We have LIFE! The A is converted and RUNNING!

Ken Christopherson

Well-known Member
Well, after working on homework for about 5-6 hours today, I decided to take a lunch break for some pizza. Last night I managed to get the new spark plug wires on (instead of using the borrowed wires off of my Case SC), and had to hit the sack. Well, anyways.. I finished my pizza and thought heck.. With the new plug wires, I'll give it a turn to see what happens. At this point I was still expecting to have to have my friend come over Saturday morning to pull start me. I gave myself an hour (yes, even with the current blisters).

Well, as the video can attest. I had her running in MUCH less than an hour. Even took a quick trip around the tiny block. That's all I could since I drained most of the fluid from the rear. Need to get some diesel fuel to flush it out before I refill it.

I hope you guys enjoy the video, and I can't thank everyone enough for all of the help in this project. It's not over yet though. Still have to get the quirks out of it - for one the leaky head gasket, and I'm sure the carb needs to be adjusted a little.. Although there wasn't any white smoke which means it's not leaking into the cylinders (which is good), and there wasn't a lack in power, from what I could tell. I'm sure the neighbors think I am crazy. Quite frankly, I really don't care. Stay tuned!
Unstyled Slant Dash First Start
 

It's always a rush when the old girl fires and the flywheel spins out of your hands. Especially a tractor you've been working on for weeks or months.
 
Takes a surprising amount of energy out of you spinning those stupid flywheels over and over again - but I honestly think it makes that first fire all that much enjoyable - right when you get to that mental point of thinking it aint going to work... ...I think I'm wasting my time here.... what'd I do wrong... then suddenly when you least expect it you get that pop.

Really glad you captured that on video, that's great.
 
I have two "early styled" A's. One since about 1970. One of mine is a hand start (bare bones) war tractor with steel tag, originally a steel radiator & cast frame. The other is a late slant dash. From what I see & the way yours acts, I'd say yer over choking! If yours has the original DLTX 53 carb I'd about bet a $20 it would have started one or two turns AFTER that first putt had you right then opened the choke most if not all the way before you rolled it again!

I keep mine set lean and I'd have right then set the choke back open to not more than 1/3rd choked! Both of mine are still all fuel and both require about 1/4th choke for the first few minutes after first started (heating the manifold) to smooth out. 99% of the time though they've had MORE THAN ENOUGH full choke after that first putt! I also have & use shutters & have not fouled a plug in years!

Hope that helps! Nice lookin Case there too!
 
Excellent!! This is Chaptrac you posted pics of my A"s dash panel. That panel is nothing more than a Styled A dash with the sides removed makes a quick panel and is a JD part..
 
Is that so? Well, that definitely gives light to the one I was going to make! I was thinking just take a piece of sheet metal and use a hole saw to cut three holes down the middle, then wrap it in probably a 1.5" strip of sheet metal to give it a finished edge. But using a dash panel would save me some work for sure!
 
That definitely helps. I know I kept the choke on for probably far too long, but I am still getting the hand of this old gal. The Case is different story. 1/4 choke, 1/4 throttle, and it fires right up. Ha ha.

I do have the original 53 carb on it. When I fire it up Saturday (going to pressure wash it), I'll be sure to close the choke after the first pop, and see what happens from there. Thanks for the advice!
 
Ken, when I first got our sons hand start h I did some research on starting them.. Lee sacet (sp) has a video out there of a hand start b, he puts it in neutral and engages the clutch and says it makes for an easier start. I do this with our H and it starts very good.. Just a mother helpful tip...
 
Jim,

I, too have been watching videos trying to learn the "correct" procedure for starting these old gals. Seems as though every one is different. I think the easiest way is to learn it. Listen to the machine. Try things you see, and that people recommend, and if something you see works for you, use it.

As far as engaging the clutch, I just figured it would be more difficult to turn with the clutch engaged, so I disengaged it. I NEVER crank a tractor with it in gear though, even with the clutch disengaged. I just don't like the situation that could happen.
 
Congratulations!
I just got my 40 started this weekend. The best I can tell, it had sat up at least 7 years. I've had it for 9 months & just found the time to mess with it. It was only firing on 1 cylinder. Got that figured out and poured some gas down the plug holes and it started like it had never sat up.
I like the way yours looks as it is, looks like its ready to work.
 
Well after putting it in high gear (6th) real quick to see if it had any getup, boy I had better hang on. Seems like the load screw is adjusted pretty darn close to me. The idle speed and idle mixture screws might need some work though.
 
Many years ago, my grandfather told me to roll the flywheel, not throw it. I was 12 yrs old at the time trying to start an early B. After learning that, it made it much easier to start. I know yours is probably still tight, but try rolling without bending forward. Just stand up straight. It makes for a lot less fatigue.
 
I'm still getting the hang of it, that's for sure. I think that Big Bore G is right. Standing vertically while rolling from the top forward is much easier. Once it pops it should be ready to go the next throw or two - at least from what I ahve been experiencing.
 

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