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TEA 20 distributor timing problem?

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Gerry UK

12-15-2007 07:21:23




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I have owned a Feb 1948 TEA 20 for two years (it had previously been garaged and not used for around 20 years) and have fitted the following new parts - battery, points, condenser, rotor arm, plugs, distributor cap and leads, key switch, gear lever starter switch, coil, starter motor, carb kit, fuel filter. Have cleaned out fuel system and air filter, changed all oils and hoses. Set everyting up as described in service manual and from these notice boards.

I have managed to Top a few acres with it this year, had it running for about two hours at a time, but have never managed to get it running smoothly yet.
Recently it has been running worse, difficult to start, low power, flames from the exhaust so have been trying to set up the timing and I noticed that there is some movement of the distributor and the spark is inconsistent, sometimes good, sometimes bad.

If I hold the rotor arm (new and fits tightly) and twist the distributor clockwise and anti clockwise it will turn approx one sixteenth of an inch either way. If I try rocking the distributor from side to side there is movement of approx 20 thou in.

Does this sound as if it needs replacing and if so, are there recon units available? Any advice will be gratefully received!

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Bob (Aust)

12-27-2007 14:58:43




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Gerry UK, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  
Sounds like you still need to polarise the generator so the red charge light goes out when the engine is revved up.

Hope you don't have an alternator now it is positive earth.....



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Gerry UK

12-27-2007 03:37:55




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Matt Malcome1, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  
Problem now solved thanks to the help and advice of everyone in this thread, in particular John (UK).
It was not the distributor!
Just goes to show don’t rush into the bigger jobs, check the simple things again thoroughly first.

I re checked all the leads and sparks and found one plug had a weak and intermittent spark, the plugs are only a year old (from sparex) and I assumed they were OK. I suspect the bad one had gradually been breaking down. I fitted new plugs (Champion L86C's equivalents) and set the gaps to .030”.

I changed the Battery to positive earth and changed the wires around on the Coil to match.

Next I carefully set up the points (.015”) and timing, and adjusted the carb.

So after doing the above she fired up and ran very smoothly (for the first time in 2 years).

Just one problem left, the engine was surging at higher revs, so I then set up the governor.

For the very first time she is now running as sweet as a nut, it is possible after all!!

Now that I have changed to positive earth I noticed the ignition light is on full when the engine is running so I need to sort that out and I need to move on to the clutch and brakes next.

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Gerry UK

12-19-2007 00:27:53




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Jerry/MT, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  

chuck130 said: (quoted from post at 08:45:54 12/17/07) Distributor bearing is #LJ ½ 2RS, available through any bearing supply house (Yellow pages)


Thanks Chuck130, do I need a special tool to remove the old and fit the new?



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chuck130

12-17-2007 07:45:54




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Gerry UK, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  
Distributor bearing is #LJ ½ 2RS, available through any bearing supply house (Yellow pages)



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John (UK)

12-16-2007 04:12:05




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Gerry UK, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  
Movement in the distributor from side to side indicates a worn bearing and bush, these can be replaced reasonably easily.Twisting the Rotor clockwise and anti-clockwise should have movement as that is how it advances and retards the ignition automatically, usually they have more movement than you say you have, it is possible that lack of lubrication is causing the weights to stick, this could also be the cause of the engine running erratically. If you need the information on how to do any of this email me at:-
fergusontractors@tiscali.co.uk and tell me what you need and I will send it to you.....John

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Gerry UK

12-16-2007 02:21:24




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Craig(DE), 12-15-2007 07:21:23  
Thanks Jerry, that confirms what i was thinking, is it staightforward to replace the distributor i.e. just undo the bolts pull it out then then push the replacement back in?



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Jerry/MT

12-16-2007 16:22:29




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Gerry UK, 12-16-2007 02:21:24  
Yes it is straight forward to replace it but you then must retime the replacement and that also a straight forward process.



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Gerry UK

12-16-2007 02:16:23




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Jeff-oh, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  

Joe Ferguson said: (quoted from post at 10:12:16 12/15/07) ooops.....!!!

I did"nt figure your TEA was a TVO model

Symptoms are missfire (flames in exhaust)

Sometimes due to the plug wires on distributor

cap not at right place or more frequent if the tractor was stored for long time some valves may

be stuck open or partialy open....when the explosion occurs at TDC and the exhaust valve is stuck open the explosion will pas thru and finish in the exhaust system....a good compression test shd confirm...you may have done that but who knows.

HTH

Joe Ferguson


Thanks Joe, I'll try the compression test

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Jerry/MT

12-15-2007 10:24:14




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Gerry UK, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  
Gerry, it sounds to me like the bushing in your distributor is worn and needs replacement. The radial runout for the bushing and shaft is 0.002 inches and your estimate is 10 times that.
Rotate the engine til the points are closed and then rush radially(from the side) on the distributor shaft and watch the points for motion. There shouldbe none.

Another problem area on the Standard engine is timing chain wear and that can cause timing changes also.

You can probably have the bushing/shaft replaced on your unit cheaper than buying a reconditioned unit if you can find an auto electric shop that can do the work.

Hope this helps you.

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Gerry UK

12-15-2007 08:26:24




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Jeff-oh, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  

Joe Ferguson said: (quoted from post at 09:04:22 12/15/07) Hi Gerry

How old is the gas in the tank ?

Did you put premium gas ?

If you use the tractor rarely did you put gas

stabilizer in the tank ?

Answer to these questions may help

My 2¢

Joe Ferguson


Hi Joe,

The gas in the main tank is about 1 year old and is a recommended TVO mix.

In the small starter tank it is straight unleaded petrol.

There is no gas stabiliser in either tank.

Fergie runs the same on either tank.

Gerry

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Joe Ferguson

12-15-2007 09:12:16




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Gerry UK, 12-15-2007 08:26:24  
ooops.....!!!

I did"nt figure your TEA was a TVO model

Symptoms are missfire (flames in exhaust)
Sometimes due to the plug wires on distributor
cap not at right place or more frequent if the tractor was stored for long time some valves may
be stuck open or partialy open....when the explosion occurs at TDC and the exhaust valve is stuck open the explosion will pas thru and finish in the exhaust system....a good compression test shd confirm...you may have done that but who knows.

HTH

Joe Ferguson

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John (UK)

12-16-2007 04:22:51




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Joe Ferguson, 12-15-2007 09:12:16  
Joe, Quite a lot of TEA's were converted to run on TVO because of the cost of gas in the UK. it was necessary to lower the compression by fitting 2 spacer plates between the head and the Cylinder Block and using 3 head gaskets,different conversions used slightly different methods, all of them had to change the manifold so that it would burn the TVO....John



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Joe Ferguson

12-15-2007 08:04:22




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 Re: TEA 20 distributor timing problem? in reply to Gerry UK, 12-15-2007 07:21:23  
Hi Gerry

How old is the gas in the tank ?
Did you put premium gas ?
If you use the tractor rarely did you put gas
stabilizer in the tank ?

Answer to these questions may help

My 2¢

Joe Ferguson



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