Oliver 77 just quit running one day

[that8nguy]

In July of 2024 we got my uncle's Oliver 77 running which had been sitting for 21 years. In December around Christmas time we were using it one day and it was running just fine and we had just put new spark plugs in it which made it run better. The next day I went out to try to start it and it started right up ran for 5 seconds and then quit on me and haven't been able to get it started since. I am so confused and cannot figure it out so I'm going to take a compression test but I don't know why it would lose compression that fast and it has a fully rebuilt carburetor on it that was working fine the day before. It's still a 6 volt system and I'm working on 12v converting it so I'm hoping that will help. It does have one stuck valve that I am getting unstuck but would that cause it to not start could the points have gone bad? Do you have any ideas? Anything will help!

 

[caterpillar guy]

I have to ask the obvious did you just put a gallon or so in and run it then when trying to start it there is no fuel for it to start. My brothers girlfriend did that back a long time ago and he calls me. I went over checked for spark carb would squirt a bit at the carb with the accelerator pump in it. So figured it had gas and the gauge said it had a quarter tank. Finally I asked if it had gas. He said it had a quarter tank. I knocked on the tank and sounded empty. We put some in and it started right up. He felt a bit foolish.

 

[4wdtom]

Is the distributor actually turning? Friend had a Farmall A that the little gear box that drove the distributor had rusted and dried grease and the gears wore out. For those who have such a distributor drive it is worth checking and putting some fresh grease in.

 

[Richard Nixon]

In July of 2024 we got my uncle's Oliver 77 running which had been sitting for 21 years. In December around Christmas time we were using it one day and it was running just fine and we had just put new spark plugs in it which made it run better. The next day I went out to try to start it and it started right up ran for 5 seconds and then quit on me and haven't been able to get it started since. I am so confused and cannot figure it out so I'm going to take a compression test but I don't know why it would lose compression that fast and it has a fully rebuilt carburetor on it that was working fine the day before. It's still a 6 volt system and I'm working on 12v converting it so I'm hoping that will help. It does have one stuck valve that I am getting unstuck but would that cause it to not start could the points have gone bad? Do you have any ideas? Anything will help!

These tractors don't run enough. Fuel will get "sticky" and needle valves will stick in the closed (up) position shutting off fuel flow to the carb. It sounds like maybe, just maybe, the engine started on what residual vapors were left from the previous days run and then just ran out of fuel. Tap on the side of the carb with a small ball peen hammer. Sometimes that will dislodge the needle valve. If that's the problem you should reclean the carb and install a new needle valve. Of course, the problem might be something else completely. The tractor is 70 years old +/-.

 

[Mcrafty1]

Get a spray bottle and put some gas in it, spray a good amount into the intake while cranking if it fires you have a fuel delivery problem, if it doesn't it's likely electrical issues. It's possible you may have both. jmho.

 

[that8nguy]

thanks to you all for all the ideas. it seems to be a fuel issue so I will check that first. I'm also going to put new points and condenser in it to see if that makes a difference

 

[wore out]

thanks to you all for all the ideas. it seems to be a fuel issue so I will check that first. I'm also going to put new points and condenser in it to see if that makes a difference

SO... have you checked for spark at the sparkplugs as I suggested back in Post #2?

 

[that8nguy]

yes I have spark is good, not the strongest of spark but enough that I would run