'42 H Just Won't Start

My tractor fixing expertise spans about 2 months and I could really use some help as I am out of ideas. I am dying to hear my great-grandfathers H purr once again...

So far I have removed the head to clean up the sludge and free up 2 stuck valves. The pistons had a good amount of carbon build up, appears to have burned oil. Engine internals 'looked' okay and reassembled.

Carb was gummed up bad, so I got a complete rebuild kit & cleaned everything out. I have the governor & carb linked up correctly as the throttle plate is wide open.

New coil, points, condenser, cap, rotor, plugs and wires and I get good bluish spark on all 4 plugs.

After playing with the distributor, I realized my timing was out of whack. So I put #1 to TDC, lined up the notch on the pulley, then got the distributor rotor to line up with corresponding #1 point under the distributor cap. Firing order 1-3-4-2. I think I did that right?

I go to start the H and...nothing. Ok, so I put some starting fluid in thru the spark plug holes...not even a cough. I do the same with a little gas...not even a cough.

Did I do my timing wrong?

Turning the hand crank takes a fair amount of effort, so I know there is some compression to suck fuel thru the carb.

I am out of ideas....Sorry for the wordiness, just trying to be through. THANKS!!!

Did you make sure TDC is at the compression stroke,not the exaust stroke? Remove the distributor and turn the engine ONE full turn back to TDC and reinstall dist.Before you do that,check to make sure you have vacume/suction at intake.

Wow, I did not consider this. I hope it is that easy! Thank you.

You did not say if you have spark, should have blue spark jump 1/4 gap.

Ok thanks, yes I am getting good spark to all the plugs.

This blue spark jumping a 1/4" gap, is that coming off the coil?

Pull No1 plug near the radiator and hold your thumb over the plug hole while a helper slowly cranks the engine until you feel pressure. Once you feel pressure drop a long plastic straw on top of the piston. Watch the straw rise as the engine is slowly cranked. When the straw quits rising No1 piston should be at TDC on the compression stroke. Remove the distributor cap and see where the rotor is pointing. Should be the No1 plug tower. It it's pointing to No4 you're 180 degrees off.

Hold your hand over the throat of the carb while a helper makes an attempt to start the engine to see if there's much suction on your hand. Low suction means low intake manifold vacuum. Do a compression check. Hal

Thank you sir, I will try this asap. This is quite the learning process for me.

You are getting there but you forgot one thing. Is there a mechanic friend in the neighborhood that you can have hold your hand one time? Things go SO much easier!

No need to pull the dist. Just switch the wires in the cap across from each other & try it. Why did you mess with the timing. It doesn't change on an engine that has been sitting.

Are you sure #1 is on compression sounds like you are 180 out on your dist just because the piston is at the top it mite be on exhaust instead of compression try again with plug out so you can tell its on compression

Thank you, I will try this as a quick check.

Timing would have changed when I was playing around with stuff learning how it all worked, now I understand.

If spark then it has to be timing or compression if it will not start on Ether.

ok, some good advice has already been posted here. An engine needs 4 things to run: fuel, air, spark, compression

The only thing I am going to do is put it in order like a check list:

1.) Make sure valves are set at correct, COLD lash.
2.) Set timing manually. As already indicated, get #1 TDC for the compression stroke. As indicated, install distributor firing at #1.
3.) Make sure plugs and points are properly gapped.
4.) Wires should be copper core, with bright, clean connections. Firing order 1,3,4,2, going clockwise from #1 post which is at approximately 2 o'clock on the cap.
5.) Turn on fuel, and make sure carb is getting plenty of fuel flow.
6.) Iidle air adjustment should be closed tight, then out 1 1/2 turns. Main jet, same, bottom out then at least 2 to 3 turns out.
7.) Air cleaner should be clear and clean. Fresh oil.
8.) Open and consume beverage of your choice, review and recheck previous 7 steps.
7.) start it. Consume 2nd beverage whiling enjoying the sound of your Grandpa's running tractor.

Thank you Tom, excellent advice & procedure!