[Healeys] OT: Old Ford tractor acting spastic

[Bob Spidell]

Final report:

I did some light grading with the tractor today and it ran good. Many 
suggested fuel delivery, which was (sort of) the problem; I put 5 
gallons of fuel in it and it kept running.  I suspect, with older 
vehicles with gravity-feed gas delivery you need a couple gallons in 
order to put enough pressure on the lines and carb.  My Honda ATV 
started dying at idle--though the plug was fouled--but it started 
running OK when I put some more gas in it, which gave me a clue on the 
tractor.

Many thanks for all the suggestions; most were 'in the ballpark' with 
fuel delivery.

Bob


On 6/8/2019 12:18 AM, Kees Oudesluijs wrote:
> Dirty fuel causing blocked fuel filter if fitted, Fuel cap not venting 
> causing a vacuum in the tank (my best bet), bad condensor (even new 
> ones can be crap), plug leads.
>
> Kees Oudesluijs
>
>
>
> Op 8-6-2019 om 08:46 schreef Bob Spidell:
>> Not Healey-related--although I've heard Healey engines described as 
>> tractor-like--question for the List wisdom.  I have an old Ford 
>> tractor, model 851 manufactured in the early '50s, with a 4-cyl 
>> engine.   Compression is good--145+/- on all four--and I've replaced 
>> points, condensor, distributor cap and plug wires and rebuilt the 
>> butt-simple Marvel Schebler carburettor (plugs were OK).  After the 
>> work, the tractor started quickly--after I fixed the 180deg-out 
>> distributor cap--and ran good for 15-20 minutes with a load from a 
>> scraper.  Then, it starts backfiring, tries to stall and struggle for 
>> a few seconds  then, if it doesn't die it seems to recover for 
>> another 15minutes and then the show starts again. The coil had some 
>> corrosion in it so I replaced it, with no change.  This tractor ran 
>> consistently but very poorly under load before my work.
>>
>> Only thing I can think of is the carb float sticking but it was an 
>> easy rebuild and I recently rebuilt another with no issues. Any ideas?
>>
>> Bob
>>
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