Farmall M Update

First and foremost, Thank you to everyone who provided me with the information I needed to get it running. But I have one more question. When she is running she is smoking bad(white) and spitting gas out the exhaust. I pulled the plugs and the #1 is burning good. #"s 2-3 not burning and #4 is burning ok. Could there be a stuck valve or what else could be causing this. thanks in advance for any information.

Smoking bad white usually indicates a blown head gasket or worse, a broken/cracked head.

Im sorry I shouldnt have said white. Its like a grey color. Not white. I ran it today for a while and I didnt lose any antifreeze and theres none in the oil. but thanks

Could you possibly have #2 and #3 sprak plug wires crossed? Just a thought.
Zach

Check to make sure #2 and #3 wire dont have any crapon any of the wire ends also make sure the spark plugs are good. Also pop the cap on the dist and make sure thats all clean and everything is making contact

The plugs wires cap and rotor are new.

Ray, I can't remember your previous post, but I will presume that the old girl hasn't run for awhile. Also, does it fire at all on #2 and #3, ie. running, did you pull the wires and see if the engine speed changed at all?

Yes, you could have some sticky valves, but remember, if it has been sitting for awhile, the rings are probably gummed up and possibly stuck. Before I would not get too worked up at this point. If it is showing good oil pressure, run it. Work it if possible. Get it up to working temp and keep working it. short of tearing down the engine, fresh oil and a good workout will loosen up the rings if the aren't completely worn out or broken. Also, you can take the plugs out, and put some of your favorite brand of penetrating oil into each cylinder through the plug holes (make sure you get enough in, but don't overdo it 1/4 cup per cylinder should do the trick). Leave the plugs out and turn the engine over 3-4 times by hand to distribute the penetrating oil completely in the cylinders. Leave it sit overnight to get the penetrating oil down into the rings. next day, crank the engine over with the plugs out to blow the excess penetrating oil out. Replace plugs, and start her up. Run as indicated above.

As far as the valves, you can take the valve cover off, and using a brass hammer or similar, tap each exhaust valve and see if it moves freely and has full travel. I say the exhaust valves because you did not indicate it was back firing at all. However, you can check all the valves in this way. If you find that #2 and/or #3 have valves hanging, there are ways to free the up if they aren't too badly scored/crudded up. We can go over that after you determine if they are hanging or not.

I am a fan of Rislone for cleaning up old engines, but not everyone here is. I have had very good results from subsituting 1 quart of Rislone for 1 quart of oil in the first oil change. run it for 10-20 hours up to temp, then change oil and filter.

There could be other, more serious issues here, but what I have outlined are the easy things to check and fix first.

ps. the previous items posted to check in this thread are good things to check out also..........

as always, IMHO.

Have you adjusted the valve clearances?

Gordo

Try swapping the wires going to #2 and #3. Zack may have the answer. If not, and the valves are closing, do a compression test. Jim

Thanks everyone, I found the problem today. I had a stuck valve on the #3 cylinder. and found some sludge on top of the head. So I went ahead and flushed the motor with K1. and some marvels. New oil and filter and she"s purrin like a kitten. thanks again everyone!

Ray, good for you. glad you were able to find the problem, and that it was easily solved.