Frantz

Member
I'm posting here because whatever simple thing I'm missing is a simple mechanical issue, nothing model specific.

1963 Farmall 460 gas
I bought this tractor last year for a song as it was just sitting in a shed waiting for the scarp yard. The farmer who had used it passed away and his son in law has newer equipment and didn't want to mess with this one anymore. He told me the rings were shot but otherwise it worked. I tossing in some Mystery Oil and turned it with a wrench and no issue. Didn't work on it much over the winter but now it's got a fresh battery and cranks good. I replaced the coil, resister, wires, plugs, cap and rebuilt the distributor. I've tested each cylinder for spark, no issue. Fuel runs to the carb but I've been trying to get it started on ether. I didn't do a compression test, but I pulled the valve cover and it looks pretty clean with no sludge issues and everything I could see on top looked good.

I think I have a timing issue. Distributor rotates counter clockwise and its a I6, so 153624 which is also stamped on the cap (which only fits on one way). I'm confident I have this much set up right unless the cap is stamped wrong for which point is #1 (its the rear one near the clip). I think it's timing because when it's cranking if I spray in ether it pauses and sometimes I can see a little puff coming out of the valve stems, so I think it's firing early on the compression stroke. Does that sound right? What would you do next? Or does it sound like I might have missed something else.
 
I think you need to stay away from the Ether. Post this on the Farmall board for better answers.
 
I would find TDC-compression stroke for number 1 and install wires in cap accordingly, regardless of stamped in cap numbers.
 
JMOR has it right. Remove spark plug from #1 cylinder (the one at the front of the engine). Hold your finger over the spark plug hole and rotate engine until air is pushing past your finger- that means you are on the compression stroke for that cylinder. When that piston gets to top dead center, the rotor in the distributor will be pointing to where the plug wire to #1 cylinder should be in the cap.

Couple of tips- take all the spark plugs out, so the engine will turn over easier for your assistant, who will be using a wrench on the front crank bolt to turn it over. Also, might want to do it with the valve cover off, so you can see when both valves on #1 are closed, which will be at TDC.
 

Thanks. This confirmed that the dist is at least generally lined up right. I cranked it w the fan blade. Used a screwdriver to feel for TDC on compression stroke.

Now what?
 
I'd quit using ether. Use carburetor cleaner. Its a little less damaging to cylinder walls and rings. imo gobble
 
If it has low compression try squirting some oil in the cylinders put the plugs back in and see if that brings it up
enough to start. it will smoke a little after it starts of coarse but goes away but it will bring the compression up
 
(quoted from post at 15:18:48 04/23/17) My guess is that the dist. gears are stripped & it is out of time.

I havent messed w distributors too much (more than most 33 year olds but i didnt grow up with them) but it feels tight and doesnt visually skip while rotating.
 
Since 4 stroke engine fire every other revolution of the crank shaft, it"s easily possible to 180? out of time. make sure that #1 cylinder is on the compression stroke by removing the #1 plug and placing your thumb on the spark plug hole while you rotate the engine. When you feel strong pressure on your thumb, your on the compression stroke. Rotate engine to timing mark and then take the #1 plug wire and hold it near a good ground , turn on the ignition and rotate the lessened distributor back an forth until the spark snaps. At that point you are statically timed. Tighten down the distributor and fire up the engine and check with a timing light. Also accelerate the engine to check that the spark advance is working.
 

The earlier test should have shown that but just to be sure i tried it and spark is at tdc.should i try retarding it a little?
 
(quoted from post at 13:11:20 04/23/17)
The earlier test should have shown that but just to be sure i tried it and spark is at tdc.should i try retarding it a little?

Spark should be at least 5 degrees advance at idle.
 

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