Spark plug missing

Lousiana pack rat · Aug 14, 2009

I have a IH 200 that I can not get any amount of time on a set of
spark plugs. 10-15 hrs and the plugs go to missing. Pull the plug
wire off so that it arcs approximately 1/4 " or so and it runs fine.
Cylinder that misses varies sometime # 2 sometimes # 3 or 1.
Have put rings in engine around a 100 hours ago. Have tried
several different brands of plugs get best life out of NGK plugs.
Also have similar problem on a TO-30 Massy Fergurson.

old · Aug 14, 2009

Very simple fix is to run a hotter plug then called for . Say it calls for a champ D-16 I use a D-21 and don't have a problem. These tractor now days are not worked like they where back in the 40s or 50s which meant 10 plus hours a day long hard days and worked to the max.

MN Scott · Aug 14, 2009

Are the plugs fouled by oil deposits? Let me guess you put new rings on worn pistons in worn sleeves. Hot plugs may help but if the plugs are fouled by oil the only way to correctly fix it is to properly overhaul the engine. New sleeves, pistons and rings and it will run like new.

JMOR · Aug 14, 2009

As the others have said, you have an underlying problem. The "pull the wire off a quarter of an inch" deal is only temporarily overcoming the difficult to fire spark plug. If you ran it like that for awhile, it would happen again as the plug becomes more fouled.
What is going on here, is that the additional quarter inch allows the coil voltage to build to a higher voltage before the arc occurs & at the level, your fouled plug will fire. Coils will elevate their voltage to whatever voltage is necessary to discharge (even if it means arc over within it's own windings).
A fouled plug allows the coil to "leak-off" rather than arc & produce a spark, but when you interpose a quarter inch gap, you interrupt this "leak-off" path.
Would you believe there was once a device sold for the purpose of introducing your quarter inch gap?

LOU from WI · Aug 15, 2009

Trick is to bench check the resistance of new plugs with a Volt Ohm meter. The ones with the least resistance should go to the farthest plug.The ones with the most resistance goes to the plug nearest the distributor.We check each new plugs and found one with no resistance showing on the meter. Bad plug. Took it back. The parts store wanted to know how we found it with out placing it in the motor. Showed em how to determine a bad plug.Guess they learned something new from us. LOU.

CGtractor · Aug 15, 2009

Champion D21 works well in these engines. It runs a little hotter than the plug the books call for.

gene bender · Aug 15, 2009

Have you checked the compresion and also the valve clearence.

John T · Aug 15, 2009

Premature plug "fouling" is often the result if theres excess oil (rings or valve guide problems, low compression) present or excess unburned fuel like carb set too rich or air restrictions (air cleaner or choke not full open etc.) and for NOT keeping the engine temperature up.

Things that can help are

1) To use shutters or thermostats etc TO GET N KEEP THE ENGINE OPERATING TEMPS AT 180 OR HIGHER

2) Dont run the carb richer then necessary (avoid excess black smoke out the stack)

3) Use HOTTER plugs and/or NON RESISTOR PLUGS

4) Use good quality wire core NOT carbon core suppressor plug wires

5) Keep the ignition well tuned for a good strong hot blue spark

John T
Untitled URL Link

Anonymous-0 · Aug 15, 2009

If the cylinder head is not getting a good flow of coolant or (cool) coolant. The spark plugs become over heated and are pretty much good for the junk plie. Champion plugs do not take heat well. Just a thought! Had a customer put a head gasket on up-side down once? Kept using up plugs?

GordoSD · Aug 15, 2009

Have you seen those charts that show removed plugs and the different problems that cuase a different appearance. What EXACTLT do the plugs look like when they quit working?
You didn't say they were fouled. If they are whitish brown colored, with electrode worn badly, they are running too hot and you need a colder plug.
If they are fouled, with fuel soot, or oil deposits then you need hotter plug.

Give us a little more info.

Gordo

GordoSD · Aug 15, 2009

Have you seen those charts that show removed plugs and the different problems that cuase a different appearance. What EXACTLT do the plugs look like when they quit working?
You didn't say they were fouled. If they are whitish brown colored, with electrode worn badly, they are running too hot and you need a colder plug.
If they are fouled, with fuel soot, or oil deposits then you need hotter plug.

Give us a little more info.

Gordo

Lousiana pack rat · Aug 15, 2009

Pulled the plugs this morning after running tractor about 30 -45 min last night fluffing hay. 3 plugs showed only slight deposits one showed a little heavier but not flakey like an oil deposit. John T may have hit on one of my problems. Today ran tractor for about an hour fluffing hay with air temp about 97 degrees F. Tractor did not get above 170 degrees F. If I remember right when we had it apart last thermostat was stuck wide open and my grandfather may have taken it out. Using about the hottest plug listed for this model and all copper plug wires.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and I will investigate further.

LA pack rat

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