MF 135 Timing

[Christos]

I gotta question for you all - I popped the carburetor back onto the tractor after installing a new float.

It still won't start - it makes the putter putter noise like it wants to start...meanwhile I'm trying to adjust the choke/throttle to coax it to do so.

My Service Manual gives the settings on how to adjust the carburetor but I've never done it - I know it sounds easy adjusting the screws however, after reading a few posts and Big Dean's site, I don't think I can make the final adustments until after the tractor runs.

Sooo...does this mean I have check the timing? If so how do I do it (I'm reluctant to say that the Service Manual is descriptive on my engine the Z145)

Thanks,

Christos

 

[Jerry/MT]

Make sure you have a good spark first. Pulll the wire off the center of the distributor cap and hold it near a good ground while you try a start. Yu should see a FAT, BLUISH-WHITE SPARK, the color of lightning. If you don"t have that, you need to find out why. Could be poorly set points, oily or corroded or burned points, bad connections, bad coil, bad key switch, bad condensor, etc. No sense checking the timing if you have a wak spark.

Once you verify that you have a FAT, BLUISH-WHITE SPARK, here"s the method I use to set the timing.

The easy way to check/set the timing is to get the engine"s #1 cylinder on the compression stroke. To do this remove the spark plug and tap the starter to crank the engiena bit at a time and hold your thumb over the spark plug hole. (Unless you have arms the length of a gorilla, it may take another person to run the starter.) When you feel th slightest bit of pressure on your thump, you are starting the compression stroke. Stop cranking and rotate the engine witha wrench on the crankshaft pulley or by pulling on the fan belt till the timing mark lines up with the reference mark and stop. The engine is now in the timing position. Open the distributor and the rotor should be pointing near to the #1 plug terminal. Put the cap bak on "cuz it"ll need to be there for the rest of the job.

Next, take a paper clip or a bent piece of wire, and put in in the #1 spark plug boot, making sure it touchs the metal clip. Loosen the hold down bolt on the distributor, but no too much. You just want to rotate the distributor. Tun on the key and holding the #1 spark plug wire with the paper clip near a good ground, rotate the distributor back and forth til you hear the spark snap. At that point you are statically timed. You may have to do it several times to get it right and when you do, carefully tighten down the hold down bolt, put the spark plug back in the #1 hole and connect the plug wire. Start the tractor and check the timing at idle. Also rev the engine and note that the centrifugal advance is advancing the spark.
Your rough carb settings are 1-1/4 turns out on the big power jet screw and 1/2 turn out on the idle air control screw. Once you get it running and warmed up you can do the final adjustment.

Hope this helps you.

 

[TEXAS TIM]

hey take a air blower and blow air into the carb while cranking .it should start and if it does you have a low vac problem .good luck