AC 170 - Won't stay running

[Tony-MD]

1972 AC 170
4-cyl Gas (G-226)

Picked up my 'new' AC 170 today (yaaaayyyy me). When I got it the man told me it had a new carburetor but it needed "tuned". It ran fine for a few minutes then it shut down. The throttle is also wrong (?) - it is very stiff and has little or no adjustment - it is either wide open or off, you really have to tap it and work it to get it to idle or run at about 1500-1800 rpm.

Now it starts, runs for a few seconds then quits - - - almost like the carb fills up and it just runs what is in there out. I am figuring on starting with the basics - check for trash in the tank, bad gas, check/clean carb, etc. but I thought I'd throw it out here and see if this is common and someone has something else for me to look at/do.

Thanks,

-Tony
 

[Ted in NE-OH]

Check for good gas flow to carburetor. May have junk in bottom of tank restricting flow.
 

[Tony-MD]

Here's a pic of her - just unloaded from the trailer.

-T
 

[JMS/.MN]

Throttle issues? Maybe gov spring is broken? If it"s like the D17, right front of engine, cast cover about 2x3 inches, close to radiator, 4 bolts, maybe quarter inch....take cover off and look inside for pieces. Trash in fuel tank? take off sediment bowl assembly (unscrew from tank)...cut little plastic tube about inch or so long, insert in assembly inlet.....will stick up into gas tank upon reassembly, so doesn"t suck gas from bottom of tank, where all the crap is floating around. BTW, I bought my second D17 in about 1984, years later found a 3/4 inch combo wrench in the tank, never bothered but found it when I removed tank for cleaning.
 

[Tony-MD]

Thanks - - I am going to tear in to her this afternoon.
 

[Tony-MD]

I was able to set the low idle last night before I lost the light. I couldn't get it down to the 500 - 550 rpm range them manual called for, it just wouldn't run right down there. It seems to run the smoothest at bout 800 rpm. It does seem to misfire a bit under 800 - I will pull and check the plugs.

Now I need to tackle the high idle. This is a little tougher as it is on top of the cover where the governor spring is - a little tough to reach through, especially with the loader on.

I'll say this - once I got the low idle set she ran like a champ. I kept it idling and ran it around the place for about an hour and it never shut down. I suspect the high idle and carb link arm just need the proper adjustments and she will be on track.

More as I have it - may be a few days since we have some nasty storms rolling through right now.
 

[Charlie175]

Very nice looking tractor you have there