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1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

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sgtbull
10+ Years
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Posts: 459
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:50 pm
Zip Code: 62854
Tractors Owned: '36 JD B,
'40 and '46 Farmall H,
'50 Ford 8n '55 Farmall Cub,
'55 JD 70 allfuel,
lots of other toys
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: kinmundy illinois 62854

1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby sgtbull » Sun Jan 06, 2013 2:53 pm

I like to periodically start EVERYTHING in the shed and let it run for 30 minutes or so, every month, during the winter. I think its a good thing to keep batteries up, things oiled, and gas moving around a bit in the carbs and run long enough to get the moisture out of the engine as best it can. Yesterday, I fired up 8 tractors, three small engines, 5 lawnmowers and one hit and miss engine. Everything ran fine EXCEPT one cub, which had a distinct miss. A few seconds with a long, well insulated screwdriver quickly identified #1 cylinder as the culprit. Its a completely rebuilt engine, and I immediately figured I had a fouled plug. Pullled the plug, bead blasted it, reset the gap, and stuck it back in. Still had a miss............Hmmmpf. Pulled it again, and swapped it for another plug I had in a drawer. Still missing. Double Hmmmmpf. Okay, I may have two bad plugs. Swapped the FIRST plug for #4 plug, which I knew was firing fine. Still have a miss.... and its still #1.
Okay... maybe a mag cap issue. It was an old cap, after all. Perhaps a carbon track. Pulled the cap, and inspected it. Nothing of note. Swabbed it out and reinstalled. '
Still missing.

Looked around on the shelves and found a new cap. Installed it. Same problem. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG>!
Put the old cap back on. This time, when I cranked it, I got a HUGE BANG backfire, which squirted a bit of oil out of the airbreather cap.

I was positive the timing was correct, but now I began to wonder.
I disconnect the mag center wire, (and have the kill switch doing its thing too) and have #1 son crank (by hand) the tractor over while I feel for compression in #1 to bring #1 to tdc and ck timing....what a surprise I found.

Now, remember, this is a rebuilt engine. New valves, guides, pistons, bearings, seals, the works. It NEVER occurred to me it could be a mechanical problem, but now, it was undeniable. As #1 son cranked #1 piston, I felt NO compression or intake on #1.
At this point there are two conflicting feelings going on.

1. I'm happy I've discovered the problem, suspecting strongly a stuck intake valve.
2. Worried, wondering how badly stuck it was.......

Two bolts out, one valve cover removed in about 2 minutes reveals that yes, the #1 intake valve is stuck. It took about 30 seconds with a screwdriver to loosen the valve back to working condition.
2 more minutes to reinstall the cover and another minute to put the #1 plug back in and snap the wires back in place..
30 more seconds to choke, crank, unchoke, and crank again and Voila"... it ran perfectly.

Added a touch of Marvel Mystery oil to the gas... can't hurt.
Lesson learned.....
I've never met a tractor I didn't like....but I have found some that were greatly annoying....

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Donegal Cub
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Zip Code: 00000

Re: 1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby Donegal Cub » Sun Jan 06, 2013 3:18 pm

I read this forum regularly, and in a recent posting by one of our members who shall remain anonymous at this point in time, could not get his cub to start and tried everything he knew (and he is quite an expert) and in desperation he checked the fuel tank, GUESS WHAT!!. So don't feel so bad if it can happen to him it can happen to anyone, LOL.
Donegal Cub.

Chris D
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Zip Code: 23027
Circle of Safety: Y

Re: 1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby Chris D » Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:25 pm

I'm the same way, I like to start everything thru the winter also. Especially with this ethenol gas it good to keep some fuel goin thru the carbs. Glad you got it fixed easily. :D

whosthere
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Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:54 pm
Zip Code: 23061
Tractors Owned: 1951 "M"

1949,1951,1955,1972
"Frankencub"
Location: Gloucester, Va.

Re: 1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby whosthere » Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:33 pm

Seafoam is an amazing product to prevent and remedy stuck or sticking valves. The fuel these day is really poor and does not have any shelf life before situations like yours happen. I have had the same scenario and used the seafoam which was recommended by a boater friend. add seafoam to the engine oil and the fuel tank to prevent fuel varnish.

VinceD
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Tractors Owned: 1949 Cub "Frodo"
1949 Cub "Sam" (future Project)
1965 Lo-Boy "Pippin"
1940 H "Walter"
1953 SC "Gimli"
Cub Cadet HDS 2155
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: MO, Bakersfield, (South - Central)

Re: 1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby VinceD » Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:42 pm

Sgtbull, glad you could diagnose and fix the problem that easily!!! :D :D
Vince
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ricky racer
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Zip Code: 49120
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Location: Niles / Buchanan, Michigan

Re: 1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby ricky racer » Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:12 pm

Donegal Cub wrote:I read this forum regularly, and in a recent posting by one of our members who shall remain anonymous at this point in time, could not get his cub to start and tried everything he knew (and he is quite an expert) and in desperation he checked the fuel tank, GUESS WHAT!!. So don't feel so bad if it can happen to him it can happen to anyone, LOL.
Donegal Cub.

:oops: :roll:
1929 Farmall Regular
1935 John Deere B
1937 John Deere A
1941 John Deere H
1952 John Deere B
1953 Farmall Cub

sgtbull
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 459
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:50 pm
Zip Code: 62854
Tractors Owned: '36 JD B,
'40 and '46 Farmall H,
'50 Ford 8n '55 Farmall Cub,
'55 JD 70 allfuel,
lots of other toys
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: kinmundy illinois 62854

Re: 1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby sgtbull » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:23 am

I've done the 'out of gas' thing too many times...that's pretty much the FIRST thing I ck anymore:) In fact, with gas being so crappy these days, I rarely keep it in the tanks anymore, A very important piece of equipment in my shop now is a 4' length of 3/8" hose zip tied to a 18" wooden stick. I do a lot of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" at my place, siphoning gas out of one tractor to run in another. Its much faster than using a carb drain.. you can get a lot more gas through a 3/8" hose than through a 1/16" needle valve! After I've run everything for a bit as I just did, I drain the tanksand it all goes into something I'm using regularly, like my atv, truck or the JD 70 w/ the snow blade on it. Believe me, the 70 likes the extra gas, and needs it.
I've never met a tractor I didn't like....but I have found some that were greatly annoying....

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Mr E
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Re: 1 hour of frurstration, 5 minute fix.

Postby Mr E » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:28 am

sgtbull wrote: Believe me, the 70 likes the extra gas, and needs it.


Have an old '38 G. I understand this statement all too well. :lol:
In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. - Albert Einstein

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