Tractor help!

IHFarmallMan · Oct 23, 2014

I've got a 1943 Farmall H. Brand new engine rebuild, redone head, new valve train and new manifold. Tractor is still skipping. I notice plug wire on cyl 2 will shock me if I touch it. And upon removal it doesn't change skipping too much. Therefore I know the skipping is cyl 2. But it's a brand new wire and I see that spark plug fires beautifly. What's going on? -Shane

Donald Lehman · Oct 23, 2014

I'd double check the valve/rocker arm clearance again. Try a different spark plug wire. I'd try another spark plug, too. Distributor or magneto?

Could be a problem with a plastic crack and a jumping spark also.

Good luck.

Paul from MI · Oct 23, 2014

Lots of things to check. Valve clearance, distributor/magneto cap & rotor, spark plug. But the first thing I'd do is swap that plug wire to another cylinder and see if the miss follows it, or just replace it entirely. You shouldn't get a shock from touching the wire.

Mike M · Oct 23, 2014

Do your wires have actual wire in them and not carbon fiber ?

JRSutton · Oct 23, 2014

I'd take a closer look at your distributor. Bushings can go bad and it'll never run right if it's loose.

someone on the farmall forum can probably give a more detailed explanation of how to check it, been a while form me since I've been in one.

IHFarmallMan · Oct 23, 2014

The wire is an A&I product, most likely from china. Also, yes it is a distributor. It's an all new electrical tune up. New cap rotor button wires plugs points and condenser and coil. I've been over valve clearance twice. It's sitting dead nuts. I've watched the rockers move and they seem to do why they should. I've been In the distributor once to check the centrifugal weight system Bc I has some problems advancing. That was before the new red power overbore rebuild kit. Got rid of old flat heads and ran better but still can't shake that miss.

Steve@Advance · Oct 23, 2014

An easy test would be to move the plug wire to another cylinder, see if the problem follows the wire.

If not, try moving the plug to another cylinder.

The fact that the wire shocked indicates either there is a problem with the insulation or there is high resistance, from a bad conductor inside the wire, or high resistance inside the plug (especially if it's a resistor plug). You can make just about any plug wire shock though, if it's wet or humid, or if the wire is not fully connected on the plug end.

If neither test makes any difference, and you're satisfied the plug is getting sufficient spark, look for a vacuum leak, especially around that cylinder.

Glen SW Wi · Oct 23, 2014

Run the tractor in the DARK and see where the flashes are comming from. May lead you to the problem.

Gary Mitchell · Oct 23, 2014

I'd check the plug. I have bought bad ones.

gene bender · Oct 23, 2014

Take a timing lite and go from plug wire to plug wire that will tell you if the wire or the dist needsrebushed intermitten spark will then show up. Then start changing plugs to see if same cycl still misses. Then you will know where the problem is.

black · Oct 23, 2014

I've had spark plugs fire out of the cylinder and not under a load ( in the cylinder ) try a new plug .

Tractor help!

IHFarmallMan

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Donald Lehman

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Paul from MI

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Mike M

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JRSutton

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IHFarmallMan

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Steve@Advance

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Glen SW Wi

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Gary Mitchell

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gene bender

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black

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