Hard starting TO 30 in cold weather

ruger1

Member
I have a '52 TO 30 that does not like to start in the cold. I have to jump start it in the cold if i want it start. After it runs for a few minutes it will start easily after that. I thought the battery was the problem so i bought a new battery with 700 cca and it still wont start.
I push the clutch in while attempting to start and the timing was adjusted with a timing light per john uk's instructions. I checked the spark at the plugs and it is bright white like it should be and the gas is flowing fine. Once started it runs fine.
Any suggestions?
 
Is your choke working properly? There is a spring loaded flap on the choke butterfly, make sure it is not missing.

Dan
 
You want to remove the air pipe and look in at the carburetor opening to make sure there is a butterfly in there. At that time while looking in there take the choke rod and push it toward the tractor seat and make sure the butterfly is operating. If you never used the choke as you say that might be your only problem with it starting hard when cold. Next time when it is cold pull the choke out and try starting it.
 
I asked about the oil because when you said you had to jump it off to crank it I thought you meant it was turning over too slow to crank.
 
I just went out to try the tractor and it would not start. I decided to check the spark again and i had spark at the coil wire and not at the plugs. I am assuming that the points or condenser are bad after removing the distributor cap and not having spark at the points.
I am thinking that the old battery did not have enough power to turn it over fast enough to start And now that i have a new battery the points/ condenser are bad and now it wont start at all .
Should i replace both points and condenser when i buy a new kit or one or the other?

By the way i checked the butterfly on the carb and its working like it should.
 
I fought cold starting issues with my 30 and decided to put in a Petronix ignitor and a new coil. That was the best money spent on this old tractor. It will fir and start on the first revolution after sitteing in 15 degrees overnight. I know it is not stock but when it starts when I need it to it does not matter to me. My .02 worth.
 
Sounds like the compression is a little low warm it
up some expands the rings with the help of oil
pumping up around the rings helping it seal. Not
sure what cold compression should be maybe 120?
 
Actually it will have more compression when the engine is cold rather than hot. Although the rings and piston expand when they get hot, the oil gets thinner and the valve clearances decrease when hot resulting in less compression.
 
push the the clutch in so you are not turning the tran. about 60% of the trans. still turns when not in gear. push the clutch peddle down
 
also use heavy battery cables NOT the auto type from Walmart 2 gauge at least and if your is still OEM with the shifter start the switch that the shifter engages will get burn and not carry the currant that it should. i have 5 to-20 and 30s all start at 30 below and all are still 6 volt and have 15-40 oil in them but MAKE sure you push the clutch in and it will start
 
I did do that when starting. I think the original problem was the weak battery. Now that i have a new batttery the points or condenser are bad and it wont start at all. It definately turns over a lot better with the new battery than it ever did before.
 
Jason i know that if your low on compression and tractor sits a spell say two weeks the oil seeps back down off the cylinder walls making the compression less so in winter months the 6 volt battery dos'nt spin fast enough to build compression to fire. just saying
 

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