Farmall A quits running

Andy Dutkiewicz · May 19, 2011

I have a early Farmall A (41 or 42) that quits running after a while when the tractor gets hot. Recently while cutting grass after about 2 hours of use (not hard use) the tractor would suddenly start missing, running rough, looses power and then quits. It will not start after that, you have to let it cool down and then it starts right up. I have never had any problem starting the tractor when it is cold and the tractor does not have overheat. We thought it may be the radiator that was plugged , but we flushed it and cleaned out the block and that is not the cause. I think it may be the magneto breaking down when it gets hot. Can anyone lend any tips if you have experienced this before and what you did to fix the issue? I really appreciate it.

Bill in NJ · May 19, 2011

Sounds like the condensor in the mag is starting to go.

Andy Dutkiewicz · May 19, 2011

Thank you. I will check the condensor. Let me ask you this tractor was my fathers and he converted it to 12 volt, does that hurt the mag or shorten the life of it>

snoop-nc · May 19, 2011

ANDY...The magneto creates and provides its own "juice" to the ignition system. The 12 volt conversion you mention was most likely done to aid starter in turning the engine faster when cranking. There shouldn't be any harm to the magneto as the two are separate systems.

Condenser was my first thought also.

Good luck...be safe!!

Rick

gene bender · May 19, 2011

Its sure not the cooling system. You need to replace the condenser first but the problem is the coil as you said it starts when it cools off sounds like coil. You can add a external coil then wire voltage thru a new sw for the voltage or send the mag to a repair shop or buy a rebuilt one.

Andy Dutkiewicz · May 19, 2011

Thank you! I will check the coil and if that doesn't do the trick then I will most likely get a rebuilt magneto! Thank you again.

Andy Dutkiewicz · May 19, 2011

Great guys! Thank you very much. I will pop a new condensor in there tomorrow and give it a try. I appreciate all the help so quickly!

DDG · May 19, 2011

My SA used to do the same thing 15 years ago when I switched from leaded to no-lead gass. And it got worse, down to about every ten minutes. I took the head off, and a few of the valves were so tight, they would stick in the guides when everything got warmed up. I started using a lead substitute or additive, and it ran fine. A couple of years later, it was due for an overhaul, and had the head rebuilt with modern valves & guides.

Andy Dutkiewicz · May 19, 2011

Thank you, that is good to know. I t was overhauled once but it has been probably 25 years since then. Could probably use another or to check it out. Thank you!

Anonymous-0 · May 24, 2011

It could be vapor lock or gas cap not venting my super A will sputer& die sometimes when mowing I take the gas cap off releasing pressure. put cap back on starts right up

Farmall A quits running

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