Been arguing with my dad's 8N... (6v, front mount dist, I think late 40's - I know its a low serial number) He had me come get it to see if I could figure out why it was running so poorly. He had had it worked on (tune up and carb rebuild less than 10 hours or run time ago) but after he got it back, it lacked power under load, so he adjusted the carb according to the manual, and it was pretty good, but a bit harder starting. Ran fine until he shut it down, and the next time he started it it would barely start and was sputtering like mad.
I did some digging, and found points in bad shape (sort of expected that) and plug 1&2 fouled, so I thought I had it licked. Replaced points, condenser, cap, rotor, gaskets, set/checked the timing, new Autolite 437 plugs, and checked the firing order/plug wires.
No dice, still sputters, and plug 1 & 2 are fouled (soaked with gas).
Looked at plug wire ends, thinking maybe (though they looked new) that they were cut to fits, and whomever did the cut and fit - maybe did a poor crimp job. Well, I was right, poor crimp job, but also, carbon core plug wires, not copper core. But I dont know just how big a deal that is. I re-crimped the ends to make sure they are making good contact - but no change.
One other oddity, was before I tore into it, I noticed the battery wire on the generator was burned. I dont know when or how, but evidently, at some point it either shorted there at the generator or somewhere close, as it isnt burned up the harness. But I know so little about the generator stuff (got into mechanics when the internally regulated delco alternator was common place). But I thought I remember hearing about a generator causing issues with ignition stuff if something went haywire. And, when I pulled the belt to get the dist. off to replace points, I noticed the front bearing out on the generator as well. So lots of things all at once, but Im unsure if there are any correlations here.
Considering some of the other work that needs done we want to make sure we can get it running right before doing other work to it (like the generator - or had contemplated a 12v conversion - but not willing to put the money into that until its running right).
Anyway, planning a compression test here shortly, but looking for other things that might be more common and specific to the 8N or something Im overlooking. I wouldnt think a bad coil would give me a good spark on 3 & 4, but not 1 & 2... but sort of running out of simple ideas or things that dont cost a bunch of money for parts we might change anyway if we do the 12v conversion.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks a bunch
Wade
I did some digging, and found points in bad shape (sort of expected that) and plug 1&2 fouled, so I thought I had it licked. Replaced points, condenser, cap, rotor, gaskets, set/checked the timing, new Autolite 437 plugs, and checked the firing order/plug wires.
No dice, still sputters, and plug 1 & 2 are fouled (soaked with gas).
Looked at plug wire ends, thinking maybe (though they looked new) that they were cut to fits, and whomever did the cut and fit - maybe did a poor crimp job. Well, I was right, poor crimp job, but also, carbon core plug wires, not copper core. But I dont know just how big a deal that is. I re-crimped the ends to make sure they are making good contact - but no change.
One other oddity, was before I tore into it, I noticed the battery wire on the generator was burned. I dont know when or how, but evidently, at some point it either shorted there at the generator or somewhere close, as it isnt burned up the harness. But I know so little about the generator stuff (got into mechanics when the internally regulated delco alternator was common place). But I thought I remember hearing about a generator causing issues with ignition stuff if something went haywire. And, when I pulled the belt to get the dist. off to replace points, I noticed the front bearing out on the generator as well. So lots of things all at once, but Im unsure if there are any correlations here.
Considering some of the other work that needs done we want to make sure we can get it running right before doing other work to it (like the generator - or had contemplated a 12v conversion - but not willing to put the money into that until its running right).
Anyway, planning a compression test here shortly, but looking for other things that might be more common and specific to the 8N or something Im overlooking. I wouldnt think a bad coil would give me a good spark on 3 & 4, but not 1 & 2... but sort of running out of simple ideas or things that dont cost a bunch of money for parts we might change anyway if we do the 12v conversion.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks a bunch
Wade