1949 Cub ....Wont Start

Need some help.

I am not a mechanic. I know just enough to fix small things and often times end up making things worse when i troubleshoot things over my novice knowledge.

First question - Does anyone know anyone in Middle GA who can work on these type tractors?

I have a 1949 Farmal Cub that was restored in 2012.
Its nice to look at and has ran great since i got it from the restore shop until last fall.

This tractor belonged to my late father. The man who restored the tractor also passed away last year, so I no longer have anyone to give me any help.

Here is the issue:

Last fall the tractor started skipping and sputtering. The idle speed go up and down on its on....as if it was getting too much fuel.

Often times, after the tractor had warmed up, it would run well.
There were other times the tractor would stall out once in gear and the clutch was released.

I assumed i had bad gas or trash in the fuel system.

I drained and flushed the tank. I also cleaned the fuel bowl and replaced the fuel lines. I installed a new screen in the bowl and replaced the cork seal. I went one step further and installed a plastic filter screen in the bowl in addition to the screen.

I also cleaned the screen on the port where the fuel line screens into the carb.

I did not install a liner in the tank.

This did not help much.

A buddy took the carb apart and we discovered the idler tube was broken. We assumed this was the issue. We ordered a kit and rebuilt the carb.

the new carb actually made things worse. If the tractor runs at all now will only run for 10 to 20 seconds and it sounds very sick....lots of skipping and sputtering.

The carb is easily flooded and gas often times flows through the carb.....so we installed the original float back in the carb. It did not help.

I checked the spark plugs and they were gummed up pretty bad.
I replaced them and we are status quo.....getting the tractor to run more than 10 seconds is even harder.

I think we have a points or timing issue.

Suggestions?

Check the spark to the spark plugs when cranking. It should be a nice crisp blue spark and jump an air gap of 3/16
to 1/4 inch. If not you have an ignition problem. Many times an issue of poor spark acts like a fuel problem and
the carburetor gets the blame.
Gene Davis Tennille, Ga.

Trouble shoot
#1 check that you have a good blue/white spark at the center wire of the distributor cap and at all 4 plug wires that jump a 1/4 inch gap or more.
#2 pull the carb drain plug and make sure you have a good steady flow of gas that will fill a pint jar in under 3 minutes.
#3 when was the last time the air cleaner was serviced and then water and mud dumped ad fresh oil put in.

Post back what you find for more help

#1 Will check this weekend when Gus can help.
#2 Will advise....my assumption is im good on the gas flow.
#3 not sure on air cleaner....id say it has been several years.
Oil was changed in Jan.
Can u clarify "water and mud dumped"?

Thanks Gene.
I live in Kathleen near Warner Robins.
Will advise

Air cleaner is an oil bath they and condensation fills the oil cup with water and then the dirt in what was oil now is mud.

Gas flow was fine.

The air cleaner was dirty and the air line to the block was completely stopped up.

It took me about 45 minutes to get it unclogged.

Put everything baclk together and status quo. It will almost crank, but stalls if i move the throttle.

I am going to check electrical tommorrow.

Cub has a 12 volt battery and cranking system.

However, the alternator bracket is home made. The alt belt comes loose over time and I have to take most of.the sheet metal off to tighten belt...the alternator will not charge the battery.

Since I don't drive it a lot its easier to just charge the battery rather than mess with taking the hood off.

I have been jump starting the tractor batter with my marine battery. The starter and electrical parts get hot when we try to crank the Cub over an extended period of time. GUS feels jump starting is not good....so i am charging the tractor battery over night and we will check electrical using the tractor battery.