1937 f20 starting

[beck55]

I have a 1937 f20 that I have been trying to start. It has a rebuilt carb, reworked head, and a mag that seems to work. I can get it started with ether for about 4 seconds, but it runs very fast like a jet engine and dies. Tired of cranking and cannot pull due to various reasons (flat tires, etc). Thinking about jacking up and putting on blocks to use the rear tires to crank. Has anyone tried this, is it a stupid idea? Also, do you think I have a carb problem because it starts on ether only? Thanks for any advice from old f20'ers!

 

[Mark Poss]

Check to see if youre getting spark to the plugs and gas to the carburetor. If it has a belt pulley you can belt it up to another tractor instead of hand cranking.

 

[rockcreek4630]

You need to check your throttle at the carb when you say it runs like a jet engine makes me think you're at wide open throttle and it will be hard to get it started with the crank.

 

[rustred]

is that the zenith carb? better check the governor to carb connection. plus use a belt for starting it if you have no other choices.

 

[redforlife]

Sounds like the cog on the shaft coming from the governor is not in the slot ir needs to go in on the carb throttle butterfly shaft. If the cog is underneath of the do hickey that the slot is in, rather than in the slot, the engine wilk run non other than wide open. The only thing I can think of as to why it only runs for 4 seconds is, its only running off the ether, and carb is not set right for it to run off the gas mixture from carb.
Turning engine over by turning back wheel with tractor in gear and jacked up is not a good idea. I'm not sure that you could do that by hand, and even if you could, it would be a big NO NO if tractor started at full throttle.
Best way to try to start and adjust carb at same time, is to have it belted to a another tractor via belt pulley. Note (belt has to have a half twist in it to spin engine the right direction). Also, it basicly takes 2 people to run both clutches so you don't have to grind pulley gears and can clutch into the moving belt without throwing the belt off.

 

[F-Dean]

Use another tractor and a flat belt (Twisted to get the F-20 engine turning the correct direction) to turn engine while you Fiddle with various adjustments.
This is a lot easier than cranking!