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Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
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TO-20 runs, idles erratically

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4runner

10-22-2006 13:35:25




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After last weeks overheating incident, I rebuilt the carborator due to an erratic idle and no power, had to hobble home at engine idle. After rebuilding the carb, the engine would start but would not throttle up. I check the advance weights in the distributor they seemed to be free, sprayed some lubricant, and reassembled the distributor. the engine started and ran fine. set idle at 400rpm. Went out to do some field work with a sicklemower. After about an hour in some heavy weeds the engine began surging, I throttled down and continued working. I began experiencing some idling problems on the way home frome the field and the engine began to idle erratically and die when I got into the yard. This morning I have disassembled the carborator and rechecked the float level 9/32 and set the idle at 7/8 a turn from seat and the main idle screw at 1 turn from seat. the engine starts but idles up and down and dies. I can minipulate the engine idle with the choke to keep the engine running but it eventually dies. I can throttle up but the engine still runs erratically. When I rebuilt the engine I don't remember adding oil the the distributor, I read that the distributor has an oil resovior-is this ture, and could this be the problem? All suggestions and comments welcome.
Mike

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4runner

10-29-2006 07:51:09




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 Re: TO-20 runs, idles erratically in reply to 4runner, 10-22-2006 13:35:25  
Thanks everyone for your suggestions, Im still fighting the idle problem. I have cleant the tank, sediment bowl and fuel hose. I've verified fuel delivery through the carb plug. I went through the carb again, but still can't find any problems. When it's cold it starts and seems to idle ok until it begins warming up. Then it starts acting as if it's starving for fuel. The idle air is adjusted to 1/4 turn form base and the main jet is adjust almost 2 turns but it still doesn't seem to make a difference. I believe its getting fuel from somewhere in the carb that may be leaking internally. I'm considering a zenith carb advertized on this site- anyone have any experience with it. I'm still open to suggestions to correcting this issue. Thanks again

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Griz

10-23-2006 05:43:18




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 Re: TO-20 runs, idles erratically in reply to 4runner, 10-22-2006 13:35:25  
My T0-20 has been doing the same thing lately. I give her rap with a soft mallet or 2x4 to the carb bowl. Must be a sticky float or valve. I'll fix her up in a couple weeks after the last mowing. Maybe the same problem with yours.



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Jerry/MT

10-22-2006 19:07:48




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 Re: TO-20 runs, idles erratically in reply to 4runner, 10-22-2006 13:35:25  
It is true that the distributor has an oil reservoir. It's accessed by a small plug just below the wide part of the housing. It lubes the distributor bushing/shaft. You can check the distributor for bushing/shaft wear by making sure the points are closed and pushing radially (from the side) on the side of the shaft near the top and observing the points. There should be no observable motion at the points. Or you can measure with a dial gauge. I believe the limit is 0.002 ". And if you have a lot of wear in the shaft/bushing, you will get a weak spark and erratic running.(Mine was so worn that when I did the test, the points opened about 0.030"!) If your distributor checks out and you have a fat, bluish spark at the plugs, then I'd check the fuel delivery as DennisP recommended.

With the tank valve open and the big plug removed from the bottom of the carb, fuel should run out like a cow peein' on a flat rock. It should do so continuously. ANy intermitency means there isa restriction between the fuel bowl and the tank. Check the "secret filter" in the carb elbow, the line for kinks, and the filter above the sediment bowl. Also check to make sure the vent hole in the fuel cap is open. If they are all car and the fuel is restricted, you'll have to drain the tank and remove the tank valve because some of these have screens on them that can clog with all sorts of crap and corruption.
Get back to this forum and let us know what you found.

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brian_tx

10-22-2006 19:02:24




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 Re: TO-20 runs, idles erratically in reply to 4runner, 10-22-2006 13:35:25  
Probably a carburetor setting issue, but be sure to check the distributor shaft bushings for wear, also. Sometimes they can wear enough to affect point gap and overall ignition timing. Symptoms will be an irregular spit/sputter in the exhaust tone, particulaly noticible at idle, under no load. To check this, pop the distributor cap, remove the rotor and coverplate, and try to move the shaft. observe whether the point gap changes as you do this.

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CENTAUR

10-22-2006 14:43:39




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 Re: TO-20 runs, idles erratically in reply to 4runner, 10-22-2006 13:35:25  
When you are working on an carburetor with an ajustable jet be it at idle with the stop screw against the stop or the so-called high speed circuit the turns off the seat of the jet are ONLY A STARTING POINT!What you want is to be able to make it run too lean or to make it run too rich. So you screw the idle in or out till you get a feel. Do the same at a fixed, higher, governored working speed.



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DennisPinOhio

10-22-2006 13:55:09




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 Re: TO-20 runs, idles erratically in reply to 4runner, 10-22-2006 13:35:25  
May I suggest that you remove the plug from the bottom of the carb. and see how well the fuel flows out. This may indicate whether the system is starving for fuel. If it isn't flowing well, suggest you check the little filter that is up inside the gas tank, on the end of the fuel bowl assembly.
Let us know what you discover.



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