Farmall A won't start

Tom Campbell · May 31, 2008

I need you guy's expertise as I know next to nothing about my Farmall A. Here's my problem:

The tractor will turn over but will not start. At the advice of my brother, we checked plugs for spark and replaced three of them. We also flushed gas through the carb and put in fresh gas. He says there is plenty of compression. I need y'alls help. I know you won't let me down with your excellent help. Thanks in advance. Tom

Tom Campbell · May 31, 2008

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I did get it started after trying for a hours. It ran weak at full throttle and not at all on anything less than full throttle. When I put it in gear to try and move it, it just about died. Thanks, Tom

ScottyHOMeY · May 31, 2008

Could be anywhere, but it sounds more like she's starvin' for fuel. Is this is a new project or something that you had running well once that now doesn't want to?

Before chasing down fuel, it's worth checking to at least make sure that you're new plugs are actually sparking.

On the fuel side, you need to make sure you've got good flow to the carb. New gas won't help a bit if it can't get there. Start at the carb and work your way up through the line and sediment bowl. Have peek inside the tank to see if you've got anything blocking the inlet of the sediment bowl where it threads up in. If you've got good flow you need to check 90* fitting at the inlet the carb before hooking the line back up. Thread that fitting out. It should have a fine-mesh screen on the end that threads into the carb. It needs to be clean.

We could go on for pages about even obvious other things to check. Make sure you've got good fuel flow first. IF you've got that and she still ain't goin', then it's time for a closer look at the carb and the connections, timing, spark, valve clearances ...

Right now we're just shootin' in the dark.

old · May 31, 2008

What happens if you pull the choke?? Does it die or run better?? If it runs better then your carb probably is clogged up and need to be rebuilt. If it has and adjustable main jet you might open it up an 1/8 turn at a time to see if that helps. Also your spark needs to be a nice blue/white spark and be able to jump a gap of about 1/4 inch or it will run weak also
Hobby farm

El Toro · May 31, 2008

Check the point gap and clean those points with some 320 wet or dry. A point setting on a mag is .013" & on a distributor is .020". Then see if you have a hot blue spark to the plugs. If the fire is weak you may have a weak coil. If the fire is good you need to check the fuel flow to the carburetor. Pull the gas line at the carb and check for a full stream of gas from the tank. Hold a clean container and catch the gas. If there's a full stream of gas, check the screen behind that tube fitting. Be careful you don't damage the fitting or cross-thread the tube nut when reinstalling. If you don't find any dirt or rust you probably need the carb. You need good intake manifold vacuum to pull that fuel into the engine. Hold your hand over the throat of the carb while someone tries to start the engine. It should suck on your hand pretty good. If it doesn't you may have a loose intake manifold or the carb bolts may be loose. Worn rings & sleeves and valves will affect manifold vacuum too. Hal

Farmall A won't start

Tom Campbell

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Tom Campbell

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ScottyHOMeY

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old

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El Toro

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