Ford 841 will not keep running?

[gyroman123]

I have I think a Ford 841. It is a row crop, approx. 1958 with a 4 speed 4 cylinder gas engine and power steering.
It will barely run for about 20 sec. I have checked all the regular things plugs, fuel, points etc. all looks ok.
It also makes a backfire sound around the engine not out the tail pipe if that means anything. I was wondering
if it could be a stuck valve, or if anyone has some things for me to look at Thanks.

 

[DJ54]

Was anything done to the tractor prior to it running this way..?? If it ran fine that last time, and just started doing this,and you've checked all the above, I'd have to ask if you looked inside the distributor cap. With all of the rain we had this summer, a couple of mine have had a terrible build up of carbon deposits on the lugs, inside the distributor cap. If you don't have a spare, you can scrape the lugs off with your knife to get by, util you can get a new one.

Also check the rub block on the points. Some of the less expensive point sets have a soft rub block, and will bend.bow a little, and not get the proper gap to fire.

If those are fine, if you have a compression gauge, you could check compression for a stuck valve. If not, take the valve cover off, and look to see if a valve is stuck, or have a broken valve spring.

Try the easy stuff first.

 

[kf4uda]

Sounds like a stuck float in your carb. Lightly tap on the side of your carb around the bowel with a wooden hammer handle a few times. Wait a few seconds and try to start it. My 861 does this if I let it sit a while without running.

 

[KYErik]

I agree with the carb float diagnosis- another thing to do to confirm this is to mostly unscrew the drain plug on the carb bowl. When it dies, remove the plug the rest of the way and see if anything runs out of the carb.

 

[jaxs]

Going in all direction at once make's it 3 times as difficult,not to mention expensive. Let's go at it systematically. If after completeing everything above (except pulling hood,fuel tank and valve cover to look at valve springs,imo,that's not necessary yet), the problem presist's,try this. Remove air intake hose from carburetor and have a can of starting fluid ready when you start it. Grab starting fluid and at first sign of falter,spray a burst into carb. If engine pick's up each time sprayed,you have it narrowed to fuel problem. If spraying start fluid into carb make's no difference,you have it narrowed to a spark/firing problem.
Post results so that we can pick it up from there.

 

[kthompson]

Believe that tractor has the updraft type carb and my be it limited experience with them is almost one issue after another. Nothing big just had to adjust the carb about ever time the tractor was used. Family still has a 601 that was bought new in 1961. One thing else was had to replace fuel tank to clear up a fuel issue, must have been rust but not sure as did not help with the repair.

 

[jaxs]

Believe that tractor has the updraft type carb and my be it limited experience with them is almost one issue after another. Nothing big just had to adjust the carb about ever time the tractor was used. Family still has a 601 that was bought new in 1961. One thing else was had to replace fuel tank to clear up a fuel issue, must have been rust but not sure as did not help with the repair.

As my uncle Sean used to say"By yemeneey" I think I see why y'all were replacing so many things on that tractor and still having same problems. Read what is highlighted in red above,repeat if necessary until it come's to you.:duh:

 

[kthompson]

As my uncle Sean used to say"By yemeneey" I think I see why y'all were replacing so many things on that tractor and still having same problems. Read what is highlighted in red above,repeat if necessary until it come's to you.:duh:

You do realize how old that tractor is don't you? Even after the fuel tank was replaced the carb issues still continued. The tank was replaced about 95 or over 20 years ago and when the tractor was over 30 years old. Oh the carb was rebuilt at least once and also replaced. Those were done by a Ford tractor Mechanic or his son in law who was also a mechanic. Was also before ethanol gas. Will say the filters on that tractor at least the air and fuel filters are better than modern ones. Not too impressed with the 6 volt cranking. Decent tractor for access to getting on and off and being able to see what you were plowing. Lift on those tractors were prone to have hiccups, lift could not hold cultivators level for plowing on the lift. Had to have something to support the cultivators weight other than the lift. A local shop designed and built what was called "slides" if memory is correct that solved that issue and had them patented. No idea how far they were sold from this area but were on all cultivators used with a Ford in this country. Over all a good tractor.