Spark and Fuel what else?

Anonymous-0 · Feb 5, 2009

I have spark when check the spark plugs. With tester and just holding next to the ground. I put starter fluid in the cylinder. Doesn't even fire once. What should I check. Jumped the battery??

John B. · Feb 5, 2009

You have to have four things to make an engine run.

1. Fuel
2. Air
3. Compression
4. Ignition of fuel at the right time.

Hope this helps you out.

John

El Toro · Feb 5, 2009

You need to hold your hand over the throat of the carburetor while someone makes an attempt to start the engine. See if there's any suction on your hand. You need good intake manifold vacuum
to pull that fuel into the engine. Hal
PS: Do a compression check and compare the readings. Which tractor is this?

Michael Soldan · Feb 5, 2009

Don't put starter fluid into a cylinder, it will wash the oil off of the cylinder walls and decrease the compression in the cylinder. At the shop I worked at we would get calls for no starts on a really cold morning and the first thing the boss asked was what have you done so far?..if the customer said they had tried starting fluid we would tow the vehicle in and put it in the shop...there was no point in trying to start it on site..they just wouldn't start...let the vehicle warm up for several hours, pull plugs, squirt some oil into the cyliner. replace the plugs and the vehicle would start. Like the other poster said fuel/air, spark at the right time and compression...no compression =no start. Do check your timing again, fresh fuel should start it

Paul from MI · Feb 5, 2009

Never had any success with starter fluid on a gas engine in cold temps. Gasoline must evaporate to burn. Very easy to flood a cold engine. A few cranks with the choke on is enough. Then wait long enough for the gas oline in the cylinders to evaporate, a few more cranks with no choke should start it if everything else is ok. Assuming hte engine ran ok when shut off and fuel is reasonably fresh. Just a thought.
Paul

richardp3 · Feb 5, 2009

Timing. You can have all the spark in the world, but if it"s not timed right, nothing. Have you had the distrubuter out? They are easy to put in backwards, or off time. Get your manual out and check timing.

RandyB(MI) · Feb 5, 2009

Has it EVER run in your presense? Has anything been done to it since then?? If it did and there wasn't then either plugs are junk or valve stuck open.Plugs that "look" perfect can be junk. Compression test might be in order too.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 5, 2009

Thanks guys. Its not to cold here today 50 or so every where else around us seem to be freezing theres off. I will do a compression check and check timing. Haven't had the distrubutor off. It was running then just quit no loud noise no sparks no nothing. It does run on Propane which is full. usally kicks over with a little kick of starter fluid in the intake not too much just enough. Its on a IHC payloader 500.

Walt Davies · Feb 6, 2009

If its running on LP then everything has to be correct except that you must have a fuel problem. I put a little gas on the air cleaner if its a paper one then try to start it. If it run then shuts down you have fuel problem on the gas side.
Walt

Spark and Fuel what else?

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

John B.

Well-known Member

El Toro

Well-known Member

Michael Soldan

Well-known Member

Paul from MI

Well-known Member

richardp3

Member

RandyB(MI)

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Walt Davies

Well-known Member

Similar threads