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Danno
08-07-2007 16:05:59
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don't know if this is appropriate for a tractor forum, but I have to share my amazement with some other people.
My grandpa died several years ago, must have been just over 4 now. He had an old Type E that NEVER ran as long as I can remember (I'm only 30, though).
This morning I pulled it out of the shed and made a couple of cranks on it to hear compression and see if it would turn. Sounded good and you have to start these projects somewhere. Drained the old gas out. It had a lot of oil in it, but there was no oil in the oil reservoir. I put some oil and gas in and drained it again. I refilled. I cranked on it slowly, it moved very smoothly, sounded good, spat some gas out the intake, but nothing really happened.
Second attempt to start was aided with a quick spray of starting fluid. It RAN!!!! Puttered for a few seconds, I had my cell phone there so I did it again and recorded the moment! it just would start and then die after about 10 seconds.
I closed the choke a little and cranked again and then it started right up after a couple cranks, I messed with the choke, the gas, etc, it runs! I called dad and made him listen to it. I took some more video.
I don't know if it can run better, I'll fiddle with it. These things are beyond my current knowledge. I didn't know where the oil or gas went until I smelled things, I even looked for a sparkplug when I started, silly me.
I cannot say with 100% confidence that grandpa didn't have it going in his last days, but it was a long fight with cancer that took him. He didn't mention this feat to anyone, and I would have thought he would have to me, he gave me updates on the old JD A and B all the time. The engine came from my great uncle if I have my facts right, he died before I was born (74) I think I remember grandpa saying it hadn't run as long as he (grandpa) had owned it.
I do remember grandpa saying there was a crack or gasket problem, i think something about oil, I'm guessing this might be the problem with the oil in the gas and no oil in the engine.
Anyway, be it 5 or 6 years since it ran last (I just don't see him getting that thing going and not saying a word to anyone) or whether it's going after 33+years (as crazy as it sounds, I think it just happened!!!) I just can't express how excited I am. I thought I was looking at months of restoration and fiddling and expensive part hunting, I got about 15 minutes of fiddling!!!!
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