1973 Satoh Bison s650g hard starting

[olddog11]

My tractor has had a hard winter snow blowing here in Atlantic Canada. At the start of winter it started fine but as winter progress blowing snow for 2-3 hours for each snow storm has started to cause problems. Main problem is very hard to start completely wear battery before it will start. Runs fine after it starts. There is spark to plugs, getting fuel. exhaust is blackish and stinks when it first starts until warms up then all is good. Plugs have black soot on them when I check them. It acts like it is flooded and I only use the choke to start it. Any ideas winter isn't over and another storm on the way.

 

[PILOON]

Black soot sounds like too rich running.
At relatively low cost of plugs I'd simply change for a new set for a start.
Are the points set correctly? Timeing?

Another cheap and easy, spray ignition wires with a silicone spray (or even WD40) as perhaps not all that high voltage spark is getting to the plugs.

Barring that a complete tune up, plugs, points, wires condenser and even a carb kit.

 

[knothead541]

My first thought is bad gas, then weak spark - points , condenser, dist. cap and even as odd as it may seem the voltage regulator. My voltage regulator gave me fits with spark a while back and it turns out it had developed a bad case of corrosion inside.

 

[olddog11]

Several Months behind but basically the tractor iced up. After the days were consistently above freezing it eventually thawed out and started working better. Now that the Temps are cooling off I wonder what will happen this year.