M farmall Starting Problems

If it is Dist./coil ignition, turning it with the cap off cannot possibly cause timing changes. there is nothing changing. The following assumes Dist./coil ign., and that the distributor has not been pulled out.

Set the points by turning the engine till the point rubbing block is on the very top of one of the lobes of the point cam. (.020)

As described put the engine on #1 tdc (front cyl) and align the crank timing marks.

With ign sw off, put an ohm meter between ground and the distributor terminal (nut and insulator) that gos to the coil. With the dist. mount bolts just loose enough to turn the dist. housing, rotate the dist. both ways. You will note the ohm meter changing from zero ohms to open circuit (full scale change). The points are opening and closing. Tighten the dist. retaining bolts just at that point when the meter changes to open circuit (infinite ohms). This sets the points to break at the exact moment the timing (on the crank) calls for it.

The rotor will now be pointing toward #1 cyl (no matter where it is pointing on the "clock" __note this position in your head. Place the rotor and cap on the dist. Note there may be a plastic dust partition under rotor. Poke the #1 wire in the noted hole, then #3 in the next hole in the direction of rotation, then #4, then #2.

Start the tractor (in neutral) and enjoy.

Good luck JimN

1-2 PS: Sounds like the wires are crossed.
3-4

Don't move the engine once it's at TDC and remove the distributor cap and see where the rotor is pointing. It should be pointing to No1 plug wire.
If it is your distributor is in time. If it is off gently remove the the distributor and position the metal tip end of the rotor at No1
Plug and reinstall the distr. make sure it's at
No1 after you reinstall before turning the engine.

Have you checked your plug wires they may be just crossed. No1 plug wire should be at 1 o'clock on the cap and going CW the next wire should go to No3, then 4 and 2. No1 plug is near the rad and
No4 is at the rear of the engine. Hal

Likely causes could range from a stuck valve(s) to someone messing with the firing order... rearranging the spark plug wires.

I have a Farmall M too, I noticed you were talking
about a manual. Could you give me the name of that manual and maybe author or publisher or where to find it. Someone told me to look on this site's home page and click on manuals, but there were a ton to choose from.

We are trying to figure out some similar issues with our Farmall M that we inherited from my husband's parents. We want to be self-sufficient and try to fix this tractor ourselves and think we are mechanically inclined enough to do so if we had some instruction. Any help would be great! : ) Thanks!

If you go to their webiste you can find the manuals by clicking on "IH Letter Series Tractors" under the manuals and brochures category on the left hand side.

Depending on what you plan on doing to your tractor there are a variety of manuals available. Most commonly people at least buy the operators manual and the service manual. The combination of these two manuals will tell you what you need to know about maintenance, fluid capacities, controls, service, etc. If you find that schematic breakdowns of different parts are helpful to you, then the Parts catalog may be helful as well. This is a fairly large looseleaf packet that shows breakdown diagrams of each and every system on the tractor.

Here are some item numbers to help you out:

1004204 --- Operators Manual
TC-28H --- Parts Catalog
GSS5033 --- Service Manual

An alternative place to buy Manuals is at this site. If you look at the links to the left hand side of the page, it is the very top link under Marketplace. I've never personally tried these manuals, so I can't comment on their quality.