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Need help ASAP! 400 won't start at state fair

S

SW EM

Member
My dang 400 has sat at the Iowa
fairgrounds since Tuesday, and today it
wouldn't start! It had been rained on
Wednesday and Thursday, so maybe that's
why it won't start. I had the exhaust
covered too. I believe it is getting fuel
because it drips from the carb after I try
to start it. As the motor is cranking a
fine white mist seems to come from the
muffler (unburnt fuel?).I've checked the
firing order, checked for moisture in the
distributor cap and plug wires, and I ran
a dollar bill through the points. My
battery is one crank away from dead....
Could it just be moisture somewhere in the
electrical system? Condenser? It has a 12
volt conversion kit. Would water on the
resistor be causing a problem? I have to
have it running by around 9 AM for FFA
judging. Thank you
 
Fuel is most likely dripping because you flooded it.
Did you check to see if you have spark at the plug wires/plugs?
Clean the plugs in lacquer thinner or dry them with a propane torch.
Do you have spark at the coil wire?
I'd bet it has moisture in it somewhere, since you checked the
firing order. Either that or it has a piece of tape on the rotor.
That seems to be another favorite of pranksters. :evil:
 
Shut the fuel off, drain the carb, check the settings see if they are near your favorite setting. Then check the ignition. Check the fuel tank.
 
If you have spark and it"s getting gas, pop in a new set of sparkplugs (or burn or bead blast the old ones clean, if you have the tools/are comfortable doing that).
 
If it was exposed to the public, I would try everything below. Thinking along the idea somebody might have sabotoged it.
 
Check for water in the gas. Firing order of plugs switched. Get a new battery or charge old one. I always put in new plugs when I have a moisture problem. Try to get somebody to pull you(no volttage drop) this way and engine is turning faster. If it does not start do not get so excited you end up in the local hospital or funeral hone. What is the worst thing that can happen?
 
Back to basics. Fuel and spark. Fuel you're getting, so make sure you have spark. Pull a spark plug wire, stick a screwdriver in the plug boot and see if you can draw a good arc to ground. If not, go backwards in the ignition system. Can you get an arc off the coil wire? Are you sure the distributor isn't wet? Are you sure the points are opening and closing and aren't burned?

If you have a spark off the plug wire, pull the plugs and check their condition. If you have a propane torch or gas stove, use it to burn the carbon off the plugs.

Keep in mind you may have multiple problems. It could be it was only running on a couple cylinders on the way in, and the other two quit while it was parked. You might have one or more stuck valves as a result of sitting in the weather.
 
Make sure no one pulled the rotor. Check your plug wires firing order on the cap to the correct spark plug. Hal

2-1
4-3 As the rotor rotates CW.
PS: Remove No1 plug near the radiator and bring that piston to TDC on the compression stroke. Then remove the distributor cap and see where your rotor is pointing. Should be at the No1 plug
tower. If this looks ok have someone pull start your tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 20:27:44 08/07/14)
Fuel should not be dripping from the carb.
Click to expand...

Any motor with up-draft carb that I have worked on will drip gas from the carb inlet, (or the nearest other opening) if it doesn't fire up in 3-4 revolutions. If it has been drawing gas up and doesn't start the gas in the carb throat and manifold is pulled back down by gravity. Check your air cleaner for water. I have had problems in the past with water getting into the oil if the rain is wind driven.
 
might also change the plugs out its flooded if you have gas dripping, probably, before you try to fire it up with new plugs check the ignition system from the wires to the plugs especially pull the coil wire and look for a paper wad, [ one of the oldest tricks in the book] make sure all the plug wires have both metal ends on them,pull the cap and check to see that the points open and close, and all the parts are in there, rotor, condenser ect, it sounds like some kid, or kid minded person has messed with the tractor
 
sounds like someone switched your cables around or messed with carb adjustments...people do that stuff..or put water in your gas.
 
Before doing anything check for spark.

If none - use something a little more aggressive on the points.
 
forgot to add you need to get that battery up [ if a charger is not available where the tractor is parked get a good set of jumper cables, not those cheap wally world ones, but ones that have a large diameter wire running inthem you can see it where the wire connects to the jumper cable end] a battery that is just barley cranking the engine will not have enough power to make the engine fire up
 
If you have gas dripping from the carb it might be flooded.Remove the carb hose and see if gas runs out.If the hose has standing gas it won't start.
 

Did some one pull your starter buttom and burn out a coil ? I have had that happen,that is why i went to keyed starter switches.
JR FRYE
HAVE A GREAT DAY
 
Very common that resistor gets wet and you have a no start situation. Happens all the time when washing a tractor for repair work. I just put a jumper wire around resistor and it usually will stay running when you disconnect jumper. Soon as it runs a little with current flowing through resistor next start will be fine.
 
If the carb is dripping gas the needle is not shutting off the flow.Bad float setteing or debris in carb. Engine is flooding.
Make sure you shut fuel flow of with valve on sediment bowl every time you shut the tractor down. Check plug when it won't start for
"wet" condition. Don't choke it when starting.
 
i can't give you any advice that hasn't been said, but would you post back and let us know what it was ? hope all ends well and thanks for posting. :)
 
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