1945 john deere b will not start and run

I bought a 1945 john deere b hand start. I have replaced quite a few things it's has a new to me carb, new plugs and plug wires, all the stuff has been cleaned. There is blue spark and gas it will try to fire and pull out of my hand hard but won't run. I got it to run by pulling it around behind another tractor but it didnt run the greatest, I can't get it by hand. Please help I'm about to give up and sell it.

That sounds like a timing problem. Following the JD manual to first set the point gap, then the timing is my first suggestion. Jim

Could be valves sticking

No, no don't give up. There are such knowledgeable people on this forum. Give them all the info they ask for and heed their advice and you will get that thing running.

Yup...sure sounds like timing

I thought that too but after pulling it around I got it to start

If it pulls the flywheel out of your hand it is to far advanced as far as timing and if firing to soon

it pulls out of my hands to try to start but doesn't have enough power to start.

Like Old said, if it pulls out of your hands in the opposite direction the timing is too far advanced. But, pulling it with another tractor to start will overcome this, so you aren't too far from the correct timing.

it doesn't pull out of my hands backwards it goes the right way It just don't have enough oomph to keep going and start.

Where do you have the throttle at when you try to start it? If set too low 'idle' it may not keep going. Might try with it set between idle and half throttle and see if that helps

I've had it at about half way and about choke it will gire on #1 hard come around and stop right before 1 again and I do that over again

It sounds like the impulse trip in the magneto may be kicking out to soon.

Make sure it sparks at top dead center. Left hand impulse on the flywheel should be at the mark at 3 o'clock and should have a loud snap of the
mag. Ron MN

its a very simple fix, just check and set the timing. you only have 2 cylinders! this summer i went to take my neighbor a load of rocks i
picked with the AR.i pulled up to his little shack shop and he came out and said that thing sounds funny. i said i am running on 2
cylinders, then he said ooh thats why. then i said it only has 2 cylinders and its running pretty darn good. i showed him the cylinders run
horizontal and he was kinda amazed. he is in his 30's. i got a laugh out of him.

When you had it running, did you adjust the carb to where it would run the best? Try
this. On a cold start. gas on, choke shut, throttle half way. Turn it up to
compression then turn it backwards until compression. Then forewards until
compression, open the choke & turn it over compression & it should fire up & run.
Never let it fire on a closed choke as it will flood and foul the plugs. Let us know
what happens when you try this.

Your carb has plugged tiny idle passages

At one point in time I had a 40 B and a 44 A both hand start and both semi difficult to get started when I purchased them. This was the 2nd and 3rd JD I ever owned and was very much a mechanical novice.

1. First thing I did was read in the manual how to properly set the mag for the correct timing. Depending on skill level it may take a bit to get it figured out. Took me a couple hours the first time as it was my first time with a tractor with a mag. Wear gloves or you may just light up your life when setting the timing on the mag

2. As far as starting, I was instructed fully choke the carb, turn the flywheel till you feel full compression, then give it a little throw. If it "pops" but doesn't start, fully open the choke and try again and if the timing is set correct it should fire and run in 1 or 2 more throws.

Its been a few years, but on my B I could usually closed the choke, roll it to full compression, barely give it a roll at full compression and it would start and run if I got the choke open quickly. Wish I still had both tractors as they were fun and different!

At a show one time had an older gentleman with a hand start A decide to give a demonstration on how to properly start that style of tractor. After 3 throws it started and purred like a kitten. At this point quite a crowd had gathered and he looked at me with a big grin probably figuring I was going to struggle starting my tractor. I must have been living right that day because I was a turn on the flywheel from full compression and when I hit full compression it popped right off. The grin disappeared quick and my buddy and I laughed the whole ride home from that show.