Farmall Super A Low Power

jhaverstick · Jul 1, 2018

Just purchased a super a with a belly mower. Seems to start and run well but has a hard time going up hills and really complains when the belly mower is engaged. Tune up, rebuild? Thanks for your help in advance

Jimmy

fastfarmall · Jul 1, 2018

How's the compression, the belly mower takes power just to run it empty !

David G · Jul 1, 2018

I would agree, run a compression check first thing, it could be anything, start with diagnostics before throwing parts.

gene bender · Jul 1, 2018

like other post say compression first the SA IN shape has plenty of power for a belley mower

leroy in ne · Jul 1, 2018

I don't want to step on other answers, but when I changed jobs one of the pieces of equipment was a Super A with Woods L 59. It would barely pull itself and needed a good cleaning up. I had the hood off while servicing and the cup off the air cleaner, I happened to look down the air tube, it had about a 3/8" hole thru it. Cleaned and had to re adjust carb for the right fuel mix as it had been running with a restriction like the choke partly on all the time with the partly plugged air cleaner. I believe that little item nearly doubled the available power. Sometimes simple things like a good tune up, valve adjustment, correct timing, proper spark plug wires, carbeurator adjustments can make a noticeable difference.

old · Jul 1, 2018

Time to trouble shoot the problem.
#1 make sure you have a good blue/white spark at the center wire of the distributor and at all 4 plug wires that will jump a 1/4 inch gap or more.
#2 make sure the plugs are in good shape an not fouled.
#3 pull the carb drain plug and make sure you have a good steady flow of gas that will fil a pint jar in less then 3 minutes.
#4 does choking it hurt or help? If it hurt it is running to rich if it helps it is running to lean
#5 when was the last time you serviced the air cleaner and dumped the mud and water out and filled with fresh oil.

Post back what you find for more help

David G · Jul 2, 2018

My bet is on slow timing, but would do the diagnostics first.

I wanted to wait, but the other guys are jumping in with suggestions, got to join the herd.

mattofvinings · Jul 2, 2018

So to run a belly mower in grass + hills requires max power. The max power in these engines is at max rpms. The main jet in the carb has to be capable of delivering the max fuel flow. And the spark has to be able to be delivered into highest combustion pressures (basically the higher the "load" on any or all cylinders, the more energy is required to jump the gap on the plugs.

In my mind there isn't 1 great answer. Dip-soaking-mechanical cleaning and blowout of the carb would be one part. Going thru the ignition and refreshing components would be another part. The 1/4" spark jump in atmosphere (mentioned above) is a good way to check the basic health and integrity of the coil and wires and the ability to deliver the high energy.

Farmall Super A Low Power

jhaverstick

New User

fastfarmall

Well-known Member

David G

Well-known Member

gene bender

Well-known Member

leroy in ne

Well-known Member

old

Well-known Member

David G

Well-known Member

mattofvinings

Member

Similar threads