MF50 cuts out under load

[Todd in Ohio]

My MF50, in which I just replaced the distributor (thanks for all the help on that issue) is running much better now, it will even idle ! Now I am noticing that when I have it under load, going up hill or in road gear, it is cutting out and just doesn't seem to have the power it should. Note that it does not seem to matter what gear it is in when climbing hills, it is cutting out and struggling. It does help, a little, to reduce the RPM's, but still not smooth.
I have checked the spark and the plugs as well as all the gaps. Everything is within spec. Is it as simple as too advanced/retarded? What should my next step be?

Oh great MF/MH gurus bestow upon me the knowledge I require and I will sacrafice a JD at your alter.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I had one a few years ago to do essentially what you described. Ended up being a worn out timing gear. That's a long shot though.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Oh yeah....it had several BADLY burnt exhaust valves too.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Check the spark. It should be FAT AND BLUISH-WHITE, the color of lighning.

Check the intial timing and the advance function. You"ll need a timing light.

Make sure the carb is adjusted properly and you have good fuel delivery to the carb.

Check for air leakage aroundthe carb metering section. hottle shafy, connect flange gasket, cracks or rust holes in manifold, leaking manifold gasket, etc
Finally, make sure the carb passages are all clean and the float level is correctly set.

Check in that order and you should find the problem.

 

[Tony in Mass.]

Did you or anyone mess with the governor linkage? do what all the others reccommend first, but it sounds like the timing/ yeah advance if you call it that, but something is not letting it open up, that's why it runs sweet as you throttle back. Carefully grab it with your fingers when the throttle is pulled down, if you can push it and she really winds up the way you want, sounds like the bug. When I get into a distributor on one of these, I find the weights that act as an advance under the points, are usually full of heavy crud, so I clean it out as if it was a carb, oil the springs, and then you will hear the thing snaping like bad bearing, you will have a noisy but responsive engine after that. If this works, I want pics of the JD's throat cut and your gang partyin' around its burning carcass...