400 grief

Dodger · Jan 9, 2009

i have a 400 farmall that will not start. it tries to but wont go. we have replaced the plugs wires, dist cap, points,battery, timed it, overhauled the carb, and still it fights us.

r4etired · Jan 9, 2009

Have you done a compression test on it. You might take the valve cover off and check if the valves are working properly. I would check the distributor shaft for excessive play. It is also possible you have broken gear on the pump,distributor drive. These old engines are pretty forgiving so you must have something pretty major wrong if it won't run at all.

El Toro · Jan 9, 2009

Hold your hand over the throat of the carburetor and see if there's good suction. Low suction is an indication of low manifold vacuum. You need good manifold vacuum to suck that fuel into the engine. Make sure the intake manifold is snug. Do a compression check and compare the readings.
Worn sleeves, rings and valves not seating all contribute to low manifold vacuum and low compression. Make sure you have the plug wires in the correct firing order on the cap and to the plugs. Should be like this on the cap. Hal

2-1 CW rotation on the rotor
4-3

Brownie 450 · Jan 10, 2009

Is the 400 sitting out where the temps are below freezing? If so, pull the air cleaner cup & check for ice build-up in the cup. Our A had this problem one winter---we finally found the cup full of ice--engine couldn't get air.

scotc · Jan 11, 2009

How old is the gas? I've had to drain the 400 and SM both the last 2 years to start them in the spring.

400 grief

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