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Farmall A Won't start

P

Paul Wald

Member
Before we go jumping to conclusions here, there"s fire at all four plugs, new coil, new points, new condenser, new carb. Had head planed, and put back together. Started on 2 cylinders. My mistake there. Set cyl 1 TDC checked timing, ran wires to correct plugs, then nothin! Still fire at all four plugs. What am I missing?
 
move all wires 2 tower places CW on the cap and try it. If it is 180 out of time it will run this way just fine. Jim
 
What firing order are you using??? The Farmalls use a 1,3,4,2 instead of the common 1,2,4,3. I goof on that last fall when I built my BA high bred
 
Set 1st cyl top dead center. Get spark on number one plug at that point. Don't think it could be 180 degrees out. Could it? It ran on 1 and 4, maybe worth a try!
 
Ok then take the wire and swap them across the cap you may have them 180 out which is easy to do since the piston is up at TDC twice but only once for compression
 
Easy way to find top dead center is to write the first half of the firing order down then put the second set under them. This will tell you what are the matching cylinders. On your they are 1&4 and 3&2. Now take the valve cover off and turn engine over till number 4 valves are rocking back and forth one up one down stop when they stop at the top (valves closed) on both number four and number one. If you move the crank even a small amount the valves on 4 will move but not on 1.
Good luck.
Walt
 
Was the No 1 cylinder on the compression stroke when at TDC? If not that is what the others are talking about being 180 degrees off.
 
NOTH'in like finding a "tractor buddy" who's "been there and done that"! Is there any older guy in your area that can mentor you a bit and save $$$ in throwing parts at it 'cause of having a wealth of knowledge about stuff from the past?
 
Pull No1 plug near the radiator and bring that piston to TDC on the compression stroke. Hold your thumb over the plug hole while a helper hand cranks the engine until you feel pressure against your thumb, then drop a plastic straw on top of the piston and you watch the straw rise as the helper keeps slowly cranks the engine. When the straw quit rising you should be at TDC.

Remove the cap and see where your rotor is pointing. Should be pointing to your No1 plug tower which is at 1 o'clock and your
plug wires need to be in this firing order on the cap going clockwise. Hal
PS: If the rotor is off you need to pull the mag or distributor and rotate the rotor until it is at No1 and reinstall.

2-1
4-3
 
Sure seemed to be. Pulled 2 and 3 wire while running with no change to idle. If I can get them back to where I started, might have to try this as well. Should be able to, I initially put them in the same order as the 2 B's sitting beside it!
 
You might have just explained it so even I understand! I didn't check to see if was on compression stroke. Gotta work cows today, but will try later this afternoon.
 
Easy to have one on the exhaust stroke and if you then do the firing order that way you have it 180 out and they will have good spark but not run. You have heard of what is called Murphy's law haven't you?? If not then here it is in a nut shell. If it can be done wrong it will be if it can go bad it will or in other words if you can mess it up easy you will mess it up
 
Solved! Most of you were correct, but my head was to thick to realize it! It was timed 180 degrees out. Swapped each plug wire 2 places clockwise and vroom! It may take me a while to understand, but I always get good advice here,

Thanks,
Paul
 
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