TD-14 Starting Problem

[Vic Bunn]

My TD-14 starts practically every time I want it to here in 10-20 deg. weather. The problem is that it takes about 10-15 minutes of cranking. I can"t seem to flood it, although black smoke rolls out each time it pops. I then let off on the starter and try it again. Eventually, it starts. I"ve gone through two carburators, set the compression valves, checked the butterfly valves, checked the airways and put in new Champion W89D spark plugs. Also, I have a trickle charger on the batteries, a block heater going plus small heaters blowing on each side of the engine. One more thing--- I hooked a 80 amp charger/starter booster to it. Nothing helps it, including lots of ether. Do you think a hotter plug would help? Anything else?

 

[RayP(MI)]

Wondering how sound the engine really is... Have you checked compression? How are the rings, valves, etc. Timing right on, advance operating properly, etc.?

 

[Vic Bunn]

I don't know any of that stuff! Once it's running, it switches over & runs fine except for a problem that just popped up. For a given fuel control setting, the rpm's want to go out of sight high or the engine dies. There isn't a lot of power (I guess) but it is an old machine. I'm in the process of making an adapter between my compression tester & the plug hole.

 

[Hoss in Maine]

Had same problem on id6,starting carb jets were plugged up. Later Hoss

 

[old]

Mag or distubutor?? Might be as simple as needing new points and condenser and maybe a cap and rotor if its a distubutor type. Sounds like you might have a weak spark and weak spark makes for hard starts
Hobby farm

 

[dlplost]

I'd do a compression test with the lever set to "GAS" mode, sounds to me like like some of the decompression (gas) valves are sticking...

 

[Wardner]

I agree. I changed a distributer cab on a TD-9 and it now starts like a new tractor.

 

[old]

Cap and rotors are one of the most forgot about parts need when doing a tune up. I've seen some that had most of the little nubs burned off and people couldn't understand what was wrong and why the engine would not start. Installed new caps and rotors and away they went.
Hobby farm