ford 4000 gas putt and sputtering update

bob kuczynski · Mar 29, 2022

last oct we talked about all possible gas or timing issues and we determined all the things normally checked checked good.
went to the ford dealer and an old timer like me squinted his eyes and said it may be the coil or maybe the timing shaft bearing. (the thing that spins the rotor?) can someone explain what he meant?

bob kuczynski · Mar 31, 2022

i just checked the coil both hot and cold. no issues. distributor timing shaft is tight.

This post was edited by bob kuczynski on 04/01/2022 at 10:38 am.

bob kuczynski · Apr 1, 2022

took it around the barn. exactly 5 mins, itll start put and sputtering....papapapa pop pop pow. shut it off.....runs like a charm, 5 mins later same thing. man it sounds like gas and float bowls but i changed carbs twice, new lines, cleaned out tank and filters are new. i give up. gas has stabil in it, and i stir the gas before each use with a paint stick to break up any water that may have formed over time.

This post was edited by bob kuczynski on 04/01/2022 at 10:36 am.

Sean in PA · Apr 1, 2022

Is it a 3 cylinder 4000 or a 4 cylinder 4000?

bob kuczynski · Apr 1, 2022

detroit 4.

bob kuczynski · Apr 1, 2022

had a fellow call me and say the shear pin on the timing worm gear at the bottom of the distributor unit may be busted. im gonna look. can i take it off w/o having to retime everything?

pomester · Apr 1, 2022

"... can i take it off w/o having to retime everything?"

yes - scratch a mark on the distributor body and the block for an index. Pull the distributor and replace it to the same mark. Be sure your rotor is pointed the same direction when you replace it.

I have to say that I don't see anyway that trouble with the pin holding the gear to the distributor shaft could cause the symptoms you describe.

Check that your manifold nuts are tight and there are no leaks (vacuum) associated with the intake system.

Wiggle the distributor shaft and see what kind of condition the bushing is in. I'd replace the points and condenser with new and borrow a coil from somewhere and see if that makes any difference before pulling the distributor.

bob kuczynski · Apr 2, 2022

the guy told me it can rattle around under load and causes the shaft to be
off center if the pin was bad. i tend to agree with you though. distributor
is tight and i ohm tested the coil. all within correct readings.
like i say, ive been dealing with this issue for 10 years. changed carbs
twice, cleaned tank, new coil, new fuel lines. new tank filter petcock
twice, 2 in lines new, bowl cleaned so many times. new wires, rotor cap you
name it. even changed gas pumps and got good gas. still does it. it acts
like fuel starvation. it does this pop bang papapapa for 15-20 mins then
all of a sudden itll go pop....and run for 3 hours. i even thru the wrench
at it.

bob kuczynski · Apr 2, 2022

when this first started, an old timer said tap the carb with a hammer lightly on the float bowl area. he said sometimes the float gets gummed up from sitting. no help. i changed the whole carb! still, taatatpapaapapow.

bob kuczynski · Apr 2, 2022

what would plugs that are the wrong size do? could my plugs be preigniting and firing hot? problem is, i have exactly what the engine calls for now.
can i put colder plugs in?

Eman85 · Apr 3, 2022

You say it acts like fuel starvation...Did you check to see if it's starving for fuel? If it has the correct spark plugs then it's not the spark plugs. You said you checked the coil both hot and cold, what did you check it for and how?
Does it restart right away after it dies? Or do you have to wait and then it restarts?

bob kuczynski · Apr 5, 2022

i checked primary and secondary cold and hot.
let it sit 15 - 30 seconds, starts right up. then 3 mins later it popps .
im thinking the coil must be shorting out when it heats up....or the
condenser.

ford 4000 gas putt and sputtering update

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