International 354 running issues

Steve Wilkens · Jan 5, 2017

A friend of mine has a very nice 354 (gas) tractor that he has cared for very well. Steering box rebuilt, power steering rebuilt, new carburetor, new distributor. Whatever it ever needed. Now it will run perfect for a couple of minutes and then start missing and die. Went through and checked everything. Compression in all cylinders between 119 and 128. was running too much fuel pressure, but have since install regulator and now steady at 1.5 lbs, didn't make a difference. Checked the points, and plugs, all good and properly gapped. held a light down the throat of the carb and fuel flow was steady when running great and when it started to sputter and die. Timing marks on the front belt pulley are a bit off, but even in adjusting the timing, no difference was made. Need advice, anyone run into anything like this??

Janicholson · Jan 5, 2017

Does it immediately start back up? If it takes a minute before it will restart, I am going to suggest a bad coil. Take a piece of spark plug wire, (real wire) and cut the side out of it exposing the wire inside. Cut the actual wire leaving the rubber covering intact, and bend the wire to make a 1/8" gap where cut. Use this wire for a coil wire, replacing the original. Start it and watch the spark. If it quits as the tractor quits, the coil or condenser is likely the issue. Jim

Steve Wilkens · Jan 5, 2017

Already changed the coil to no effect, was thinking the condenser was next, but was under the idea that a condenser either worked or it didn't. I do appreciate your suggestion as it bolsters what I was thinking. This thing has me stumped. Thanks again for your suggestion as I welcome any and all ideas on the matter.

Janicholson · Jan 5, 2017

Condensers are a solid stateish device. They can fail in a way that lets them work, then stop. use the wire thing to assess the ignition at fault. jim

JDEM · Jan 6, 2017

Is there an ignition resistor wired into the circuit? Is so, that would be one of my first suspects. Easy to eliminate or bypass for a test. The BC144 engines with the Lucas ignition systems have resistors. But I think the same engine on a 354 has a Delco system so I don't know if there is a resistor or not. Just monitor voltage at the coil primary and see what it is when it starts to die. Capacitor is easy check under load IF you have a cap-tester. If not, just stick a new one in and see what happens.

What was the issue with fuel pressure? That engine ought to have a British-Zenith carb from a car and can work fine at 4 PSI.

International 354 running issues

Steve Wilkens

Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

Steve Wilkens

Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

JDEM

Well-known Member

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