204 Work Bull with Z134 WILL NOT START!!! HELP!!!

hello everyone, I have just recently acquired this ol pig non running from a junk yard actually headed for the torches. I thought it would be cool to have a front end loader with a three point pto tractor around the shop.

here is what I've done

removed the fuel tank(full of rust) and fuel that didnt smell that old

removed valve cover and adjusted valves to .015

installed new coil
installed new cap and rotor
turned engine to 6 degrees btdc and checked to confirm point gap

compression check with snap on tester
each cylinder ranged from 110 to 120

what will happen is with a squirt of ether while its cranking it will like "catch" a little almost like its trying to fire but out of time. then a small amount of smoke comes from the push rod holes in the head?

if i attach my spark plug attachment in cylinder 1 to my shop air line, air rushes out of cylinder 3's spark plug hole. i didn't think this was supposed to happen.

what also is weird is the suction on the inlet of the carb is almost enough to suck the skin off your hand but doesn't seem like much is coming out of the exhaust.

radiator is full of coolant
engine is full of oil but black

I've been messing with it for a few days now and am pulling my hair out its never taken me this long to get anything running.

My background is Ive been a Mercedes Benz mechanic for 13 years and this big pig is sitting in one of the bays in my shop. i like to tinker

am thinking about removing the cylinder head tomorrow to see whats going on under there? maybe a bad head gasket or really bad valve guides? no idea
 
Compression is a little on the low side but unlikely that it's the problem. So with the #1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke you have air rushing out the #3 spark plug hole? I'm thinking that doesn't sound right. When #1 is at the top of it's compression stroke, #3 should be at the bottom of it's compression stroke. Or do you have #1 at TDC when trying this?

One thing I'd check, the firing order is 1-3-4-2 and the dist. turns counter clockwise........that threw me off once.
Compared to a Mercedes this should be a walk in the park!

Edit: changed firing order.......thanks Richard!
 
I dunno Inno, I 'think' air will come out #3 when 1 is on top. Gummed up valves will add to this but-
I try to just start something the way it was all set and adjusted when it last ran- I try not to mess with timing, points- holy cripe you didn't take out the dist or all the wires at once? It will 'try' to start at 180 degrees off. I did that once or 3 times myself, purred like a kitten when all put back in order.
Me and Inno have identical tractors that have identical weird problems... like the guys on big bang theory, only we get dirty!!
 
Possibly collapsed muffler?

Anythings possible since it wasn't running. Could
the distributor be 180 out? Sheared roll pin in on
the drive gear?

If you want to do the cylinder leak down test,
back off the rocker shaft bolts so all the valves
are closed. But with 110# compression it will run.

Might turn it through real slow and watch the #1
cylinder rockers to be sure the valve timing is
right.
 
Like Tony said. Sometimes introducing all those parts adds a problem or 2. Are the plugs getting wet?Was it a 6 or 12v coil?Is there an inline resistor?What does spark look like and have you taken the carb apart? You may have to do like me and buy another one and put parts on it till it won't run.lol
 
INNO, are you sure that firing order is correct? That is not how my Z 129 or Z 134 operates. I think Tony has been helping you to much. My timing is 1-3-4-2.
 
Richard, you are correct. I think I need to have a feature on my computer that will not let me post after 9pm! I think much better in the morning. So in that case #3 would be at the bottom of it's intake stroke so it's intake valve would be wide open. If the valves on #1 were leaking a bit then I guess air could be coming out #3 but you should also hear it out the exhaust or intake or both.
 
Compression looks good. Have you checked the firing order (1-3-4-2 distributor turns CCW) and the ignition timing? Point gap is .022". Check you spark FAT AND BLUISH-WHITE, the color of lightning?

Are you getting fuel to the carb? Pull the plug at the bottom of the carb fuel bowl with the tank valve fully open. Should CONTINUOUSLY gush out like a cow peein' on a flat rock.
 
remove exhaust pipe from manifold and try starting with carb cleaner not ether. if it fires then figure out what is plugged up in the exhaust. next remove muffler from system see if it still fires. report back with findings
 

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