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I have a new tractor, which is totally lacking power

T

Toora Stephen

Member
Hi all... it has been a long time since I have been in this forum. My TED20 was running very well for a while, but recently it has been getting water in the engine and I suspect some major work needs to be done on it.

In the meantime, I have recently purchased a TEA20. It seems to be in good condition generally; it starts easily and idles fairly well, but it is totally lacking in power. Pulling the throttle often results in very little happening at all. After it warms up it is a little better, but nowhere near as powerful as it should be. I suspect either a timing or an electrical issue. Then again, it could also be the carburetor - I know so little about these things!

I looked at the spark plugs. They are all black and sooty, but seem to be in good condition and with appropriate gap. One time, after I had started it, it backfired. I checked the firing order and it seems right: 1, 3, 4, 2 counter-clockwise. Fuel might be old; I can replace it tomorrow.

What else should I be looking at?

- TS
 
You need a helper here. Not a hi performance guru, just someone to assist you who knows carbs and dizzies etc.
The 2 potential issues mentioned below, and gummed up or missing spring on the governor, crud inside the dist, and points, and crud in the fuel, too many to mention, so get one part checked out at a time till things straighten out, but a gearhead mate always helps speed things up.
 
There are many possibilities..........

Sounds like the Machine is over Fueld and or poor or incorrect ignition timing.

I did find a TEA-20 with no power.When I checked the Ignition timing the advance was not working.(note picture)

I found the Ring gear had 145 teeth. 360 Deg / 145 = 2.48 Deg per tooth. The manual I use states max advance should be around 10 teeth...25 deg.

With the Starter removed the engine was turned over (normal operation rotation)until number one piston was at top dead center of the Compression stroke. With a WHITE METAL marker a mark was made on the flange of the engine were the Starter attaches to. Then a white dot was placed on the ring gear tooth that aligned with the mark on the Starter mounting flang. I then placed a dot on every third tooth.

With the starter not installed the Tractor was given a pull and with engine running a STROBE light was attached to # 1 Ignition lead. As the tractor is a 6 Volt system I used a 12 Volt battery only for a power source for the strobe light.

It was obvious there was a problem with the Distributor advance.
a238876.jpg
 
When you pull the throttle lever, and the speed barely increases, that says the governor linkage is not right. An easy test is to have the engine off, set the throttle lever for full speed. Look at the carb linkage, the throttle plate should be all the way open, spring loaded against the wide open stop. If it's not, the governor is not adjusted properly, or the linkage is assembled wrong, or there is a problem with the governor itself. Adjusting the governor is not difficult, but you do need some concept of how it works, and to be very careful not to have a run away!

Like others said, there are many reasons for poor performance. One commonly overlooked is the mesh filter element up inside the air cleaner.

A shop manual would be a good investment!
 

A similar thing happened to my friends TED . Stephen is correct , the air filter is often overlooked . It isn't the easiest job to remove but it doesn't take too long . Try starting it without it fitted and see if it makes a difference . Mud wasps had made nests in my mate's , it had a hole only a few milimetres to breath through .
Drill out the spot welds , carefully remove the mesh and unwind , clean with petrol and air . It is my experience that trying to wash it while still in the cannister is a waste of time , it never works as well . If the mesh is corroded badly then new mesh can be bought OR , just use stainless steel coarse pot scourers from the supermarket . These work really well , are cheap and obviously readily available

41014.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies. I rotated the distributor a little (just guessing) and it made a big difference. I also replaced a dodgy-looking lead and that also helped. There is still not much power, but it is running more consistently now. I pulled the plugs one by one and at least 2 of them are not pulling their weight!

There is certainly no immediate response to increasing the throttle, so I suspect at least one of: carburetor adjustment, timing and/or leads, plugs, points and governor.

I have to try and remember all the basic things and test them out one by one. I think I will start simply by getting new plugs and leads.

Unfortunately I will have to leave it for a few weeks, since I am going on a holiday!

Thanks again - I'll be back!


- TS
 
Hi Steve

Could you send me all info regarding ted governor setting please , I think John UK was offering this info a while back but if you can send it onto me that would be great .
Thanks Gary
 
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