Are 3000 fords cold natured

Started my 3000(gas) a few days ago when temp was in the fifties. Choked and about 1/2 throttle cranked right up. Tried starting today at 35 degrees same procedure and tractor wouldnt start and flooded. Whats up with that.
 
Cold temp reduces the volatility of the air fuel mixture. That makes a good spark even more important. Check your spark. You want a bright, bluish white spark that will jump at least 1/4in.
Short or yellowish spark will not do.
How long since you did a tune up on it or at least clean and regap the points, check wires, inspect/regap spark plugs, etc?
 
I put electronic ignition on one of my 3000s. Very simple to do and no problems with it at all. I think it's been four or five years now.
 
Verify that the choke cable is adjusted such that the choke valve fully closes.

Verify that winter formula fuel is in the tank.

Verify that ignition is spot on.

Dean
 
(quoted from post at 12:11:08 03/12/22) Im not an ace at adjusting points anybody do electronic ignitions with good results?

My 3000 was always hard starting. New NGK plugs, plug wires, new EI, carb professionally rebuilt, still would not start unless throttle was all the way down (off), then play w/the throttle & choke until the revs came up. A bother, but it always starts!
 

My 3 does not like any throttle
It does not like the choke either

I leave it at close throttle pull the choke.
After it spins a few times release the choke
once it hits I milk the choke no more than haft choke.

I have a foot throttle that helps to gradually wing it off the choke.
This happens in less than 30 seconds. It lights right off the first time the warmer out it is with little to no choke.

I have not converted it to EI YET its the last one on the lot to still have standard ignition. If I used it as my primary tractor it would get EI. I doubt its will change my starting pattern are the way it runs. If I had to use it daily it would have a block heater : )
 
My diesels, 2000 4 cyl, 3000 and 3910 usually start without any starting aid on the coldest days they might roll over for 15 seconds max.
 
Classic symptoms for choke valve not fully closing.

Check choke cable adjustment.

Dean
 
Mine were burned far beyond clean and adjust and I found it was easier to pull the distributor out. But it's a little tricky getting back in and timed. I wouldn't recommend it if you're not experienced but it's something you could check.
 
Being that the gas/air combo mixture is... heavier that air, an updraft carb will ALWAYS be harder to start, and even harder to start when colder. The gas does not easily vaporize at lower temps, so it fall out to the bottom and appears to flood. A FULLY closing choke is needed to create the extra vacuum to pull this mixture up and into the engine. And when it begins to fire, you may have to push the choke inwards quickly, just a bit to keep the mixture from going too rich. Then you have to milk the choke a bit as it warms up for the first 3 to 4 minutes, by easing it in, little by little. UPdraft carbs are always troublesome in cold weather. BUT,, if the float sticks, they dont fill the engine and crank case full of gas and eat up the bearings. SO.. engine longevity was picked, over ease of starting. Later on as carbs had better needle seats and larger floats, the flooding problem fix and down draft carbs took over... BUT.. make sure your choke closes fully, you have good spark, and even a shot of ether in the air filter may help you get things firing up quicker. Good battery and starter will get you there was well.
 
Every single Ford engine with a carburetor that I've been around has been cold blooded and hard to start when cold.
 
(quoted from post at 15:04:29 03/12/22) UPdraft carbs are always troublesome in cold weather. BUT,, if the float sticks, they dont fill the engine and crank case full of gas .......
Can and does happen, though not common. A tight air hose to carburetor connection can cause overflowing fuel to rise up through the manifold, find an open intake valve, fill that cylinder causing hydrolock and possibly severe damage. Eventually leaks down into the crankcase.
 
That is the problem I had with my 1974 IH 464 that I bought in 1979 with just a few hundred hours. Main reason I got rid of it and gas tractors.
 
Zenith carb 3 cylinder 3000, fires in one crank with choke down to zero, and within a few cranks down to about -20. The battery has more trouble below that.

Not cold blooded.
 
The number of updraft carbs on hand crank tractors since the invention of the updraft carb does not support this this theory.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top