'53 Ferguson, TEA

Couple off question's, have a 53 Ferguson, Standard engine, previously changed to 12 volt system. The engine firing order is presently 1,2,4,3., The manual is listed the firing order as 1,3,4,2. When the wiring is as described in the manual ,engine operates really rough. When wiring order is 1,2,4,3. which is at present, ,there is a slight miss in the engine. Does anyone have any information as to the confusion . Thanks, Murray

I assisted a neighbour with the firing order,I believe the same model of tractor as you have. The neighbour was determined to use the PICTURE in the MANUAL as to which Distributor lead was number one. Finally he accepted that the Distributor had been installed in such a way the ROTOR did not align with the plug wire when NUMBER one piston was at firing position. This was determined by removing the number one Spark plug, turning the engine over until compression was felt on number one cylinder. As the cylinder approached top dead center a 1/4" diameter bolt was inserted into a HOLE below the starter through the engine flange into a hole in the FLYWHEEL. With the Distributor Cap removed,it was evident which plug wire was number one,the contact inside the Distributor cap that the rotor was aligned with.

There are SEVERAL other conditions that can cause the Engine to act as yours does,the above is only ONE. Another I had to deal with,was a DISTRIBUTOR shaft with unacceptable bearings,allowing the distributor shaft to wobble.

You may try attaching a Socket and Ratchet on the Crankshaft pulley drive Cap screw with Distributor cap removed. Turn the Crankshaft CCW and then CW and note the degrees you must turn the Crank shaft before the Distributor shaft moves.

Bob..

Make sure you are viewing the distributor rotation correctly.

It has to be wired correctly if it ran worse when it was changed.

Try pulling one wire at a time, determine which one is weak, then find out why that cylinder is not carrying it's share of the load.

Things to check are the point gap, fouled plug, vacuum leak, idle mixture, valve adjustment, compression.

Remember the rotor turns counter clockwise.
IF- #1 wire is in the right spot of the cap, #3 would be under it, 4 on the way up to the right, etc.
A good guess is 1 is in the wrong spot, and the rest go by instructions cast in stone... well, into the cast iron...