Ford 850 Intake Leak

[RLBurke]

I have a 1955 Ford 850 my grandad bought new from Goshen Implement in Elkhart County Indiana. I have had it in Idaho since the late '70's using for snow plowing some bush hogging and light excavation as I added a Freeman loader about 1980. Been running fine but started sputtering running rough after warming up. Went through the carburetor with new gaskets and such. New fuel tank as the old one started to rust. If you spray ether around the intake side of the engine seems to smooth out for a bit. Pulled the manifold and put on a new gasket set. Same problem. All of the above was done thinking it has intake air leak somewhere. I've been around this tractor for over 70 years but it has me stumped. Next thought was to pull the manifold and take it to a machine shop to see if it is warped. I need some help from those with more gray hair than me.

 

[used red MN]

Next thought was to pull the manifold and take it to a machine shop to see if it is warped. I need some help from those with more gray hair than me.

A carpenters square and a flashlight or more accurately feeler gauges would have told you if it was warped or not the first time you had it off.
Edit: adding.. are the carb mounting flange and gaskets good and bolts tight? Is the throttle shaft loose in the carb?

 

[RLBurke]

Good thought on the square. Pretty simple concept I never thought about. Any other ideas?

 

[used red MN]

Good thought on the square. Pretty simple concept I never thought about. Any other ideas?

Look at my edit if you didn’t see it.

 

[docmirror]

If it till has points ignition, take off the dist cap, take off the rotor, grab the top of the dist shaft and wiggle it in and out and left and right. Takes about two min to eliminate dist shaft bushing. There are also videos of smoke testing which is more granular and visual of intake leak tested. I found a bunch of issues on a VW Golf using smoke testing. It was showing up on a bunch of places. Should be easy on a tractor.

 

[NY 986]

It may be possible the ether is pulling in other than where the manifold attaches to the cylinder head. The manifold may be lightly cracked. Like Doc said a smoke test may reveal a spot not obvious.

 

[RLBurke]

Thanks for the replies. I'll start at the carb and work my way to the distributor. And see what I can learn about smoke tests.