Finally!

Mac AR · Nov 16, 2014

As y'all know, I bought and had delivered a '56 300 Farmall last Sunday. Got it, and really enjoyed working it... for about 1/2 an hour. Then it died, and all it would do was backfire like a cannon. So I did what I normally do, check electrical - all corroded (and replaced), no start, more backfire. Check carb - full of rust (cleaned and kitted), still no start, but no more pesky backfire. Finally realized today, "dummy, check your TIMING!" So I did. Would you believe it was 90' out? No small wonder it backfired like a 105mm! Anyway, just wanted to share my little victory with you guys, and one other tidbit: its been several years since I've been on a row-crop tractor. This things TALL! Feels like I'm 100 feet in the air. Certainly a step UP from a 2000 Ford!

Blessings,

Mac

JMOR · Nov 16, 2014

(quoted from post at 21:14:04 11/16/14) As y'all know, I bought and had delivered a '56 300 Farmall last Sunday. Got it, and really enjoyed working it... for about 1/2 an hour. Then it died, and all it would do was backfire like a cannon. So I did what I normally do, check electrical - all corroded (and replaced), no start, more backfire. Check carb - full of rust (cleaned and kitted), still no start, but no more pesky backfire. Finally realized today, "dummy, check your TIMING!" So I did. Would you believe it was 90' out? No small wonder it backfired like a 105mm! Anyway, just wanted to share my little victory with you guys, and one other tidbit: its been several years since I've been on a row-crop tractor. This things TALL! Feels like I'm 100 feet in the air. Certainly a step UP from a 2000 Ford!

Blessings,

Mac

id you figure out how it worked fine for half an hour, then suddenly jumped 90 degrees??

David G · Nov 16, 2014

Sounds like someone changed something they are not fessing up to.

Mac AR · Nov 16, 2014

Don't honestly know what or how it happened. I just know that I turned the distributor approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise and the damn thing fired off like a champ. I know that I shut it off and came in the house for a bit before it "died" on me, and I have a couple neighbors that'd love to see me fuss and cuss a tractor... maybe that's it. At any rate, I'm rather proud that it only cost me the tune up parts and my time. Nothing to fess up to, guys.

Mac

Ted in NE-OH · Nov 16, 2014

Sounds like the spark plug wires were put in 90 deg off.

Steve@Advance · Nov 16, 2014

If the timing moved 90*, unless the distributor was loose and turned, you haven't heard the last of this!

If it does it again, pull the distributor and look it over. The roll pin in the drive gear could be sheared or missing.

Wayne in MN · Nov 16, 2014

Had the same experience with a model C Farmall; the timing would be set and then suddenly change. Turns out the drive and driven gears for the distributor were rusted away so badly that they would jump out of time very easily.
Check the gears carefully.

jeffcat · Nov 16, 2014

This was covered like two months ago. Number one plug wire on the cap should be at about the two o'clock position looking from the rear of the tractor.

Mac AR · Nov 17, 2014

That's where it started out at, but that's not where its at now. Its at about 10 o'clock. I pulled a plug and confirmed TDC on compression stroke for #1 cylinder, and can testify that its got a lot more power than when it pulled off the trailer. Now maybe its like someone else said and the distributor was loose and I didn't notice, or the gears are worn. I can tell you all one thing though, I will continue to run it the way it is until it quits. Then I'll pull the distributor and see about the gears. If they are rotten, then it won't take long to have to go thru this again.

I'm gonna go play tractors now,

Mac

Finally!

Mac AR

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JMOR

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David G

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Mac AR

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Ted in NE-OH

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Steve@Advance

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Wayne in MN

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jeffcat

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Mac AR

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