MF 65 - Runs rough/Low power

BArakus

New User
Dear YT community,

Been reading on here for a while. Finally pulled the trigger and purchased a MF 65 gasser. Needed a small tractor for chores I have been doing for the last 8 years with small tools.

Test drove thoroughly. All gears, High/low, multi-power, PTO on/off, etc. Went excellent.

3 days later I drove it home 11mi. About 3mi from home it backfired a few times while ascending a hill, then it really was running rough 2mi from home. It died once, but I got er to start again, and nursed it home using the choke instead of the throttle. Needed to be wide open to run alright.

Now she starts up and will idle on low throttle, I can also drive around but it takes some serious throttle attention to find the sweet spot. Very low power.

1962 MF 65. Continental 2.9L gas. SN #692744

When I test drove, the glass bowl on the fuel reservoir was clear. After the drive home there is about a pinch of pepper worth of crap in there.

Did I dislodge some crap on the drive home and clogged the carb?

Owner had not used the tractor in any real capacity for 1.5+ years since he purchased a new compact JD. He had changed the oil, maintained clean ethanol free fuel in the tank, and also replaced the coil wires.

Any suggestions of where to start? Thought I'd ask the pro's before I start working on it.

Thanks,

BA
 
How old was the fuel in it? If the strainer now has particles in it then it's quite possible it made its way down to the carb. The back firing and choking could be from something blocking the circuit in the carb causing it to be really lean. Check all the usual ignition suspects as well and make sure you don't have more than one thing going on.
 
Since the problem occured when you were climbing a hill, it could be one or more fouled spark plugs. That usually rears its head when on a heavy
pull though.

Most people can tell what a plug miss sounds like, but you can never tell what a persons abilities are on a forum.

Next I would check fuel flow. Remove bottom plug from carburetor bowl and see if it runs a pencil sized stream long enough to fill a quart jar.
 
Sometimes backfires occur because of low spark. Check voltage at distributor and make sure there is not a voltage drop from battery to distributor.
 
Thank you everyone for your help. Between work/family obligations got it running great.

Cleaned tank, fuel reservoir, carb. Checked voltage and changed plugs.

Runs great. Mowed and graded with it already.
 

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