Crank starting problems?

Nick from MD · Jun 20, 2014

I have a 1940 farmall a that i just restored. It is crank start, no electric start on it. The engine has new liners pistons and rings in it. The cylinder head and carb have all been gone through. The magneto is timed by the book. It hasnt been run for several months and the other day i went out to it and pulled on it about 5 times and it started and run perfect it didnt miss a beat. So I shut it off and tryed to start it again I must of pulled on the crank 30-40 times before i could get it started again. When I finally got it running I shut it off again and when i went to start it again the same thing happened. So today i went back and timed the magneto again. Still i had to pull and pull on it and when it finally went and ran it ran perfect. It idled perfect and sounded fine when running. So my question is is there a certain procedure that i need to go through to get it going? Where should i put the throttle how much choke do i use? Should the timing be adjusted differently? Any suggestions would really be appreciated. Thanks, Nick

teddy52food · Jun 20, 2014

Set the timing so the impulse trips a TDC and leave it. On a cold start, put the hand throttle about half way and the choke all the way closed. Leave the switch off as you don't want it to fire on a closed choke. Turn it over 2 compressions. Open the choke and turn the ign on. It should start and stay running on the first turn. Adjust the choke to run smooth & open it as soon as it warms up a little. It shouldn't need any for a hot start. Make sure you let it idle to cool down before stopping.

Curt Cooke · Jun 20, 2014

After a dozen strokes and no action, carefully give a good sniff to your exhaust pipe. Don't slip and fall, tearing your nose off. See if you can detect a strong fuel odor. If not, choke it a few strokes, see if it then takes off. Also, clean, good ignition points are critical for mag and hand crank starting. I think there are a lot of machines rotting in fence rows who's only crime was a set of worn points.

ken house · Jun 21, 2014

my experience and i gather from the experience of others, nearby, i know this sounds crazy, but, each motor may have it's own means or method, of starting. you may have to use trial and error to be able to find how to start your motor.

a friend says he has a motor that you have to pull choke out and then push it off, before cranking motor, then crank it. crazy yes. ???

i have a motor, you must pull choke out and as soon as motor starts to turn, push choke off.

if you have an old timer, nearby, he can help a lot.

henryv11 · Jun 21, 2014

Maybe you are getting intermittent spark. Have someone check the spark while you are cranking.

robgIN · Jun 21, 2014

you hearing the impulse trip with each crank ? If the impulse is sticking and only working part of the time it can cause that issue . Have you tried pull starting it, if it starts up within a couple feet each time but still gives you fits cranking that may be the problem. There should be a place to oil the impulse , it needs to be kept well lubed.

gene bender · Jun 21, 2014

Make a mark on the body where #1 sparkplug wire is. Now remove the cap and turn the engine over and watch wehere the rotor is before it snaps it should line up on your mark and stay there until it shaps as your rotor could be off a tooth or more. It is made to snap on tdc. You can remove #1 plug and with a lite see if its on tdc when it snaps as your mag gov gear runs off the camshaft geat and there are also marks for that to be in tme. If yur carb is in shape that engine will fire on the first turn

Nick from MD · Jun 21, 2014

thanks everyone for their responses. my grandfather was telling me the same thing as ken house said i believe there is a lot of ruth to that. but this tractor is frustrating me it seems like i think i figured out the trick to it and i try it again i can't get it started. I m not hearing the impulse consistently on each pull like mentioned. and it does start within a few feet when pull started. i m gonna try everything you guys have suggested hopefully ill get it cause I'm gonna drive myself crazy until it starts on the first pull haha

teddy52food · Jun 22, 2014

Get the mag fixed & you should be good.

rhtx55 · Jun 25, 2014

+1 on the impulse coupling !!!!

Crank starting problems?

Nick from MD

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teddy52food

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Curt Cooke

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ken house

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henryv11

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robgIN

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gene bender

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Nick from MD

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teddy52food

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rhtx55

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