Oil spurting out the air intake

I have been having trouble starting my TEA20 tractor. I've fixed the timing and replaced the plugs, cap and leads. I've cleaned out the carburetor.

When I try to start it, it turns over a few times then spurts oil from the air filter out of the air inlet.

I have never seen this before. Does it mean the battery is not strong enough to crank the engine properly? What else might be going on?

Somehow compression is getting into the sump .
A valve or valves might be jammed closed and not allowing exhaust to occur . The gas must go somewhere , it may then be forced past the rings into the sump and out the oil filler .
Easy enough to check , just put your finger over each plug hole in turn while cranking , you will soon spot the culprit if there is one .

It could also be backfiring through the carburetor if the timing is 180 out

I did a compression test... all seems OK. Should I take the cover off and check the valves?

I'll double check the firing order. Is it likely that timing is 180 out? Does that mean the distributor needs to be turned 180 degrees?

Sounds like there's some confusion which end is getting the gas??
If it is coming out the dash, oil from the filter bowl... then you have a very bad backfire, yee, if you messed with the timing... you might have made it worse.
180 degrees off is very common to us mear mortals too, and remember it spins anti clockwise... another chance to create a backfire...

That is a strange symptom...

Any chance for an exhaust restriction?

Easy enough to check the ignition timing, pull the #1 plug, turn the engine by hand with your finger over the plug hole. When you feel compression, continue turning to top dead center. You now have the #1 cylinder in firing position. Look at the rotor in the distributor, it should be pointing to #1 on the cap.

It could also be an exhaust valve not opening, bent pushrod, flat cam. That would not show up on a compression test, you would need to take the cover off, watch the valves move on each cylinder.

I have seen and "heard" that on a Diesel, load popping.

Check your timing!

Does the gauge work? Piping is very close to air breather maybe a pin hole.

Please let YT user know:

How long have you owned / operated Tractor?

How well was the engine operating before you adjusted various components?

Did the engine start to act as you have explained after you adjusted various components?

I have a FERGUSON TEA-20 service manual, and shall post the procedure for Ignition Timing later today. Along with info on the timing chain arrangement.

Bob..

Sir. I own and have set the ignition timing (6-volts) on my TEA 20 S# 182991 several times and there are NO visual marks that can be seen on the flywheel when the STARTER is removed! There is a 1/4 " diam. hole just below the starter flange that I inserted a 1/4" rod/drill bit into that lines up with a 1/4" hole drilled in the FWD side if the flywheel. This RIGGING procedure is to take place with the #1 piston traveling up on the compression stroke. On my TEA 20 this rigging procedure will lock the # 1 cylinder at TOP DEAD CENTER.I then install the DISTRIBUTOR and turn the distributor until the POINTS are just on the verge of opening. Call the corresponding distributor contact point inside the distributor cap # 1 and connect the remaining three wires to the spark plugs in the correct firing order. I recently replaced the clutch and pressure plate in TEA 20 S# 182991 and noticed there is an ARROW stamped on the peripheral of the flywheel. This arrow lines up with a casting mark on the aft side of # 4 cylinder, at the same time the rigging pin aligns with the hole In the engine and the hole in the flywheel.....yes # 1 TOP DEAD CENTER compression stroke. I then marked the engine casing with a METAL marker (with starter removed)and placed a mark on a tooth of the ring gear lining up with my mark on the engine casting. Each tooth of the flywheel is equal to 2.48 deg. (360/145 teeth). Then placed a mark on ten of the teeth.
I gave the tractor a pull and connected a STROBE light to # 1 spark plug (used a 12 volt battery on a work stand) and found that the ignition was not at the desired timing point that I preferred 25 deg. With the throttle set so as the PTO was running at 525 RPM. I turned the distributor housing until the distributor was firing at 25 deg BTDC.
NOW: Here is a note to know. ENGINE S# SIE to S8995E fitted with Lucas dist. MODEL D3A4 Lucas SERVICE # 40132 has a hole in the flywheel at 10/100/190 and 280 BTDC number 1 cylinder.
ENGINE S# S8996E onwards fitted with Lucas dist. Model D3A4, Lucas service No. 40146 has a hole in the flywheel at TDC # 1,as well as 90/180/and 270 deg before TDC. CORRECT LOCATION OF TIMING PIN IS TDC of firing stroke # 1 cylinder.
I did notice that on U-TUBE there is a video of some one checking a TEA 20 igniting timing In the above procedure that I checked mine. Also in the FERGUSON ARCHIVES "TEA20 Back to life" a posted picture of a Ferguson WITH timing marks on the FWD face of the flywheel

(quoted from post at 01:48:47 02/14/17) Please let YT user know:

How long have you owned / operated Tractor?

How well was the engine operating before you adjusted various components?

Bob..

Click to expand...

I only purchased it recently. It has never run well. It used to start, but had no power. I have taken the distributor out and quite possibly put it back in the wrong way.

I had a local mechanic adjust the timing but he is new to this sort of machine so he might have got it wrong.

I think the first thing to do is check the valves. At least I know how to do that. Timing is more of a mystery to me.

Since the distributor has been out, possibly the plug wires are not in the right order.

After determining which terminal is #1 (using the method to bring #1 up on TDC compression), the firing order is 1342 going counter clockwise in the distributor cap. Once you get the firing order right, and get the timing close, it should start. Then you can time it by ear close enough to get it running.

Don't be afraid of it, nothing you can do we can't show you how to fix! Very simple machine!