Farmall Super A Question

[nh8260]

I've had my 1948 Farmall Super A since 2011, I still hand crank it on occasions, esp if the battery is a little weak. Up until about 8 months ago it was no problem hand cranking it, but now for some reason it wants to kick back from time to time. If i feel the crank hit a hard spot I immediately let go, what would be causing this?? I've not done any upgrades or repairs to it, I checked the points and they are spot on to what the manual says to set them. I would like to get it stopped from doing this before I end up with a broke arm or hand.

 

[rustred]

after setting the points you must set the timing. Anytime the when the timing is advanced it will kick back. The plug is firing before the piston reaches TDC and is pushing the piston back down before it hit the top. A properly tuned up engine does not kick back. And also the magneto can cause a kick back if the centrifugal advance gets gummed up . So if you don’t hear the mag trip you can get kicked.

 

[nh8260]

It has a distributor not a mag, is it difficult to set the timing, I have a manual that should tell how.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

If it just started doing this on it's own, without you having adjusted anything, I would say the centrifugal advance is getting rusty/stiff, and not returning to zero advance after engine shutdown.

 

[560Dennis]

For the Difficulty cranking by hand, Suggest ,you might already tried , Take plugs out and hand crank it. Mark front pulley with paint pen where it feels difficult to turn. Take a valve cover off and see if the that one valve is stuck.
The distributor suggests are good also one also .

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

It has a distributor not a mag, is it difficult to set the timing, I have a manual that should tell how.

I don't recall there being any distributor info in a Letter Series manual. You'll have to refer to the instructions in the distributor upgrade kit for the Super A.

Mags were meant to hand crank, distributors..... not so much.

Mike

 

[Johnnypopper]

If it just started doing this on it's own, without you having adjusted anything, I would say the centrifugal advance is getting rusty/stiff, and not returning to zero advance after engine shutdown.

I would check this first.

 

[Charlie M]

If you are going to check timing, I don't recall if the timing marks on the flywheel like a regular A or if they got put on the crank shaft pulley. If they are on the fly wheel they can be a pain to find as they are etched into the fly wheel and probably covered with rust, grease, etc. You can tell about where they should be by getting the #1 piston on top dead center - the markings will be near or right on the timing marker and looking through the inspection hole at the bell housing. I had to pull the starter on my A to get the marks to a level where I could get a better light and look at them. Once I found them I put white-out on the line so it could be found easier later. It was an improvement to move the timing marks to the crankshaft pulley.

 

[William Eccles - Jardine]

Had the same difficulty with our Farmall BN late 46. Found that the striker pad on the points was warn not allowing the points to open properly causing what was effectively advancing the timing. Lubed up every thing, reset the points gap. now works as it should.