300 Utility Changes in Cold Start

[Dellbertt]

Owned this tractor many years, always starts easy and runs smooth. This winter when cold weather starting it starts on only one cylinder with full choke. It pops along on one cylinder until it finally warms up some and then the rest take their time coming in. It finally runs on all 4 but sounds raspy and not as smooth as it used to. Any ideas why it will only start on one and where to look for fix. Thanks.

 

[Charlie M]

My M did that once and it just needed the points cleaned and re-gapped. Maybe some moisture in the distributor cap. Couple of cheap things to try.

 

[wore out]

(quoted from post at 07:02:21 02/18/21) Owned this tractor many years, always starts easy and runs smooth. This winter when cold weather starting it starts on only one cylinder with full choke. It pops along on one cylinder until it finally warms up some and then the rest take their time coming in. It finally runs on all 4 but sounds raspy and not as smooth as it used to. Any ideas why it will only start on one and where to look for fix. Thanks.

When is the last time you have replaced (or even looked at) the sparkplugs?

 

[Dellbertt]

Renewed all 4 plugs November, 2020.

 

[FarmHills53565]

Its ignition. It could be filing the points will help. Could be cap and rotor. Could be the coil. Could be battery voltage drop. Is it 6 volt or 12 volt? 6 Volt system have to be pretty about perfect to get them to work. If it 12 volt does it have a resistor ahead of the coil? Use a phillips #2 screw driver in the plug wire to see what your spark looks like. If it is a small red spark then you still have a problem. It really helps to have a multi meter or a volt meter to see what your voltage is at the coil wire when turning it over. If you do not have the solenoid on the starter that puts battery voltage straight to the coil then your iginition switch could be part of the problem. Many possibilities but most likely it is ignition.

 

[warren woodrow]

(quoted from post at 07:02:21 02/18/21) Owned this tractor many years, always starts easy and runs smooth. This winter when cold weather starting it starts on only one cylinder with full choke. It pops along on one cylinder until it finally warms up some and then the rest take their time coming in. It finally runs on all 4 but sounds raspy and not as smooth as it used to. Any ideas why it will only start on one and where to look for fix. Thanks.

Start with easy stuff first. Like others have said , check for good spark to all plugs. Voltage to cap , check point , cap , rotor . Probably ignition .

 

[used red MN]

Any idea of the make and number of the spark plugs you took out? And what are the plugs you put in? Wonder if you dropped down in heat range? Some folks on here really trash talk certain spark plug brands, I think Champion is the usual one. I cant give you any real personal experience down that line. The plugs in my M are the same ones it had in it when it set for ten years and then I revived it, a power steering issue is why it was parked. I cant even remember what brand they are, Autolite maybe. After using it a bit I did have to pull number 4 plug and clean some crud off it to get it to fire properly, apparently that cylinder passes a little more oil than the others, overall it doesnt use much oil. When you normally start your tractor when it ran correctly are you a leave the choke on half way kind of guy? Most of the older IH four cylinders dont need a lot of choke. Pull choke out for a couple turns of the engine while cranking and then push it in most all of them start right up. Then if you put it in gear to move as you let out the clutch a quick out and in usually richens the mixture enough to get you underway without stalling. I am wondering if you are maybe over choking and rich fouling your plugs? They with have black residue like gets on the inside of a wood stove. Pull them and tell us what you see or take a picture of them.

 

[Janicholson]

While checking point gap .020" wiggle the rotor shaft up down away and toward you (not in and out). if there is any detectable wiggle, it needs to be replaced. Very small point gap will allow a loose distributor shaft to only open the points on one cam lobe at a tie. as it warms some, the ey may all start working. Jim

 

[Dellbertt]

Finally warmed up a little so I could work on it.
Turns out you were all correct, the firing system needed some routine attention.
Had some corrosion in the distributor cap connections so clean and shiny now. Also the plug wires.
Cleaned rotor and cleaned - reset the points though they weren't off much and made sure all connections were tight.
Also the hot cable to the starter solenoid was a little loose so I cleaned it and tightened it down.
For those wondering, the tractor is all original 6v and turns over just fine.
Thanks for the help.
Dell