Tony Holt - TO30?

Tony, did you get the TO-30 to run right?

Not Yet Roger. Here what I have done. The new cam is right just like the old one. I've got the timing right. The marks are on the money with the crank and cam gears. The distributor is pointing at one and I've got the valve lash at 15. But it runs like it just hitting a two cylinders. I swiped #4 and #2 plug wires around and it runs better. But its still sounds like its missing on one cylinder. Is there something in the distributor that could be off? I'm lost on what to do next.

Bad condenser??

Use a long handled insulated screwdriver and short out each cylinder (when it is running) and see which cylinders DON'T make a difference. Swap wires on those cylinders.

I got it!

It was my firing order! Instead of #1 at 10:00, #3 at 7:00, #4 at 5:00, #2 at 2:00.

With the firing order above as the rotor turns from 1 then 3 then 4 then 2

The firing order is.

#1 at 7:00, #3 at 10:00, #4 at 5:00, #2 at 2:00.

This firing order is #1 then #4 then #2 then #3.

I found a video on youtube of a TO30 and it showed the distributor and wires and this was the way it was wired up.

Anyway its running great now.

OK Roger I still have a problem with the idle speed. As for the tractor running it runs great and idles great No missing at all. But give it just a little gas and it runs away with its self. I replaced the governor with a new one. and I've used Johns instruction on setting the linkage. I unhooked the link going from the governor to the carb and started the tractor I halt the link rod in the idle position and the tractor idled great. But if I moved the rod just a fraction and I mean just a hair the tractor would run away with its self. Do you think this could be a carb problem?

With no load on the engine, it will "run away" with very little throttle linkage movement, especially if the governor is not hooked up or working.

Someone else will have to help with the governor and linkage. Sorry.

It may be running better, but if you truly have the firing order set to 1-4-2-3 it won't do well when you apply a load to the engine. You can't look at another tractors distributor and assume your wires go in the same positions. Depending on how you install the distributor you can set the number one position anywhere. I thought you had determined earlier that the number one cylinder was at the 10:00 position..what was your method to determine that? Did you static time the distributor to number one cylinder when you installed it? Also, even if you static timed the distributor correctly, you still should use a timing light for the final adjustment. The last time I installed and static timed the distributor on my 35 it started and ran great but the timing was actually a couple degrees AFTER TDC at 400rpm when checked with the light.

As to the governor, does the governor arm that comes out of the front cover move freely? The governor is always trying to close the throttle the faster the engine revs. With the carb to governor arm link disconnected, if you push the governor arm forward, then rev the engine, you should feel the governor arm push back. If you do feel a distinct push back on the arm when the engine revs, then you know the governor inside the front cover is reacting to engine speeds and you probably have a linkage adjustment problem. If you get no reaction, you may have to pull the front cover to find out why.

Dan

I agree with you Dan. I looked at two TO30's and the wiring was the same way with both. The #1 is in the 7:00 position on the cap. Now maybe by turning the distributor I could put the cap in the 10:00 position. All I know is its running real smooth. I did unhook each wire while it was running and it did make a difference so all cylinders are firing.

As for the governor I have about a 1/8 inch play in the linkage on the governor lever arm rod. The top part of the rod that bolts to the compensating spring lever is wore a lot. Could this throw the governor off?

The vertical governor arm coming out of the front cover that then connects to the carb should have about 3/4 inch movement if its disconnected from the carb. Check with the throttle lever at the dash pulled all the way down. You will have to move the governor arm against spring tension but it should move. If you are only getting 1/8 inch movement then something is binding up. Wear in the linkages can affect governor operation but I wouldn't expect it to run away like you describe. With the throttle lever at the dash in the wide open position and the carb throttle rod pulled forward to the wide open position, the holes on the carb to governor connecting rod should be slightly [i:654c4848f0]past[/i:654c4848f0] the governor arm hole. Is this how you have it adjusted?

Dan