715 IH combine gas distributer setup

Rick KS · Sep 3, 2010

Trying to bring a gas 715IH combine back to life. Previous owner messed up the distributer. Anyone have info on how to get the distributer timed right? Such as how to make sure it isnt 180 out; which cylinder goes to which distributer socket (pug wire layout); how to initially set up the timing...........

El Toro · Sep 3, 2010

Which engine is it? No1 piston should be near the radiator and you remove that sparkplug. Then hold your thumb over the plug hole while a helper hand cranks the engine until you feel pressure against your thumb. Take along a long plastic straw and once you feel that pressure drop the straw on top of the piston. Then you watch the straw rise as your helper keeps slowly cranking the engine. When the straw quits rising
your No1 piston should be at TDC on the compression stroke.

Don't forget to remove the straw and pull the distributor cap and see where your rotor is pointing. My manual has the 301cid engine used in that combine. The firing order if its a four cylinder engine is probably this:
2-1
4-3 If the rotor turns turns CW

Your can follow that plug wire from the distributor to the No1 sparkplug to verify it is No1. If it is the No1 plug wire and the rotor is way off you need to remove the distributor and rotate the rotor so it is at the No1 plug tower which is about 1 o'clock and reinstall the distributor. Hal

Rick KS · Sep 3, 2010

Was running out of daylight so I headed back the combine after posting. The motor is a straight 6. The owner thought it was a 1973 model. Would that make it a 301?

Found the firing order stamped on the far side. So I set up the wires according to the stamped firing order, then did the spark plug out thumb thing on number 1. Eyeballed the point gap. Set the distributer so that the rotor pointed to 1 and gave it a shot. Fired right up. Turned the distributer until I got max rpm a mid throttle. Has a hard miss but running well otherwise.

Picked up the header and checked forward and reverse. The hydro seems OK. Ran out of daylight but I think I might get it home tomorrow (about 8 miles) after seeing if I can get rid of that miss.

I have all the manuals for the diesels, but nothing on the gas. If you could help me out with the specs on the gasser (point gap, dwell, advance), I sure would appreciate it.

El Toro · Sep 4, 2010

I don't have any specs on the distributor for that engine. Put another request on the Farmall forum to see if anyone has the specs. Glad you have it running. I was going to tell you if it was a 6 cylinder engine timing the distributor was the same. I have a Borg Warner manual that covers all the powered farm implements including balers and combines and what engines were used. I think .020" on the points would be close. Hal

715 IH combine gas distributer setup

Rick KS

New User

El Toro

Well-known Member

Rick KS

New User

El Toro

Well-known Member

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