Posted by Bill Swanson on March 07, 1998 at 03:16:54:
In Reply to: Re: Inoperative 8N posted by Dave G on March 05, 1998 at 19:46:16:
: : My 8N refuses to start.Good spark verified and carburator cleaned. I am now looking for a detailed shop manual for this device. The I&T manual I have is pretty skimpy. Appreciate any suggestions.
: Bill - sounds like no gas is getting to the cylinders.
: If the squirt of oil in the cylinders doesn't work then
: I would look for a vacuum leak. Any vacuum leak from
: the cylinders to the carb will prevent the gas/air
: mix from getting into the cylinders. Check gaskets, hose
: clamps and things like that. I suggest you hold your
: hand over the carb intake and choke it good, this will
: help overcome vacuum leaks and see if she starts. If it
: starts this way, make sure you go back and find the
: leaks. When did this problem start happening?
Dave-Good advice, thanks. After eliminating ignition and carburetor as sources of the problem by rebuilding and replacing, manifold leaks and low compression seem to be the only candidates left.
I did hand choke the carburetor, no results. Maybe I flooded it. The tractor hasn't started easily for the last couple of years but it is completely unresponsive this last week. The only thing that was different
was we had a heavy rain and it may have gotten wet. I did notice a small crack in the coil case which may have accounted for not starting then. Since then it has dried out and the coil, points, plugs and plug wires have been
replaced, all properly done, I think. Timing is TDC as well as I can tell on that machine. No timing marks. Compression is low, about 40-50 psi. I have been told that 90psi is spec. and squirting oil in the cylinders to help
seal the rings to cylinder walls is a good suggestion which I will try next. Rain coming again to
Southern California and I will probably have to postpone work on it for a few days. I'll keep you posted.