A starts hard

Charlie M

Well-known Member
My A takes a lot of cranking before it will start. It runs good once it starts. System is 6 volt but everything is in good shape and cranks over like it should.I had to have a valve job done when I bought it so that end is in good shape, good compression, etc. Mag is timed as I had it off changing gaskets and had to time it when I put it back on. It has a mag and I'm wondering what shape the coil in in. Can it get weaker with age and create hard starting or is it all or nothing.I have had the tractor flood on me so I don't suspect fuel.Its real hard to start with the crank. I'm used to my other Farmalls starting on about the 2nd revolution.Looking for ideas where to look.
 
Is the impulse coupling working? (It should make a loud "snap" every 1/2 revolution of the crank). A sticky or broken impulse will make the engine difficult to start. Yet once started the engine will run fine.
 
Does the rotor line up with the tower position when it impulses. Make a mark on the body next to cap where the #1 tower is then remove cap and watch if the rotor lines up on that mark when it impulses also are the wires copper. If it runs after starting the coil cannot be bad or it would never start. With cap on and wire hooked up to a plug out of block and grounded do you get spark when mag impullses. Does engine start good when tractor is pulled thats another indication of rotor not being lined up correct.
 
Yeah check the coil, had that on our A. got worse the hotter it was. Then one day it gone and gave up, a couple mile tug popping clutch didn't even work. Poked at everything, pulled coil cap, coil was warped around 1/2" short compared to the new one. Last time I started it, it was going with only a few cranks. FYI ours is an old A, no electrical(batt, starter...) on it.
 

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