1950 MT won't start/run -- help

My manuals were no help in figuring out what the problem is or what to do. I thought I'd ask for some help from ya'll before I decided to open up the carb. Of course, I'm not sure what I would do once I opened it -- at least not at this point.

The points were dirty a couple months ago -- the symptoms from that and those of today are quite different.

Thanks for your help!

You already have a decent punch list of things to do.

When was the carb last overhauled? If you do not know, then now is s good time to buy a TSX-245 carb overhaul kit...

After that, check and see if your points are dirty againm and make sure the gap is set correctly...either .020 or .022...see your manual.

If she starting acting while you were on an incline, then that seemed to vary the gas intake, then led to bad firing...as Russ said, either pull the s-plugs and clean them, or replace them if too pitted or burnt real bad.

If you overhaul the carb., clean/change the plugs and clean/reset the points and the problem still persists, then it could be somewhere between your ign. switch and coil...try these things and if the problem persists, post back.

Lastly, make sure you have good fresh gas and check your air-breather to make sure it is not clogged...change the oil if you have not within the last 20-30 hrs...

good luck,
tom

I would check and see if a plug wire wouks show a blue snappy spark when pulled off a plug and allowed to jump to ground.

If you got weak or no fire, check to see if you are getting battery voltage to the batt side of the coil. If not put a jumper wire from the starter lug to the batt side of the coil and stry to start it. If it runs then it is likely the ignition switch.

All of the above doesnt work check and make sure you getting a good unrestricted flow of gas to the carb.

Good Luck

I'll check the things you mention in the morning. I appreciate you're response. And, yes, there is a good, unrestricted flow of gas to the carb. I also forgot to mention earlier that there appears to be a slow drip of gas from the bottom of the carb, part of why I thought the float was stuck. Also, as mentioned below, it might be a clogged jet. In my mind, if it was something on the ignition side, it would be easier to take care of. It just acted differently this time than when the points were a little dirty.

Thanks.

It's been frustrating, but I suspect that you're probably right and I'll have to clean/rebuild the thing.