Massey Ferguson 40 will not start

[swin10]

I have a gas MF 40 that will not start. I moved here in August and ran fine when I parked it in the barn. It is getting gas and fire from the coil. I have owned the tractor for about a year and a half and never had a problem with it starting. The only thing different here is it is very damp in the barn. Any ideas?
Don

 

[DJ54]

Sounds like moisture has condensed on, or under the distributor cap & maybe the plug wires. Unlatch it, and check inside for moisture,and also build up on the lugs. It will get a greenish white build up from ionization, especially if the lugs are aluminum.

If you have moisture under there, wipe it out, and let it dry. Or if it's pretty damp out, maybe borrow someone's blow dryer to dry it out. I bought one for the shop that was on sale years ago. You'd be surprised how much one comes in handy. I've also used a spritz of starting fluid to dry them out. Just make sure it has all evaporated before snapping the cap back on, and trying to start it..!!

 

[swin10]

Thanks, I will give that a try.

 

[RFB]

Of all the things that WD40 is not, it is a water dispersal/displacement agent.

Take off the distributor cap, spray the interior of the cap thoroughly with WD40, then wipe it clean and dry.

A rag damp with it wiping the rotor and points will not hurt either.

 

[RFB]

During regular PM, pull all of your plug and condenser wires (remember sequence or pull one at a time) it does not hurt to spray the interior connection points with WD40, wipe clean, and then apply dialectric silicone grease to the inside of the rubber plug sheaths to preclude moisture entry as well as easing removal and installation.