ford 900 won't run

[jrileyso6]

I need help I've got 1956 900 ford tractor. I'm having trouble with it not cranking and running. I've had the plugs points rotor rotor cap coil plug wires carburetor battery replaced. The tractor still wouldn't start tried pulling it still no luck. We were getting fire to plugs and plenty gas to carb. Then We moved the plugs wires over one position on rotor cap after did this it fired right up. Ok we adjusted carb let run few minutes killed it cranked it up 4-5 times cranked ever time. Went back 2 days later cranked up ran a few minutes died wouldn't start. 2 days afterwards tried starting tractor it cranked then went dead wouldn't start. I'm getting fire at plugs. Fuel to carb. What could be problem? Thanks

 

[William Fissell]

With all the replacing you have done, it may be hard to understand the original problem now and decide if it has been fixed. Let's clarify a few things:


you say not cranking and running, but form your description it sounds as though when you engage the starter, the motor turns over. is that the case?


It's not clear form your description why you rearranged the plug wires. I would make 100% sure your plug wiring is correct by identifying #1 top dead center, rotor position, and firing order. These engines are often good enough that even with the
plug wires mixed up they will run... a little. While you are at it clean and gap the plugs as they may have gotten fouled in the process.


The carb settings are unlikely to have been the original problem and so I would suggest turning the idle jet and main jet each in to the bottom and then out 1.5 full turns. Thats close enough that unless the carb has a real problem it will run. Once its
running and hot you can tune it further.


"good spark"should mean 1/4-3/8 inch in air and bright white-blue. Plenty of fuel at the carb means pulling the bowl plug and getting a pint in 2 minutes and it doesn't stop flowing. Its very easy for the screen on the tank to get plugged up and
trickle-fill the bowl but not be able to supply the tractor with gas.


While troubleshooting I usually disconnect the air cleaner because once in a blue moon the air cleaner is plugged up with somethign. Again, rare.


Post back.

 

[old]

Sounds like you did the common throw parts at before trouble shooting which causes more problem then it fixes. Also sounds like you have the plug wires on wrong and maybe 2 on right. Firing order is 1,2,4,3 and if wrong it may run on 2 cylinder and be hard to start. What point gap did you set it at?? Needs o be 0.025 give or take 0.001

 

[souNdguy]

as in the other forums i've replied, if it starts and runs a bit, timing, compression, spark and air are at least ok.

that leaves fuel!

 

[showcrop]

Hard to be sure that I understand your explanation. Around here "cranking" is motor is rotating from the power of the starter but not running. Test gas flow. It needs to run strong for at least twenty seconds when you remove the plug from the bottom of the carb.

 

[jrileyso6]

I finally got around to working on the ford 900 again it was the fuel system . the fuel tank and fuel line was removed and cleaned. I coated the tank with red coat. the tractor cranked right up and ran good after the repairs.

 

[jrileyso6]

I finally got around to working on the ford 900 again it was the fuel system . the fuel tank and fuel line was removed and cleaned. I coated the tank with red coat. the tractor cranked right up and ran good after the repairs.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 17:44:06 10/25/15) I finally got around to working on the ford 900 again it was the fuel system . the fuel tank and fuel line was removed and cleaned. I coated the tank with red coat. the tractor cranked right up and ran good after the repairs.

Thanks for posting back! It is good to know that good old basic trouble shooting still works.