Farmall H Fire out of muffler

LaMar Indiana Country Man · Jan 5, 2014

I have my Farmall H running better than if has in a long time, but it seems to run rough when it is not under load. I have installed an electronic ignition, gapped plugs properly, rebuilt carb, and adjusted for minimum gas deposit. Took head off tractor last year and had the valves ground. I was plowing snow out of the driveway last night, and I saw that the muffler was red hot, and fire was coming out the muffler. It still seems awful rich on gas.

The next thing that I will check is intake manifold leaks.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

TIA

David G · Jan 5, 2014

A red hot muffler would indicate that timing is too retarded to me, fire out muffler can also be a mixture issue.

I would check timing and pull plugs to look for rich mixture.

David G · Jan 5, 2014

I time my H by ear, works well. I run it at max throttle, then advance until it slows down a little, then retard, should pick up speed, then slow down.

Put distributor in the middle of that, it will run great.

El Toro · Jan 5, 2014

You probably need to close the main jet adjusting screw on your carburetor to lean the mixture. Hal

rustyfarmall · Jan 5, 2014

(quoted from post at 06:59:00 01/05/14) I have my Farmall H running better than if has in a long time, but it seems to run rough when it is not under load. I have installed an electronic ignition, gapped plugs properly, rebuilt carb, and adjusted for minimum gas deposit. Took head off tractor last year and had the valves ground. I was plowing snow out of the driveway last night, and I saw that the muffler was red hot, and fire was coming out the muffler. It still seems awful rich on gas.

The next thing that I will check is intake manifold leaks.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

TIA

Advance the ignition timing and open the high speed idle screw on the carburetor. It is running way too lean.

Leroy · Jan 5, 2014

Red hot muffler with fire comming out has always been considered normal under a constant heavy load, all makes, you do not realize it if you are only working in daytime but see it when out after dark. Not unusuall to see the fire 6" above top of muffler. Also when it gets dark you can a lot of time shift up a gear due to night air giving more power.

504 · Jan 5, 2014

I grew up running tractors at night(Dad had a day job) red mufflers and manifolds are normal.
There is a reason why there is no paint on a manifold.

Denny ('60 Lo-Boy) · Jan 5, 2014

Plowing snow and plowing dirt is two different things. I agree with the red glow when doing the spring plowing, but when plowing snow, something isn't right.

old · Jan 5, 2014

I agree with Rusty to lean and timing is off a bit. As for a bit if firing coming out the pipe well most any tractor will have that if your seeing them run in near dark conditions

D Slater · Jan 5, 2014

Don't think you would be using it under full load for a extended period moving snow to have a red muffler.
Sounds like you have unburned fuel passing through the engine and igniting in the exhaust system. Could be ignition or a fuel problem. Won't do any good to guess.
What's the engine temperature running at? What kind of manifold, gas or distillate. If distillate or kerosene manifold how is the adjustment lever set?
Would immediately shut down engine when operating long enough to get a red muffler and check spark plugs color.
Check ignition for the correct time and that the distributor advance system is working.
After making sure the ignition system and spark plugs are good, exhaust is open and the engine gets to operating temperature. Turn the carburetor load screw in until the engine stumbles under load or when the throttle is opened fast.
If load screw turned in doesn't do the above, check the carburetor again. Also check for ice in the air cleaner.
Notice I failed to say to open the load screw back up after the screw in check.

glennster · Jan 5, 2014

just for grins, pull the distributor cap off and give the rotor a flick and see if the centrifugal advance is working, or if has froze up. the tractor should be timed static ie engine off and points just starting to open at tdc. as soon as the engine starts, the distributor will advance. if it is stuck and not advancing, the timing will run retarded, causing the muffler and manifold to glow red. i had a minnie moline doing this. if you have a timing light, toss it on and see what the timing is doing with the engine running.

GordoSD · Jan 5, 2014

Wow. I can't believe the number of experts here that don't know that too lean is HOt.

rustyfarmall · Jan 6, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:39:00 01/05/14) Wow. I can't believe the number of experts here that don't know that too lean is HOt.

Exactly. A little EXTRA fuel will tend to cool things down. Not make it hotter.

Janicholson · Jan 6, 2014

Exactly Exactly.
Timing error would be my first guess, then lean conditions. Probably way low on power as well. Broken advance springs will allow the rotor to be free to rotate some, but not advance from static timing (because it is already advanced). Jim

LaMar Indiana Country Man · Jan 15, 2014

Thanks to all that responded. I advanced the timing, and it is running excellent. I have also come to the realization that a red hot muffler at night is not unordinary. Thanks for all your responses.

Farmall H Fire out of muffler

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