follow up questions

It has much more power than it did the past two days and it ran fine in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and reverse. As soon as I tried to start out in 4th or got to a small incline, she started to backfire and almost died altogether. Also, it is very difficult to start, but seem to run smoothly once it starts.

The one thing that is still off-spec is the timing. My measurement is closer to 1/2" than 1/4" - could this account for the problems I am experiencing?

Regarding your suggestion about the plug wires being switched, there are two wires held in clips on either side of the distributor (short wires in the top holes, longer wires in the bottom holes). I doubt that the mechanic bothered to swithch them around. There is not enough play for me to tug on a wire and trace it back to the plug without removing the tube in which they are housed. I doubt that they are reversed, but they are getting some age on them.

Yep, sounds like your ignition is incorrectly timed/gapped. Make certain you do it per the I&T FO-4 manual. The pictures explain so much better than words. Make certain your straight edge is on the "wide side" of the tanged shaft.

First, check your sparkplug wires and start and run your tractor. Then, consider your frontmound distributor timing.

Think of your daily driver car, ya' want advanced ignition when you're cruzin' for fuel economy but you need to retard the ignition some when under load like climbing a mountian. Remember some of those ol' Model T's, had 2 levers around the steering wheel, one was hand throttle and the other was spark retard for hand cranking? Sounds like your ignition is advanced which would make it hard to start and unable to go up an incline in 4th without poppin'.

Hope this helps, keep us updated, we care..... ..Dell

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