TexasCowboy
Member
I have never had so many problems with a 4 cylinder Ford engine.
First Ford engine I rebuilt was a 1959 (English) Ford Escort. I was 16. Had basic hand tools, and did the job in one day. Rings, bearings, gaskets. Started right up and ran fine till I sold it when I went to college.
Second Ford was a 80 something Ford Pinto. It had sat for years with no hood, carb exposed. Cleaned it up, new bearings, rings, gaskets and a tuneup, and it started and ran till I sold it. I was about 30.
This little Ford has me puzzled.
It is getting gas to all four cylinders.
It has a good white spark to all four cylinders.
Cylinders #1 and #2 have 80psi, cylinders #3 and #4 have 95psi.
Will start sometimes with full choke, but mostly backfires through carburetor until it starts, if it starts.
Starts easily by pulling. When running if I pull plug wire #3 or #4 it will immediately try to die.
If I pull plug wire 1 or 2, it has no real effect. It will sit and run with both plug wires #1 and #2 pulled at the distributor. Spark at distributor jumps 1/2 inch at distributor on those two wires. After running if I pull the plugs, 1 and 2 will be wet, 3 and 4 will be dry and hotter than 1 and 2.
So I have fuel, spark, and compression. It should run.
There wasn't anything wrong with the old rings, but I replaced them since I already had the pistons out. I used a new head gasket with copper coat. I tested all valves to be sure they weren't leaking. I checked tappet clearance on all the valves.
When running the rpm's fluctuate a little up and down.
The tractor also makes a odd squealing sound when trying to start but not when running. Maybe the water pump is getting bad?
When I put a timing light on it, the marked jumped back and forth by about 1/4 inch. The only time I have seen this before was on my '86 pickup, and I was having a lot of the same problems. I replaced the distribuotr on the truck and now it runs fine. I think my problem on the tractor is related to the distributor.
Anybody have any suggestions on how to test the distributor before I yank it out and replace it?
First Ford engine I rebuilt was a 1959 (English) Ford Escort. I was 16. Had basic hand tools, and did the job in one day. Rings, bearings, gaskets. Started right up and ran fine till I sold it when I went to college.
Second Ford was a 80 something Ford Pinto. It had sat for years with no hood, carb exposed. Cleaned it up, new bearings, rings, gaskets and a tuneup, and it started and ran till I sold it. I was about 30.
This little Ford has me puzzled.
It is getting gas to all four cylinders.
It has a good white spark to all four cylinders.
Cylinders #1 and #2 have 80psi, cylinders #3 and #4 have 95psi.
Will start sometimes with full choke, but mostly backfires through carburetor until it starts, if it starts.
Starts easily by pulling. When running if I pull plug wire #3 or #4 it will immediately try to die.
If I pull plug wire 1 or 2, it has no real effect. It will sit and run with both plug wires #1 and #2 pulled at the distributor. Spark at distributor jumps 1/2 inch at distributor on those two wires. After running if I pull the plugs, 1 and 2 will be wet, 3 and 4 will be dry and hotter than 1 and 2.
So I have fuel, spark, and compression. It should run.
There wasn't anything wrong with the old rings, but I replaced them since I already had the pistons out. I used a new head gasket with copper coat. I tested all valves to be sure they weren't leaking. I checked tappet clearance on all the valves.
When running the rpm's fluctuate a little up and down.
The tractor also makes a odd squealing sound when trying to start but not when running. Maybe the water pump is getting bad?
When I put a timing light on it, the marked jumped back and forth by about 1/4 inch. The only time I have seen this before was on my '86 pickup, and I was having a lot of the same problems. I replaced the distribuotr on the truck and now it runs fine. I think my problem on the tractor is related to the distributor.
Anybody have any suggestions on how to test the distributor before I yank it out and replace it?