MF 3165 Starting Problems

[brianna6037]

Hi all! This is my first post here, looking for some advice on starting issues.

We have a Massey 3165, with a 4cyl gas Continental motor. It's been completely gone over mechanically, the timing is right on, it's firing good, and it's had all its fluids and filters changed.
The problem that we can't seem to get to the bottom of, is the ignition. Often times when you hit the key, you can roll the starter for a while, and it eventually binds up. But if you roll it a few times, then let off the key, often times it will start and run fine, or it will start and idle for a second, then quit again (almost as if it's running out of fuel). We have let it idle for 20 minutes, shut it off, and tried to start it again, and it doesn't seem to matter if it's warm or not. We did have some carb problems in the beginning where it was dumping fuel out of it, but its been off and adjusted since, and hasn't done that since. It also doesn't seem to matter if you adjust the distributor cap, it still behaves the same way.

Just looking for any suggestions at this point, this is our first time having one of these in the shop. I am also happy to provide more information if needed. Thank you in advance!

 

[JoeMartin]

I'm a little confused. If the timing is on and it is firing good, you don't have an ignition problem? If you turn the fuel off or disconnect the fuel line, and hit it with a shot of starting fluid while cranking will it fire? When I got my 135 it ran for a minute or so and stalled out. If I hit it with starting fluid it would fire up and die. The float was stuck in the closed position and no fuel was getting through. Carb rebuild fixed it.

When you had it running for an extended time did you shut it off and it wouldn't restart or did it die, and not restart?

If it's running along fine and dies, and has no spark, that could be ignition, switch, coil.

But, if it's in time, and the plugs are firing, sounds like a fuel problem to me, Joe.

 

[JoeMartin]

Reread your post. You said it was dumping fuel and you readjusted it. When my float stuck closed pulled the carb and cleaned the float pin so it would open and close and put it back together. Then it started sticking in the open position and it would run fuel through the carb like it was being pumped out, gravity feed fuel system. Then I put the carb kit in and no more fuel problems, Joe.

 

[rockepg]

Put a meter on the positive side of the coil. Should have 12 volts when you turn the key on and while you are cranking it. If it does not then the switch is most likely bad. I have seen a couple where the coil would only get power when you let off the key and catch like you are describing.

 

[brianna6037]

Thanks for the reply! You'll have to be patient with me, I'm the apprentice in this restoration. I think we ruled out the carb at this point, but I'll definitely relay the message. The initial problem that we had was that the seal was leaking, and it would dump fuel into the carb, or when you were trying to rev it up, it would fall on its face (almost like it was going to stall out) before it would rev up. But once we made an adjustment to the float, and fixed the seal, it runs perfectly (when you can get it to start).

When we had it running for a while, we went out and shut it off, then tried just starting it again with the key, which is when it started binding again. Sometimes the starter binds, sometimes it will start and die out within 5 seconds.
We're going to haul the front end back off it this week, and check the valves, and also put a timing light on it. (I hope that answers your question!)

 

[rockepg]

Sounds like you have two problems.
When you say starter binds do you mean the gear shoots out and engages the flywheel but the starter motor doesn't turn or something else?
When it starts and dies, does it kind of spit and sputter then die or shut off like you turned the key off?

 

[brianna6037]

When the starter binds, it'll be rolling normally then just stop, and you can almost watch the starter move when it's binding, but it's not still rolling when that happens, it stops and you can hear it binding.

When it does shut off, it is like you shut the key off. It doesnt sputter, or skip, just shuts off.

 

[rockepg]

Do you by chance have a spare ignition switch you could try? Did you put a meter on the coil and check the voltage?