WD-45 No Spark (Update -- 7/2/2020)

Will Herring · Jul 2, 2020

So an update on this WD-45 that has been sitting for 10 years in a dirt floor barn at my cousin's place without running... I spent today working on this tractor one more time, and after a 4 hour marathon session in the heat, I finally had success! Even though it was hot and humid and miserable all day, it was worth it. I took a bit of video of the event and of the engine running:

https://youtu.be/Tp9rj5jzZEA

If you listen to the video, it does seem like there is some engine flutter... Not sure if I have a miss on one cylinder, or if the exhaust manifold has a leak or one of the valves is sticking or what, but it makes a pretty nasty thumping sound from time to time while running with the throttle cracked open a little bit. Also pretty easy to get it to backfire. But hey, it runs, so it's a start!!

So what all did it take... I filed the points, cleaned the gas tank (there was a rotting piece of wood in there that was causing lots of trouble), new gas cap, new sediment bowl assembly and gaskets, cleaned the carburetor, new carb gaskets, fresh gas, topped off fluids (1.5 gal of antifreeze, 1 gallon of hydraulic fluid between the loader and the rear rams, 2 quarts of oil for the motor), new gear shift boot, charged battery and cleaned all of the battery connections in the ignition side... And then today, it finally came to fruition!

Also someone had asked me awhile back about the wheel weights, so I took some pictures of the markings on them.

Thanks for the assistance along the way; you guys have been fantastic as always!!

rustred · Jul 2, 2020

she surprised you! but good idea to check the compression and lube the cyl's before start up on any engine sitting for years. better yet is
to remove valve cover and check for stuck valves. that can eliminate a lot of hassle and broken parts , like rockers and bent pushrods.

Will Herring · Jul 2, 2020

(quoted from post at 21:17:02 07/02/20) she surprised you! but good idea to check the compression and lube the cyl's before start up on any engine sitting for years. better yet is
to remove valve cover and check for stuck valves. that can eliminate a lot of hassle and broken parts , like rockers and bent pushrods.

Good call on all those things. I fortunately knew this tractor had been "cranked on" about 4 or 5 separate times prior to me working on it (so I knew the engine wasn't "stuck", at least), but definitely a good call on doing those things first.

It runs pretty good when you just throttle it down to low idle, and runs good for awhile after it pops/backfires... The noise and flutter comes and goes. It's weird.

MF#1 · Jul 2, 2020

That's awesome you got it running! Always great to "hear" the fruits of your labor. You may be aware that WD-45's had a nasty habit of seeping anti-freeze by the O-rings on the sleeves. Your comment that you added 1.5 gallons of anti-freeze makes me wonder if yours is heading that way, I hope not. I bought one knowing it was leaking and fixed it but pulling those sleeves was a bear! Watch your oil color just in case. I hope you dodge that bullet! Good Luck with it.

Will Herring · Jul 2, 2020

(quoted from post at 22:11:22 07/02/20) That's awesome you got it running! Always great to "hear" the fruits of your labor. You may be aware that WD-45's had a nasty habit of seeping anti-freeze by the O-rings on the sleeves. Your comment that you added 1.5 gallons of anti-freeze makes me wonder if yours is heading that way, I hope not. I bought one knowing it was leaking and fixed it but pulling those sleeves was a bear! Watch your oil color just in case. I hope you dodge that bullet! Good Luck with it.

Thanks! I actually did not know that, yikes. I am hoping it mostly weeped out from the water pump tubes instead of that. Though the oil looked okay when I checked it initially. That sounds like an absolute bear to fix!

Not sure what to do about the engine flutter. Probably need to let a real mechanic check that out. I am told that it used to be prone to "backfires" and such, and the way it is running now seems like how it was running when it was last put in the barn (there was concern when it was last shedded about the massive backfire out of the stack at times).

timcasbolt · Jul 3, 2020

(quoted from post at 23:16:06 07/02/20)

(quoted from post at 22:11:22 07/02/20) That's awesome you got it running! Always great to "hear" the fruits of your labor. You may be aware that WD-45's had a nasty habit of seeping anti-freeze by the O-rings on the sleeves. Your comment that you added 1.5 gallons of anti-freeze makes me wonder if yours is heading that way, I hope not. I bought one knowing it was leaking and fixed it but pulling those sleeves was a bear! Watch your oil color just in case. I hope you dodge that bullet! Good Luck with it.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I actually did not know that, yikes. I am hoping it mostly weeped out from the water pump tubes instead of that. Though the oil looked okay when I checked it initially. That sounds like an absolute bear to fix!It sounds to me like you're describing a lean condition. If the carb is delivering enough, you might have a vacuum leak somewhere.

Not sure what to do about the engine flutter. Probably need to let a real mechanic check that out. I am told that it used to be prone to "backfires" and such, and the way it is running now seems like how it was running when it was last put in the barn (there was concern when it was last shedded about the massive backfire out of the stack at times).

timcasbolt · Jul 3, 2020

(quoted from post at 07:00:10 07/03/20)

(quoted from post at 23:16:06 07/02/20)

(quoted from post at 22:11:22 07/02/20) That's awesome you got it running! Always great to "hear" the fruits of your labor. You may be aware that WD-45's had a nasty habit of seeping anti-freeze by the O-rings on the sleeves. Your comment that you added 1.5 gallons of anti-freeze makes me wonder if yours is heading that way, I hope not. I bought one knowing it was leaking and fixed it but pulling those sleeves was a bear! Watch your oil color just in case. I hope you dodge that bullet! Good Luck with it.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I actually did not know that, yikes. I am hoping it mostly weeped out from the water pump tubes instead of that. Though the oil looked okay when I checked it initially. That sounds like an absolute bear to fix!It sounds to me like you're describing a lean condition. If the carb is delivering enough, you might have a vacuum leak somewhere.

Not sure what to do about the engine flutter. Probably need to let a real mechanic check that out. I am told that it used to be prone to "backfires" and such, and the way it is now seems like how it was running when it was last put in the barn (there was concern when it was last shedded about the massive backfire out of the stack at times).

Click to expand...

/quote]

Sorry about that. It sounds like you're describing a lean condition. If the carb is delivering enough, you might have a vacuum leak somewhere.

Will Herring · Jul 3, 2020

(quoted from post at 07:02:40 07/03/20)
Sorry about that. It sounds like you're describing a lean condition. If the carb is delivering enough, you might have a vacuum leak somewhere.

Hmmm... I could tweak the two carb needles some more to see if it smooths out, but I suspect it is a leak or something is sticking. I left them at the stock "1.5 turns" out on both the idle jet and the main jet.

WD-45 No Spark (Update -- 7/2/2020)

Will Herring

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rustred

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Will Herring

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MF#1

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Will Herring

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timcasbolt

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timcasbolt

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Will Herring

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