Still won't start

[drdarwin]

O.K. I'm really kinda getting frustrated. I took the carb apart and cleaned everything. Soaked it and blew it all out. I then put it back together and reinstalled it on the tractor. Then tried starting with no luck. Then I checked for spark again. None!! So I bought new condenser and point set. Changed that and checked for spark and yes there it was. I tried to start again with no luck. I pulled the plug out of the bottom of carb and yes there is clean gas. I pulled a plug out 3 different times and no evidence of gas on it. If anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated. I am stumped now and don't know what to do next??? Thanks in advance.

 

[JMOR]

To nail down a fuel problem, I would spray a little starting fluid into the carb inlet (gas tank valve off) and see if it will start.

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 21:26:13 03/17/08) To nail down a fuel problem, I would spray a little starting fluid into the carb inlet (gas tank valve off) and see if it will start.

Or use an unlit propane torch?

Maybe...

 

[Anonymous-0]

Dr. Darwin, It sounds like the jets are all plugged up. The needle and seat would be fine because your getting fuel into the bowl. If I remember there is a bunch of small holes in the bottom, that we used a torch tip cleaner to clean out on mine. Then check to make sure your jet screws are open, and try agian. It's been so long since I had that problem,I can't remember what all we did do. John

 

[Den N Ms]

drdarwin,If your sure it got spark now ,Try some new plugs autolite 437,Take the air cleaner tube loose from the carb and spray a little starting fluid in the carb when cranking over.

 

[Den N Ms]

drdarwin,If your sure it got spark now ,Try some new plugs autolite 437,Take the air cleaner tube loose from the carb and spray a little starting fluid in the carb when cranking over.no choke.

 

[JMOR]

And if frustration builds too high, light the propane torch!

 

[drdarwin]

I forgot to add that I did put in new autolite 437 plugs.

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 21:52:43 03/17/08) And if frustration builds too high, light the propane torch!

I resemble that remark!!

 

[Bruce (VA)]

What model tractor? 9N, 8N? It is important for you to tell us if your tractor has a 6 volt or 12 volt electrical system & if the distributor is on the front of the engine or on the side. The troubleshooting is different based upon the configuration of your engine.

It takes three things for an engine to run: spark at the right time, compression, & fuel in the right mixture. Lets start w/ spark. Remove a plug, or use an old one, ground it to the head, connect a plug wire, turn the key on & crank it. If you have a fat, bright blue spark, you are good to go. If you do not have a bright blue spark, post back & you will get plenty of help. Next, lets consider fuel. You said you have a good flow of fuel out of the bottom of the carb, so get a can of starting fluid, remove the breather hose, turn the key on & crank the engine. After it turns over a few times, spray some fluid in the carb. Leave the choke alone! If it fires but won't start.... chances are it's carb cleaning time. Spraying it w/ carb cleaner & blowing it out w/ your compressor ain't cutting it. Folks here can help w/ that as well.

Another likely problem is dirty grounds & worn or undersized battery cables. A 6v system is very intolerant of bad grounds. Make sure you are using 1 or 0 gauge new cables. Disconnect every cable in the entire starting circuit & clean the connections bright & shiny. Pull starting is always an option.

Lastly, compression.....while that's not the likely problem....do a compression check on the engine. You will need a gauge to do it, but save that test for last.

Please be sure to post back & let us know if it's 6v or 12v, front or side distributor & folks here can be more specific on suggestions.
50 Tips

 

[Dunk]

Dayum.....

Bruce does good, consistantly!!

Bruce, you about ready for a shot of whiskey, and a Bud?

 

[drdarwin]

Thank you all for the replies! Sorry about the lack of info. It is a 9n with front mount distributor and a 6 volt system. The spark is a bright blue but I am not for sure if it is strong enough??? I did try ether the other day before changing the condenser,points and spark plugs and had nothing then but I didn't try it afterwards though. I will try it tomorrow. Thanks to all!!!

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Dunk, you're too high class for me drinking Bud......I'm a PBR man myself! $5.69 a 12 pack! "There is good beer, and there is cheap beer.....finding good cheap beer is the challenge!"

 

[Bruce (VA)]

If it was bright blue on a spark plug, it should be good to go. If you just held the wire beside the plug, that doesn't get you much. Use a spark plug.
50 Tips

 

[drdarwin]

I had the wire connected to the plug.

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 22:15:20 03/17/08) Dunk, you're too high class for me drinking Bud......I'm a PBR man myself! $5.69 a 12 pack! "There is good beer, and there is cheap beer.....finding good cheap beer is the challenge!"

Don't think that I don't have to get back to my PBR roots once in a while!!

I just wish I could find it in the bottle.

I hate drinking out of aluminum.

 

[drdarwin]

O.K. I tried the ether with the gas off and no choke and it did not fire at all. I checked the spark again which I think is good and blue. What seems to confuse me is anytime I have had trouble before and checked the plugs and they would be very wet with gas and now I don't have any gas on the plugs. If the carb was plugged up would that not allow the ether up to the plugs??? Thanks again in advanced, this is really helpful place to turn for advice!!!

 

[Dunk]

The either should get there no matter what, unless you have a rats nest in the manifold or something.

Have you messed with the wiring?

 

[drdarwin]

No I haven't messed with the wiring but I have been using battery jumper to start with at the starter. Don't know if that could cause me any trouble. I have either a battery and generator problem. Have figured it out yet.

 

[Hobo,NC]

In my younger day i use to run with a motosickle gang in Fayetteville, I got hung up on PBR's, stopped drink'n while my kids grew up, now I can not down a PBR, its nasty chit,,,, use to B my kinda beer tho

 

[Bruce (VA)]

The last thing you want is wet plugs. If they are wet, you flooded the engine. That's why we all said no choke w/ the ether. You can turn the gas on if you want, but no choke. Yes, if the carb is totally plugged, it will not get anything to the cylinders. So, try the highly technical shade-tree vacuum test: crank the engine & put your hand over the carb throat. If it tries to suck the skin off of it, you have enough vacuum to get ether in the cylinders.

 

[drdarwin]

I tried that. I would not say it wants suck the skin of my hand but it was sucking.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I started drinking PBR when I was 15; $5 got you two 6 packs and almost a full tank of gas. Drink & cruise all night. I've got a buddy w/ a son in grad school in Pittsburg; when he comes home, he brings me a case of Iron City. One of my other favorites is Lone Star. Geez, I really drink some cheap beer!

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Explain that, please. If you have a bad battery, cables or grounds, you might not be getting enough current to the coil when it's cranking. That's why I suggested a pull start.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Dr. I see johula refered to the fuel jets, these are jets I was refering to a couple of days ago. If you have I&T manuel, on page 38, fig.FO48 andFO49 and direct your attention to the area of #12 in 49 that is where the mechanic directed his attention,and yes the tractor did run with the ether test, I also found that the reserve setting on the sediment bowl was not giving me full flow on a brand new tank, try your other setting. Sure am glad I picked up my new book.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Sorry John I hit the wrong keys

 

[Den N Ms]

Take a old plug and open the gap to1/16"- 1/8" ground the base on the head (clean spot) hook the wire up ,turn the switch on and crank it over and check for spark.tell us what you have.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 21:47:07 03/17/08) No I haven't messed with the wiring but I have been using battery jumper to start with at the starter. Don't know if that could cause me any trouble. I have either a battery and generator problem. Have figured it out yet.

If it won't fire or backfire on ether, then you ain't got spark at the plug. Even if the timing of spark or valves is off, there ought to be a belch somewhere!

 

[souNdguy]

I agree with the others.. try getting it to pop on ether.. if it won't pop on ether.. you either have no compression.. or no spark..

soundguy

 

[ezyed]

when Iput new points in my 8n I put the distributer in 180 out. The slot in the cam and the tang on the distributer were so worn that it went togrether real easy and did not break anything when cranking. I will not say how long it took to find out what was wrong.

 

[drdarwin]

I could see spark but it wasn't enough. I put a new battery in it and it fired right up. Thanks to all of you for the input. I guess if nothing else the ole girl got a tune up. She is running good now! Time to go haul some logs again! Thanks again!!!

 

[Bob Harvey]

One thing that I didn't see addessed was 'firing order'...try that good luck