work them hard. So find a way to work your tractor hard for a period of time.  Find a steep hill close by and put it in a high gear with the heaviest implement you have hooked on to the 3 point. Make that old machine work like it was intended to.  All kinds of good things happen.

PS.  I used to visit my mother in IA once a year and she would often complain that her Oldsmobile was not running right anymore. I would do nothing more than take it out on a remote, rural, farm to market, black top road and lay the blocks to it. Running at speeds that are unmentionable. I would then bring the car back and I would tell my mother her car should run a little better now. She would always write me a letter, after I left, thanking me for fixing her car. She knew better than to ask how I had fixed it. 😊

Dean VP

Snohomish, WA 98290

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of John Hall
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2019 9:10 PM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: Re: [AT] Spark Plug Fouling Ferguson TO20

Going by your annual useage, you get 3/4 of the year before you foul the plug. I would just change it and be done with it, they are less than $3 at NAPA.Â  FWIW, if you could run the splitter with something else it may help--engines that are in poor shape run better under heavier load, not piddling.

John Hall

On 6/23/2019 6:29 PM, Szakaluk wrote:

Request advice or suggestions on what I can do to reduce fouling on #4 spark plug on my 1951 Ferguson TO-20, here or to me direct. 

I've had it since 1990, only use it 8 or 10 hours a year.  Field mowing, snow removal, wood splitting (auger).

Using 10W30 oil, Champion D21 plugs, which I understand is a hot plug for this application.

At first, I could go twenty or 25 hours between plug fouling/cleaning.  Only #4 is a problem, others are fine. Using very little oil.

Now I need to clean #4 every six or seven hours.

Appreciate your suggestions on how I can reduce this issue.  I know someday the engine should be worked on, but with this limited annual use I can't justify tearing it down.

Heavier oil?

Different plugs?  If so, on all cylinders, or just #4?

Oil additives?

Other thoughts?

Thanks in advance

Steve Zakaluk

szakaluk at aol.com <mailto:szakaluk at aol.com> 

Falcon, CO

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