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Farmall B Does Not Want to Start

40,694 Views | 198 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by BrazosDog02
Centerpole90
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AG
Just for clarification, you are happy with the way it's running sans the governor hooked up? It will run without stalling if you disconnect the governor? If so, then lets talk about the gov, if not, I would really like to see it running to suit you - then tear into the governor.

My dad's first question always is - was it running when they parked it? If it was running fine when they parked it and the linkage hasn't been altered, then there is probably another gremlin out there. However, it it's been disassembled, reassembled, or it looks like someone was working on it when the tractor was put out of use, then it's a likely culprit. This principle applies to all the mechanical systems.
coolerguy12
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It ran until it cracked a head when the fan froze up. The head had been replaced (compression is 85-90 on all 4 cyl) and has not ran since. I have found a bad coil and kill switch so it seems like they didn't spend much time trying to get it to run.
coolerguy12
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I only ran it one time that way but it ran and sounded great. I tried it with it hooked up and it ran and then sputtered out. I'm sure the plugs are dirty which is why it didn't run well when I disconnected it again.

At one point it ran fast enough to bring oil droplets from the air intake oil bath out the exhaust. Half my garage has oil droplets on it now.
coolerguy12
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Governor was crazy gummed up. The thrust bearing was frozen on the shaft in the idle position which explains so much. I'm thinking I can just buy a new bearing and clean everything else. I need a new gasket too. Is this mechanism splashed with oil or does it require grease? It seems like there was grease on it. Can I dunk this whole thing in carb cleaner?


What is the point of the spring coming out of the shaft? It sits all the way in the shaft.


Thrust bearing is toast.


Centerpole90
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I can't answer all those questions. I thought that oiled from the engine since it runs off the accessory drive/timing gears, doesn't it? You'll have to look on the tractor side and see if it can get lubrication from there. It would have to require some sort of lubrication.

Looks like you're on your way!

Congrats on the baby. First? Canyon and I can attest to the bond between Daddys and Daughters.
coolerguy12
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It is our first. I'm reading online that you can grease the bearing if you want but the engine flings oil up there.
CanyonAg77
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I'd lightly grease it for initial startup.

Yeah, my daughter and I are close, but then so are my son and I. Drug them both with me on the farm, to air shows, car shows, antique tractor shows, etc. So daughter is more of a gear head than most females. She was about 5 when we we were in an auto parts store and she wanted to buy a wrench. She was holding a little 6mm end wrench.

You can bet i bought it.
Centerpole90
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quote:
I'd lightly grease it for initial startup.

Yeah, my daughter and I are close, but then so are my son and I. Drug them both with me on the farm, to air shows, car shows, antique tractor shows, etc. So daughter is more of a gear head than most females. She was about 5 when we we were in an auto parts store and she wanted to buy a wrench. She was holding a little 6mm end wrench.

You can bet i bought it.


I agree w Canyons advice on the bearing. I certainly didn't mean that my relationship with my son was any less than the one with my daughter - I was just see young dads grimace sometimes when #1 is a baby girl - oh what they don't know. YET.
CanyonAg77
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Our boy was first. But my wife went back to work full time when son started school and daughter was 4. So daughter spent a lot of time with me from 4 to 6.

I didnt intentionally make her like cars. But she was helping on the farm and driving the tractor just like her brother
coolerguy12
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I got the thrust bearing installed and the governor works great. I drove out in the street and had plenty of power but I could tell I was having misfires occasionally. Eventually it died and wouldn't start again. Fuel line is cleaned out and flowing strong. The coil is very hot to the touch. When I hold a plug up to the head I get a very weak or no spark. I can tell the battery is losing juice but I still turns over strong.

Is it normal to have a hot coil? I'm going out of town till Monday so I would like to order one if necessary. I would also hate to keep burning up coils if that's what's happening and not finding the root cause.

This is after driving about 100 yards. It sounded good with an occasional misfire. I started filming right before it died and wouldn't start again. Plugs were clean and wet.
[url] [/url]
Ribeye-Rare
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coolerguy,

Man, I'm glad you're making progress. It looks like you will get this done.

About the hot coil -- I'm not familiar with 6 volt systems, but 12 volt systems that used a battery-powered coil always had a 'ballast resistor' wired in to keep the coil from overheating in low speed situations.

At start, full battery voltage was delivered to the coil, however.

When the previous 'owners' switched from the magneto coil to the battery coil, did they wire in such an animal?
coolerguy12
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AG
I put in a new coil that is for a 6V system so I understood that it did not need any external resistance. If that's not the case then I'll look into it. The spark is very week after running strong for 3-4 minutes so I'm confident the spark is the issue.
Centerpole90
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I wish I was more help here, but I really don't have a lot to offer except to say that if you THINK the spark is weak, then trust me it's even weaker than that. I don't know how or why, but compression destroys spark. I don't know if it's the battery having to pull the engine through that does it, but I swear that we don't get as much spark IN the cylinder as we do when we pull the plugs.
Centerpole90
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I know you're using it as a distributor but I hear the impulse coupling of your magneto rattle as the engine dies.

I have a styled A JD that would idle so slow the mag would impulse like that at idle (you aren't supposed to let them idle that low, it's not good for the mag). It was on display somewhere and a Winter Texan came up telling me to shut it down - it was a rod knocking. I explained what it was but he didn't believe me and got a little irate I didn't believe him. I think he was disappointed the engine never locked up.
coolerguy12
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I decided to finally throw in the towel on the Farmall. I could get it running pretty well but I think the battery wasn't charging so it would only run for a few minutes.

My last ditch effort was to pull the mag off the guys Farmall generator and use the coil on the tractor. I got it sparking off mag drive but it was a very weak spark and would never fire.

Thanks for all the help and even though I only drove it a few hundred yards it was still very rewarding. Here is one last shot if it.



Maybe this can be the next project. 70's model bronco, 3 on the tree. I would love nothing more than to build this out and paint it maroon. The owner is an Ag so maybe i can convince him...


Todd 02
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So, what do you mean by "throw in the towel"?

I've got an old A with a cracked block that I'm looking to replace if you're going to part it out.

Plus I need a few other items.
coolerguy12
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I'm done working on it but his mechanic is going to take a look. He has a couple parts tractors/engines. What do you need? I think he is planning to sell everything together once it runs.
Ribeye-Rare
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coolerguy,


quote:
I decided to finally throw in the towel on the Farmall. I could get it running pretty well but I think the battery wasn't charging so it would only run for a few minutes.

My last ditch effort was to pull the mag off the guys Farmall generator and use the coil on the tractor. I got it sparking off mag drive but it was a very weak spark and would never fire.



Man, you fought a helluva fight. Most guys would have been checking out the prices for scrap steel long before you threw in the towel.

Plus, thanks to you, Centerpole and Canyon I've got a few more tricks in my old tractor diagnostic skill set and I'm grateful.

FWIW, I've had my share of failures. They really only fade from memory after I get a fresh success or two under my belt. It's a shame that my wife remembers them in perpetuity.

So, good luck on that Bronco. Does it run?

CanyonAg77
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quote:
FWIW, I've had my share of failures.
Me, too. How else do you think Centerpole and I learned so much?
coolerguy12
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Bronco runs great I just don't think the guy will part with it. I'm not putting in the work to build it out just to drop it off when I'm done.
Centerpole90
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Hey cooler guy, sorry I was away last couple days. I wish we'd been more help and you could have had a parade down the street, but I know how frustrating this deal can be. What's the next project? We've got a good group here, let's keep the party going!
Todd 02
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I need a C113 or C123 block and all the fittings and appurtenances from the fuel tank to the intake/exhaust manifold, to include the carburetor.
coolerguy12
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Holy thread bump Batman!

After 6 years I finally got to drive this tractor last weekend. Shortly after I dropped it off the guy had his mechanic put a new magneto on it and it drove great. Now he wants to sell it so we pulled it out of the barn and rode it around. If anyone is interested it's located in Tomball but I'll move it to my place in Conroe soon to clean it up and get good pictures.

[url] [/url]
BrazosDog02
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Todd 02 said:

I need a C113 or C123 block and all the fittings and appurtenances from the fuel tank to the intake/exhaust manifold, to include the carburetor.
Where are you located? I use a guy out in D'hanis for ALL of my antique tractor parts. Our A, Ferguson 35, C, F2, B450, etc, etc...this guy has a boneyard that may have exactly what you need and he will take it off for you. In the case of a block for my Ferguson 35, he had one that he would just sell me complete. He had a dash and steering assembly for my 35, along with a spindle since mine had a developing crack. I mean, he's got a lot of stuff in the yard.
 
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