Farmall 140

jbarrineau

New User
I have been having problems with the 140 lately. It will crank and run fine for about 20 minutes. Then it starts to "cut back". I can press the clutch and let it run for a few and it will run ok for a bit and start to sputter soon after. If I turn it off and let it rest the same thing happens. My theory is that I have run this gas with ethanol in it and the engine doesn't operate as well. I am cycling the ethanol gas out and the no ethanol gas back in. Any thoughts?
 
When it stops, feel the ignition coil. If it is way hot, it is failing. Checking the spark when it runs rough is also a good test. Ethanol gasoline is not usually problematic. Jim
 
I would also check for a good gas supply to the carb. I've had tractors with corroded fuel lines or stuff in the gas tank that would run for a while and then die due to a lack of enough gas. Last year I had my 300U act up and found some gel looking material plugging up the outlet to the tank.
 
As Jim says the most probable is the coil, not fuel. With a failing coil, it runs fine for a while then either stutters or dies. It will not start immediately, but will after a few minutes, then will die soon after unless it is completely cool.
 
As others have said it could be the coil, but if it has been setting up for a while try this as well. It doesn't take much time or skill or effort. Cut off the gasoline under the tank and remove the sediment bowl and clean it out even if it doesn't look like it needs it. Remove the fuel line and blow it out. Install it backwards and verify that fuel will flow from the tank with a good stream (this verifies that the outlet from the tank is not plugged.) Next remove the drain plug from the bowl on the carburetor. With the fuel line back in place open the sediment bowl valve and flush out the carburetor bowl. Do not change any adjustments on the carburetor at this time. Reassemble and try running again. If this does not work and you do not have a coil problem you will need to do a complete cleaning of the carburetor. I have had to do this flush out procedure several times in the spring after our Farmall set up over the winter and that was back in the day of leaded gasoline. The 140 will do just fine on ethanol just not as well as on pure gasoline. It does not have the same issues as the small engines. It usually did not take more that about one or two tanks of gasoline under load to get it cleared out and running smooth. Even so a little water or condensate in the gasoline would do a number on our old Farmalls.
 
It ain't the ethanol fuel. That engine was designed in the 1930's and will run on good rotgut whiskey and chicken squeezin's.

You've got a fuel supply problem or an ignition problem. Try working the choke when it starts acting up. If you can get the problem to clear up with the choke then it's a fuel supply problem.
 

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