Farmall Cub

Hey y'all:

Was out this morning weeding the garden. After that was all done, went and started Ellie so as to get me cultivating done. She started well enough, first crank on the starter and away she went.

Only problem is, is that she sounds like she is only running on a cylinder or two

Checked the fuel (took carb off), realigned the screen. Plenty of fuel to the carb. No air infiltration (checked with me propane bottle). Oil is correct or was, now it was blowing out the dipstick cover Checked the plugs - a fair amount of carbon - cleaned them. Checked the breather tube to the crankcase - clean as a whistle.

Checked coolant - right where it is supposed to be. Oh, no smoke black or white -- clear as can be. But she is missing and has no power. Wants to stall as soon as I lower the cultivators. No power, no get up on go - in fact it got up and went

No coolant in the oil, so rules out cracked head, block or bad head gasket. Near as I can tell without doing a compression test which is next thing I do after supper, is that I may have a couple sticky valves

Oh, gave Ellie a good slurp of MM also.

Really need Ellie. Any ideas????

Thanks

Rudi, what does the spark look like? Have you cleaned and dried the distributor cap? It sounds like a weak spark to me. If that doesn't help, give her 2 aspirin and put her on a trailer headed south towards Ohio and we'll give her a place to stay in Bigdog's Home for Wayward Cubs and Antique Farm Equipment Emporium!

Rudi,

Check the timing and point gap. Both will change with over time due to wear or if the locking screw loosens.

Carl

Rudi,

You didn't use the mag I sent you, did you

It will only produce spark for 2 cylinders in Canada, 3 cylinders in Ohio, and all 4 in Texas

BD:

Rudi, what does the spark look like? Have you cleaned and dried the distributor cap? It sounds like a weak spark to me. If that doesn't help, give her 2 aspirin and put her on a trailer headed south towards Ohio and we'll give her a place to stay in Bigdog's Home for Wayward Cubs and Antique Farm Equipment Emporium!

Nope, it shore ain't da magneto. Real good spark. And on the tip about the 2 aspirin -- yeah k, I can do that but put on a trailer for OHIO - NOT Remember Rudi's Retirement Home for Wayward Cubs has officially been opened and am in desperate need of more Cubs

BIL said I can use the new crane and the float.... 100 foot reach and enough room on the deck for at least 3 Cubs and 5 more on the float Soooooo be watchin, a Canuck raiding party sounds awful tempting

Carl:

Check the timing and point gap. Both will change with over time due to wear or if the locking screw loosens.

Nope, checked all that. Would have been an easy fix though.

Donny, nah didn't use it yet. Still looking for a rotor. Guess I am gonna have to order one! Got the retainer though

Ok, will clear up the suspense. Another Cub buddy (who also happens to have 2 very very nice Allis G's, which is probably the only tractor that is non-IH that I really would like to have I know, I know) was over tonight and confirmed what I suspected after ruling out the valves.

Ellie is running on only 2 cylinders. I feared the worst - a cracked head or possibly a cracked block. But I was in luck. We checked the coolant level as we could smell small amounts of burned glycol, and there was no telltale bubbles which would indicate a cracked head. Have to do the compression test in the morning, but betting dollars to donuts it is a blown head gasket.

Got cylinders 1 & 4, seems 2 and 3 are the ones with no compression. We could tell no compression in those 2 cylinders cause when we took the plug wire off of #4 plug, she almost died. When we did the same for plugs #2 & 3, no change. Ergo - no compression - ergo blown gasket.

Sound right?

Will know whether or not she gets fixed Saturday. Gotta see if Babineau has the gasket or if Arbings in Sussex does. Hope one of them has it!

Rudi
If you have another dist. cap switch it and rule a cracked cap or carbon tracking or moisture . Had it happen once and the cap was bad.

Ralph:

Slready ruled it out as there is a solid spark on all 4 plugs. But, to be on the safe side, I think I might just swap out the cap and just be sure.

Rudi,

Remember to always check the little things first.

You confirmed that it is cylinders 2 and 3 that are not working but you have not yet confirmed that the cause is a head gasket. You're on the right path, do a compression check and remember to remove all of the plugs before you take readings on any one cylinder.

Rudi, you can tell if you have lost compression by hand cranking Ellie Mae. The thing that keeps wrrying me is you said it was blowing oil out the filler. Thant makes me wonder about broken rings or a holed piston, maybe a cracked block since you said #2 and 3 weren't pulling load..

John:

K, will definitely check the little stuff before I take the head off. I am hoping that maybe there was something I missed that will be easier and les expensive. That would be a plus!

And

John:

God I hope not I think I may have put a little too much oil in as I topped it up. I hope that is all it was. When we started it up after supper, the oil was not reappearing which bodes well. Also, when I put my hand above the exhaust, I can actually feel the misses as she is going through the firing order and hear it clear as a bell as well.

As stated before, I have really good spark. Yup, there was carbon on the plugs, but not a whole lot more than I have come to expect when she doesn't get used too often. I have been gone a lot lately, and haven't had much time to get seat time.

Thing is, she ran okay the other day, was her old self. I noticed yesterday when I moved her places that she didn't sound all that good, but didn't have the time to investigate more. Today, Em wanted me to cultivate, which is what necessitated me starting her up.

Sure hope it is just the head gasket! Claude says about 1 to 2 hours and she should be running properly again. He is pretty darn positive that it is a blown gasket. Lets hope he is right.

Rudi,

Before you even remove the hood, pull the plugs. Then you can run a very crude compression test by simply holding a finger or thumb over each hole while cranking. If the head gasket is blown it will be obvious that the two center cylinders have less compression... and if not you should look elsewhere. Like maybe under the side cover.

George:

Will do. I am beginning to think maybe I might be lucky!

Will keep every one posted on progress.

Hey Rudi,

It wasn't me!

Seriously though, we are all back safe and sound since Monday nite. Been nothing but busy since. You think you had to grass to cut, I was gone 3 weeks! Poor little Briggs had quite a workout.
Again, it was good to meet you and yours out there. Only thing is I forgot to swing by Sussex and see Alton and David. Maybe next time.

Cheers.

After i checked the compression, either by thumb as George suggested or by guage, i would remove the side cover and look for stuck valves. you might be able to pop them free thru the side cover. an aerosol oil product into the carb for valve lube might get them going. makes for a great smoke show, but it might put you back in business.

Rudi,
Replace the plugs I bet you will find them bad.
Just because they fire out of the eng. it takes more to fire them under
compresion.