Good compression.... no power and smoke

Anyway, I did a compression test... all 4 cylinders read between 118 and 120! My understanding is that this is really good compression.

So, why the smoke and why no power? It appears from the compression test that the pistons and rings are it great shape.

I am new to engine rebuilds. But this really has me curios.

Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks!
Patrick

Most Grateful to the people at this site,
Patrick

PS: Thanks to Kim too! :-)

Also look at the high speed mixture on the carburetor. Turn the needle in until the engine begins to falter and then back out until it will accellerate without faltering.

IGNITION TIMING ON THE FRONT MOUNT DISTRIBUTOR ON THE N TRACTOR

The same information works on the side mounted distributor tractor too but the timing is easier done by just loosening the distributor retaining bolt/s and turning the distributor right or left.

There is a screw or cap screw on the left side of the distributor housing that retains a rectangular washer thingy. This sits in a slot and you can adjust the ignition timing by loosening the screw and pushing up or down on the screw to move the distributor plate inside the distributor.

If the flywheel was installed correctly on some models of the N tractor there should be timing marks on the edge of the flywheel wheel that can be seen through a small hole in the clutch housing on the right side of the tractor. Make sure that the #1 cylinder is on Top dead center of the compression stroke and then see if the timing marks are visible through the hole in the clutch housing. If it is then I would mark the degrees that you want to time it to with a white pen or white paint etc.

If you don't have a timing light then just loosen the timing screw on the distributor side and start the engine and while it is running move it up or down until you hear the engine sounding right. If when you try to start the engine and it tries to kick back the starter then you have it a little too early on the ignition and you should move the screw down a little and try it again.

If it sounds like the engine is beginning to load the you are too far late with the ignition and the screw needs to be moved up a bit until the engine stop sounding like it is laboring.

I have never put a timing light on an N engine. Good ear or bad thinking????? ? Works for me for the past 50 years or so. Guess it works!

Zane

Worn valve guides can contibute to oil burning, but typically not as much on these "side valve" engines as with OHV engines. Gasket sets include rubber seals for the OD of the intake valve guides, too, but this, again, is not a very likely source of problems.

Are you using oil?

Smoke from burned oil tends to be a bit bluish, while smoke from too much gas is more black.

If you are not using oil, and the smoke is black, it may be a sign of excessive fuel, possibly due to a mis-adjusted or defective carburetor or a restricted air inlet system.