TD-18A crank, no start

Today i went to check out a old TD-18A crawler with a cable lift blade that's for sale about an hour away from me. The old man selling it said he had used it last year but i couldnt get it to fire on the gas side. but i was also just guessing on the starting process too and the old man wasn't much help as he couldn't remember much about the machine. And Im also pretty sure its been a little longer than just a year since he ran it last as well.

I could use some advise on the starting process from someone that is familiar with Internationals.

I would even take some honest opinions if its even worth buying. It does seem to be in decent condition. A little over 5k on the hour meter and tracks looks like their barely used and no sign of wear on the drive teeth or weld repair/build up anywhere. And i live in a dry climate so not to rusty either.

I would appreciate any info, opinions or suggestions, Thanks
 
those gas start diesels all start pretty much the same way. take quite a bit of choke and once started I leave the choke open about half way or till you get the smoothest running with most rpm. just need to make sure the decompression lever is on the gas side for starting. quite easy to figure out. it will take more resistance to push it on decompression. also easy to tell cranking. on diesel it will crank over hard and slow. going to diesel it will be more of a snap as it changes over. run it for a couple minutes on gas and flip it to diesel and she should fire right off on diesel if things are in good shape. I presume it has an F6 magneto on it. I first flip the decompression to diesel and then give it throttle one after the other. they are a good machine just a bit bigger than the average guy wants. i have the second TD18 built in 1949, # 16709.
 
Thanks for replying.

Im not sure about the f6 magneto. This one was made in the middle of 53' according to the serial numbers. Are there any known issues With the magnetos in these machines. I dont think it was getting any spark to the plugs. And do i need to pull the knob out thats below the starter foot switch for it to start.

Here is what i was trying to do to start;
1- turned on fuel at sediment bowl
2- pulled yellow knob below foot starter
3- pulled choke
4- pulled down lever to cut diesel and switch
to gas
5- stepped on starter to turn over


Was that the correct procedure or is there more to it.
 
So I got it running but now there is other issues if anybody can help as I don't know much about these machines.

What would cause one of the tracks not being able to lock up as I can only get the left one to lock when I pull the handle back would that be the steering clutches on the right side not working

And the other one is when cooling down the machine when I switch back to gas it won't keep running is there a procedure that I don't know about to get it to run back on gas to cool down
 
well... you shut it down on diesel, its a diesel engine. no switching it back to gas. gas also burns hotter than diesel so why would you even want to switch it back. gas is only for starting. I been around these old gas start tractors all my life. if someone is telling you to switch to gas that is not correct. you don't want those little gas valves to warp from the heat and that means keeping it on the diesel side shutdown absolutely no reason to.
the steering clutch is seized or stuck.
 

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