Vaporlocking fuel system

I have a 1949 farmall "H" that I show at several local shows, Central Ill. Fair and "Wheels of Time Museum" last week it ran good dispite the near 100 temps but sarurday getting ready for the parade I couldn't get it to start enen pulling with My ford 2N it would just fire but wouldn't keep running. Got it home Sunday morning it started good as usual I belive it was vapor locked , what is a good fix for that? I wouldn't think a elec. fuel pump being the gas tank is above the carb and engine with no fuel pump needed. I use to have trouble years ago with 35 and 36 fords cars (Flat heads) vapor locking then at times split a grapefruit and put on the gas line in front of the carb. or a couple oranges. Then in the 40s seemed like the fords quit having that trouble. On the older one's We put a sterate-warner elec. pump and switch , cured. Give Me some idea's Thanks in advance Pat. P.
 
Since it is a gravity flow system vapor lock would be extremely rare. Had you been running at hard for hours and then shut it off briefly I could possibly understand fuel issues. Since you talked of a parade I'm am doubting that it was doing serious field work. I had a car that would randomly leave me and I couldn't figure it out. It turned out to be a bad fuse going to the coil - it was cracked and randomly made contact.

Moral of the story? I'm betting you have something loose electrical-wise that is intermittent. I'd also wonder about your ignition switch. I hear those sometimes fail with puzzling side effects.
 
I would pretty much rule out vapor lock on an engine that had not been started.

Vapor lock is caused by fuel boiling inside the fuel line, pushing the liquid fuel back toward the tank creating an interruption in the fuel flowing to the carb. Having not been started, no way the fuel could have been boiling.

Being the problem happened on a morning start up, I would think more along the line of moisture condensing in or on the ignition system. Did you wash the tractor before the show? Was there heavy dew?
 
I also doubt vapor lock.

If 12V system, then could be bad ballast resistor, otherwise maybe plugged carburetor.
 
Thank's for all the reply's but i'm still thinking "vapor-lock" I have electronic ignition on it with 6 volt and I don't think its electrical system is at fault. It had been setting in the hot sun for 6 hours before I tried to start fot the parade, some others also had problems starting ,don't know what they found. It's running fine now at home , guess I'll find out about the others at the next meeting. You Guy's have been a big help in the past a few years ago and I thank You all again. Also the tank is clean with 2 filters a sediment bulb and a inline filter rebuilt carb. not long ago. Next time it does that i'll try pouring some ice water on the carb. Pat. P.
 
I had an 8 n that you couldn't get the fuel flowing unless I cracked the line at the carb. Never did find out why. Also have an Oliver 77 diesel that I couldn't get fuel to the pump until I cracked the line at the fuel pump. Might try it if it happens again. Then again I have had them mysteriously plug in the tank from rust bouncing around. Had a fergy that had a bunch of paper floating around in it. That was strange. Good luck.
 
back in the '50's we used to put wooden clothes pins of the spring-clamp type on the metal fuel lines. Not sure why it worked but it did. Wasn't uncommon to look under somebody's hood & see several clothespins on the metal fuel line.
 

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