(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

McCormick W4 hard starting

A

A.J. Lambert

New User
I recently bought a 1944 McCormick W4 and while it runs smooth with no smoke it has a hard time starting. In order to start it i have to take the tube that runs from the air cleaner to the carb off and then choke the carb with my hand. It will not start with out doing this even after it has been warmed up. I have also taken the carb off and completely disassembled it and soak it in a cleaner. this helped it it run smoother but did not help the starting. In addition to this it has a wine in the rear end and i am not sure if this is from low/old fluid or if it is a more serious problem. Any help with these questions would be much appreciated.
 

Check your air cleaner for blockage. Remove the lower cover that hold the oil. You should be able to remove top bonnet and look and see if you can see through it.
caseman-d
 
Once it is started, how does it run? Is the throttle responsive? Does it run up to full governed RPMs?

This does not sound right that you have to have your hand over the carb to start and then the tractor runs fine.
 
Once it fires up it runs fine. Throttles right up to
full speed with no hesitation. Has no problem
keeping full RPM and governor works as it should. If
you have any more questions write back and i will
try to explain them as best as i can. Thank you for
the quick reply
 
While the air cleaner does have many years of old
oil and grease from the oil bath air cleaner i do
not run it attached to the air cleaner being that i
have to detach the tube before i start it. Thank you
for the response.
 
the choke should do the same thing you are doing with your hand. Why isn't it? Unless you removed the main jet )pickup tube) from the carb and cleaned it and ALL passages you probably still have some blockage somewhere. Then too faulty ignition will make them hard starting. But having to choke when warm points to fuel delivery first. Some whine in a 70 year old W4 wouldn't surprise me. On the standard tread tractors the gears have to turn faster than on the Farmall H with larger diameter tires.
 
i thought the choke would have done enough but it never works. The only way to get it to start is to choke it by hand. I also had the entire carb about. Every pin, screw, and jet was pulled out and cleaned. And while i understand that a little wine is normal it is very loud. This also may be do to the oil level that is low, but i was just curious if it could be anything other then just low oil and old age.
 
I have to agree with the others on the carb issue, but your whine is somewhat normal. My -4 does the same thing. I completely rebuilt the trans and it didnt get any better. One thing you haver to rememebr, the operators platform is in a box so to speak, and the fenders only echo the sounds from the trans making it sound worse than it really is.
 

Nebraska Cowman is correct. I rebuild those carburetors, and it is just amazing at times to find crud hiding deep inside even after the carburetor has soaked in the cleaner for 12 to 24 hours. Sometimes I've had to take a very small diameter wire and poke it into the passages just to loosen the crud so it could then be blown out.
 
thank you for the reply. I was thinking about getting a magneto tune up kit and see what that does. Also I am not sure if it matters but the original coil is not in the mag. Someone took the original out and hooked up another remote coil. Not sure it this makes a difference or not. Thank you again. I will look into it further.
 
(quoted from post at 09:18:50 10/25/10) thank you for the reply. I was thinking about getting a magneto tune up kit and see what that does. Also I am not sure if it matters but the original coil is not in the mag. Someone took the original out and hooked up another remote coil. Not sure it this makes a difference or not. Thank you again. I will look into it further.
Click to expand...

An external coil used with a magneto is basically the same as the later battery ignition distributor. If you do install a new coil in the magneto, DO NOT connect that coil to the battery in any way, shape, or form. You WILL cook that new $50.00 coil.
 
thank you for the advise. Is there any benefit to
putting the original coil back in the mag or is the
current coil going to work correctly?
 

If you put a coil back in the mag, and make sure the mag is functioning properly, you can hand crank, or pull start the tractor and it will start and run just fine even if the battery is totally missing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Farmall C Starting Problem
Replies
6
Views
234
560Dennis
560Dennis
1
W4 stuck transmission
Replies
14
Views
410
mschwartz
M
W
Farmall A hard starting - fueling issue
Replies
14
Views
624
C.Amick
C
T
Stumped on M Tuning
Replies
14
Views
636
560Dennis
560Dennis
W
Farmall A Starting Issues - Update
Replies
2
Views
219
560Dennis
560Dennis
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top