1850 Gas Timing Question

Kerwin · Apr 2, 2016

I just performed the "farmer fix" described in a recent post for screwing down a worn plastic points plate in the Holley distributor. I get a good, consistent spark now, but the tractor just doesn"t want to fire consistently. Do I need to do any timing adjustment to counter act what I"ve done by screwing down the plate?

Thought I"d ask the question before diving into other systems that maybe causing my issue.

farmerwithmutt · Apr 2, 2016

Put in a new condenser it straightened mine out at least that problem. Checked the condenser by putting it on a gas engine zapping it with the sparkplug then after charge brought the condenser wire over and touched the outer part of condenser should have snapped had nothing by the way not my idea I'm to chicken to get that close to sparks. Anyway new condenser and everything works better

Kerwin · Apr 2, 2016

I did have to adjust the timing a little to compensate. Another instance where close doesn't count! Rotated distributor to get #1 cylinder firing timed with TDC mark on flywheel and it runs great.

gary66 · Apr 5, 2016

I grew up with points, always replace the condenser with points. Timing isn't a big deal to do, just do it, but there maybe other things needed. Good news is, it's all old school and very easy to do.

Thing about these tractors is the carb is a pain. I had 2 problems mostly, fuel and spark. The carb was out a wack and needed rebuilt, still is the weak link even though it's doing all it can. The spark took me a while to figure, kept blowing the coil wire off the cap, never saw that before. Would run fine then puke, don't remember how I saw it. It would do it after that till I finally got it to stay put.

I like old school cause a guy can fix them with limited knowledhe. I like the new stuff because they go forever without needing anything much. Change the distributor on a 97 GMC truck, has to be timed on a computer, a $4000 computer, sucks. Cost me $180.

1850 Gas Timing Question

Kerwin

Member

farmerwithmutt

Well-known Member

Kerwin

Member

gary66

Member

Similar threads