Case DC

[ISITRUSTY]

Hi I bought an old DC-3 from a neighbor. The tractor sat for a long time, but the exhaust was covered. I got the the tractor home and found the engine and the clutch were stuck. I didn't think bad until I drained about 2 gallons of water out of the oil pan. I figured I would have to pull the head, but I went ahead and filled the cylinders with the 50/50 acetone and atf mixture. I didn't expect much but thought it wouldn't hurt. A day later I started to put the tractor in the barn and decided to tug on it in hopes the clutch would free. I lucked out, the engine unstuck. I was using a massey to35, I didn't apply much force. All that said just so you know what I am dealing with. I cleaned the oil pan, changed filter and oil. Put new sparkplugs in it and removed and cleaned the carburetor. It hit right off the bat. The problem it will run only 5 to 10 seconds at a time. Then hit only enough to disengage the starter. I put cleaner through all of the jets and reset the adjustments. I am guessing fuel, but not sure what to mess with. the float doesn't seem to be sticking. I appreciate your suggestions.

 

[Ron Sa]

Running a few second suggests you are getting only a trickle of gas collecting in the carburetor bowl. It probably starts and burns what little gas has trickled into the bowl and then dies.

The one hit only sounds like a magneto problem. It could be a weak impulse that just one hit kicks it out. Also the generator within the magneto might be weak and needs the rpm to 2 or more hits to generate enough voltage to create spark at the plugs.

First, I would get a strong stream of gas running out of the carburetor drain port for at least 30 seconds. Then pull start if if you need to and see how well it runs.

 

[ISITRUSTY]

Thanks Ron. I will go through the carb again. This one doesnt have a mag. That is good information to know.

 

[Ron Sa]

Sounds like you have been thru the carb. Maybe time to check out the sediment bowl's inlet and screen and for any rust in the tank. If you find rust in the tank, I have found a 3/4 inch tall standpipe in the sediment bowl's inlet will keep remaining rust a bay. Also blow out the gas line going to the carb. Good luck.

I have had my 12V systems with a distributor kick out the starter if the first hit is weak from too lean a fuel mixture.

 

[dc in illinois]

I had something like that happen to my dc. it turned out that #4 plug wire was bad , so check that you are getting spark on all cylinders and make sure you check the firing order on the distbutor. and follow all the other suggestions too. they are good advice

Bob

 

[ISITRUSTY]

Thanks for the advice. Just an update. I am beginning to think my problem is electrical. I messed with the carburetor all Sunday afternoon. I did set up a temp gas tank to rule out fuel flow. The tractor seems to want to run, but just will not catch. I beginning to wonder if I am out of time. The manuals I purchased show how to time a Magneto, but not a Distributor. I assume it is similar process. I buy new points and condenser I may go ahead and swap them out.

 

[Ron Sa]

I have had bad condensers do strange things from bad starting to sputtering badly when running or just slowing down.

I had a Case 446 lawn mower with a Onan engine. It would run fine for about 45 minutes and then it was as if I throttled it back about 30 percent and then it just putted along hitting okay. After days of just parking it after 45 minutes until it completely cooled down, I tried a new condenser and it then ran fine for hours and hours.



Be sure the coil and condenser are for the voltage you are using. Some systems need a resistor. Back around the mid 50s when 12V systems appeared a resister was commonly used. 12V to the coil when cranking and a resister and circuitry dropped the voltage to the coil to 6V during running.

 

[kenbob]

I just had a similar problem with my vac. Turns out the wire to the on off switch was loose. It would run for a little then quit. Drove myself crazy checking everything else. I finally had my wife watch the spark at the points while I ran the starter. She could see the spark was there sometimes and sometimes not. I had never messed with the switch. Probably had not been touched in its 70 year life, but that wire was just a little loose.

 

[ISITRUSTY]

It's running. I had a voltage issue to the distributor. I had to replace all of the wiring. It had been converted to 12 volts in the past. I found the resister wasn't working, it was passing 12 volts. But when checking at the distributor, it was only getting 3 volts. The wire from the resistor to the distributor was all cobbled together. I also rebuilt the carburetor. All this and it would still only hit. I had to replace the rear tires, so I could pull start it. Had to go about 20 feet and it started right up. Now that it has in its head that it can run, so far it starts every time you try. Thank you for your help! Sorry it took so long for the update.