International 2400A(454) gas 157 ci
This engine starts and runs on #1 & #4 cylinders. 2 & 3 don't fire.

Switched plugs and wires form firing cylinders to non-firing and still no fire. All cylinders have very good compression.(checked with gauge) There is spark on the plugs when extracted from engine and grounded. Carburetor rebuilt(Marvel Schebler). Choke needs to partially applied when running on 1 & 4 cylinders. Center cylinder plugs (2 & 3) are very dry, as if, starving for fuel. Any ideas and/or help would be appreciated. gregjo1948
 
Is the spark the same as on the firing cylinders? Has the manifold been of and left a rag inside. Has it been run lately like this summer and fall? All sounds like possibilities also could be a leaking intake manifold to the head on the gasket.
 

Hasn't been run in a while. Was acquired with a small trailer park by my customer. Sprayed the intake manifold with WD40 with engine running (on 1 & 4) with no change. There is a double nut on one of the manifold studs which leads me to believe that the inner nut may have stripped so someone added the second nut. This makes me think the manifold may have been off before. I'm going to remove 2 & 3 plugs, squirt in some gas, replace plugs and fire it up to hopefully get it to fire on all four cylinders. That should, at least, let me know it's lacking fuel.
 
have you checked to make sure the firing order is in the correct rotation. if it is counter clockwise then you will only have 1 and 4 firing.
 
(quoted from post at 17:27:03 10/09/18) have you checked to make sure the firing order is in the correct rotation. if it is counter clockwise then you will only have 1 and 4 firing.

I didn't see the rotation myself but had an assistant watch it rotate clockwise and the wires were placed for 1342 using that rotation.
 
If it has a combination intake/exhaust manifold there may be a rust hole between the two sections where the heat crossover is.That will cause exhaust to be taken in instead of air and fuel to those cylinders.Took me a good while to find that one time. Just something to check.
 
Why not do a simple test by switching the nonfiring plug wires with each other you have nothing to loose but may well gain a good running engine
 
(quoted from post at 00:01:02 10/10/18) Why not do a simple test by switching the nonfiring plug wires with each other you have nothing to loose but may well gain a good running engine


Been there--done that!! I switched wires with no difference and switched plugs with no difference. Good thought though.
 
Did it fire on the center cylinders when you squirted fuel in the spark plug holes? it should have run on them for a few seconds. Jim
 
(quoted from post at 00:20:52 10/10/18) Did it fire on the center cylinders when you squirted fuel in the spark plug holes? it should have run on them for a few seconds. Jim

Haven't tried it yet.
 
It could also have bent push rods on the intake side not letting the valves open so then it get no gas into the cylinders
 
(quoted from post at 01:18:08 10/10/18) It could also have bent push rods on the intake side not letting the valves open so then it get no gas into the cylinders



If that were the case, I don't think it would have good compression and as I stated earlier, it does.
 
If the valve did open but not as far as they should it could maybe cause what your seeing to happen.
 
It sounds like switched wires, or a bad vacuum leak to me. If it was in the valve train, you would expect the compression to be off.
 
be nice to see the actual compression readings. people always leave out the important stuff.
 
(quoted from post at 07:14:27 10/10/18) be nice to see the actual compression readings. people always leave out the important stuff.

I said the compression was good. Didn't realize that I had to prove it. It ran 120 to 130.
As far as the bent push rod theory, it can't get compression if it can't get air!!!!
I came on this forum to get some help not to be called liar or an idiot.
 
Bent push rods can let in air but restrict gas so compression can be ok but yet not fire due to them not opening enough to let in enough fuel.
 
we are trying to help you out!we do not know anything about you. ... so we must go by actual readings not by what someone says. many people have no idea what is good or bad readings. a reading can is very helpful, much more than a "good" , could be a burnt head gasket between cyl's, could be stuck valve closed... then the pushrod bent. be very easy to walk up to the tractor and inspect it, but thats not the case here. on a compression check the #'s get recorded with each cyl . and keep track that way. not just 120-130 , but in this case that good. same as reading spark plugs... keep them in order and they tell a story also. were they carboned up on those 2 non firing cyl's? like how do we know. or are they normal looking. lots of info we never get. this is important .plus you said the tractor has not run for some time. did you ever see it run? plus you said you did not see the firing order rotation but had an assistant check it. well.. more proof thats not first hand. never did i call you a liar or idiot or did i hear anybody else say that.
when we ph. in for help with a problem on a unit we must document everything that we have done and checked. when we get asked a question we must have an answer for the big cheese so he can help us out. never could figure out why people give little information and want big results. you were told to spray gas into the two non firing cyl's... well didnt hear what happened there! was it done or not done... that was more good advise. maybe there is a mouse next in the intake ... like how do we know.
 


Congrats to rustred!!!!
Seems my assistant doesn't know the difference between clockwise and counter clockwise. Watched rotation myself
and found it was backwards. Fired right up and ran nicely on all four cylinders. Sometimes I over think a simple problem. Thank you and sorry about my rant.
 
he says spark at the plugs when out and grounded. no mension of the cap inspection for cracks??? runs on 1 and 4. so means firing order, burn't head gasket ,valves, intake restriction. said has good compression so that would eliminate the valves and head gasket. leaving pretty much carburator , restricted intake. did not mention about air cleaner. plus tractor has not run for some time.
 
you are very welcome! i just had that suspicion as once you said 1 and 4 firing first thing that made sense. ooh and rotations are always as standing behind engine or flywheel. thanks for the feed back.
 

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