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When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:19 pm
by grasser
How do you know when the governor needs rebuilt?
The governor on my '77 doesn't kick in like the one on my '47 (which the previous owner had rebuilt right before I got it)
If I'm headed up a hill in 3rd for example, the engine seems to just keep losing rpm until it kills it, instead if getting a bit of a surge to increase power.
I'm not totally sure how they work, and maybe it's an engine power issue, just looking for answers.

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:33 pm
by tst
Make sure all your linkage is working properly, and the arm on the governor moves freely, many times if all the linkage is good the spring on the governor is stretched out from old age, just changing the spring will find that missing horsepower
make sure the tune up is good and carb is working ok also
Tim

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:19 am
by outdoors4evr
I think you have answered the "when" question. You fix it WHEN it doesn't work.

Tim went way above and beyond the call of duty here and provided the beginnings of "How". Speaking of How.... Here's a link to the How-To regarding a governor rebuild (if needed)
viewtopic.php?f=141&t=44139

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:09 am
by Papa's Cub
Outdoor, I'd appreciate the address site of the re-assembly and tuning of the gov. Thanks, Papa.

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:15 am
by bookman51
Not to hijack this thread, but while we are on the topic, just how big a task is it to take off the governor and do this? I got my Cub started but I noticed that it does not rev up (throttle only seems to go so far) and when I went to push a little snow, it died easily (governor may not be operating right). Before I go too far, I will double check the linkages. From the parts manual, looks like the (7) governor spring is external. The author of the link given recommended replacing the governor rockshoft oil seal too (9). I assume if I take the governor apart, I should replace the governor housing gasket too.

I probably need to do the same for a Super C I have that is acting the same way....both when the weather warms up a bit.

Thanks :thanx:

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:50 am
by Hengy
bookman51 wrote:Not to hijack this thread, but while we are on the topic, just how big a task is it to take off the governor and do this? I got my Cub started but I noticed that it does not rev up (throttle only seems to go so far) and when I went to push a little snow, it died easily (governor may not be operating right). Before I go too far, I will double check the linkages. From the parts manual, looks like the (7) governor spring is external. The author of the link given recommended replacing the governor rockshoft oil seal too (9). I assume if I take the governor apart, I should replace the governor housing gasket too.

I probably need to do the same for a Super C I have that is acting the same way....both when the weather warms up a bit.

Thanks :thanx:


Most of the problems with governors can be fixed with the governor still on the tractor. First, as Tim said above, make sure that the rod that crosses the front of the engine has no slop in it when the engine is not running. A lot of times, there is slop in the key way where the two parts of the rod meet. Try putting a dab of JB Weld on the end of the "inner" rod and put the two back together again. Allow it to sit for a day for the JB to cure. Then, look at the holes where the spring attaches. Most times, those get wallowed out to an egg shape. This allows a bunch of slop. The best fix for this is to get some sleeves that are the proper diameter for the spring ends and then drilling the two holes oversized and placing the sleeves in the hole. The goal is to have ZERO play in any of the joints of the governor workings externally.

The governor can be removed without disassembling the whole engine, but the hood must be removed in order to do this. Start with the easy things first, though.

Mike

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:22 am
by bookman51
Thanks much.

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:40 am
by BJ Moretz
Thanks for asking the question Gasser. I am fixin to tear into mine and the link will be most helpful.

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:35 pm
by grasser
Thanks Men. I'll do some investigating this weekend.

Re: When to rebuild governor?

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:23 am
by Hengy
Good luck, Gasser, and if you have questions, don't hesitate to post here. Remember, with the tractor not running, there should be almost NO play when you try to move the rod that goes to the throttle plate from the governor. Take that slop out and your tractor will act like a new one!