gas MF 50 issues, what am I missing

New Plugs, points, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, carb cleaned thoroughly. Fuel flows well to carb. Engine pops and cracks, won't rev, smokes. Spark is white, will only jump about 1/8 inch when shorted to block. Compression is 135 down the line. How critical is float setting? is that 1/4 from top of carb, or top of gasket? I am beginning to suspect an intake manifold problem. Thoughts, anyone?
 
Have you checked points for setting? Did it run OK before? Are plug wire correct?
Sounds like electrical. I bought a TO 35 from neighbor that was having similar problems
but no white smoke. Replaced points runs fine. He was told it was carburetor.
 
New points, condenser, point gap checked twice. Ran great after tune-up, even ran bush hog for about 10 minutes. A few days later when I needed it is when the trouble hit. Way it sounded I thought it was carb, so cleaned and kitted it, no help.
 
Forgot to say I just bought this tractor a couple weeks ago. It wasn't running smoothly then but it did run. I thought a tuneup would take care of it.
 
Lots of those old masseys have junk or rust in the fuel tanks. It floats and clogs, opens and closes the fuel line
Just a thought.
 

Already cleaned terminals I could reach. Changed coil to known good coil. Still like to know how critical float setting is and whether its measured from metal or gasket.
How do you get to instruments? Would like to check wiring there. Manuals ordered, not here yet.
 
The 1/4" is no super critical as long as you are close. It's measured off the body. Did you replace the condensor with the points? Most likely you have bad one out of the box. Not at all unusual these days. What color is the smoke?
 
(quoted from post at 07:36:24 07/16/17) Forgot to say I just bought this tractor a couple weeks ago. It wasn't running smoothly then but it did run. I thought a tuneup would take care of it.

Do yourself a favor and buy a real spark tester. They're cheap and a good thing to have when dealing with tractors.

SparkTester.jpg
 
I started to mention condenser...then thought you must have put in a new one with the points.
It is really hard to diagnose a problem, when a new part, just installed is faulty.
 
My MF-50 had similar issues and it turned out to be rusted Distributor spark advance plates. Take the distributor off and look down under the points. The little plates in there throw out as the distributor spins. Mine were rusted stuck. Soaked them overnight in PB Blaster then worked them free. Runs much better once that got done.
 

I had three bad new ones in a row , threatened to stick them where the sun doesn't shine at the supplier :evil:
Miraculously one made in Italy appeared from out the back , FE 35 hasn't missed a beat since .
 

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