farmall m will not start

[johnhms]

I have a farmall m that I recently rebuilt the engine . I take the spark plugs out the engine turns over . I put the spark plugs in and I cannot not turn the engine turns slow and will not start. I also have a newly rebuilt magneto . there is oil pressure and spark but with the spark plugs in the engine it will not start. what should I look at next?

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have a farmall m that I recently rebuilt the engine . I take the spark plugs out the engine turns over . I put the spark plugs in and I cannot not turn the engine turns slow and will not start. I also have a newly rebuilt magneto . there is oil pressure and spark but with the spark plugs in the engine it will not start. what should I look at next?

From your posts in sounds like the engine is barely turning over so I'd be taken a look at the starting electrics.

Is you battery fully charged and your battery terminals clean? Is the ground connection from the battery to the chasis "tight and bright"? Does the starter motor need new brushes and/or the commutator need cleaning?

 

[kevinj]

I have a farmall m that I recently rebuilt the engine . I take the spark plugs out the engine turns over . I put the spark plugs in and I cannot not turn the engine turns slow and will not start. I also have a newly rebuilt magneto . there is oil pressure and spark but with the spark plugs in the engine it will not start. what should I look at next?

Is the cam timed right???

Is the mag timed right???

Otherwise see Jerry's post

 

[DJ54]

If your not sure on how to time your mag, or want to check it, here are the instructions below per the I&T manual. If you do know, and have it set properly, then maybe someone will run across this, and find use for it.

If you are good on mag timing, then I would have to may it may be the battery cables. IF you battery is good and strong. If it has automotive size like 4ga. cables, they simply are not heavy enough. They should be at least 1/0 gauge to handle the amps.

If it does have the large cables, then I'd suspect a grounding issue. Either at the contact point with the chassis, or if older cables, I have seen the corrode inside the crimped terminals.

I guess a person should ask if it was a runner before you did the OH, and how did it start then..??

 

[flusher]

I have a farmall m that I recently rebuilt the engine . I take the spark plugs out the engine turns over . I put the spark plugs in and I cannot not turn the engine turns slow and will not start. I also have a newly rebuilt magneto . there is oil pressure and spark but with the spark plugs in the engine it will not start. what should I look at next?

That happened after the engine on my 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF was completely rebuilt (an out of frame rebuild). The engine was so tight that the starter could not get up to the minimum cranking speed for the engine to kick over while on the run stand. Assembly lube was used in the rebuild.

The BF originally had a 6 volt system. I changed the electrical system to 12 volt and problem was solved. No problem running the starter on 12 volts.

I assume your M has a 12 volt system.
And I assume that assembly lube was used during the rebuild.
Was this an in-frame or out-of-frame rebuild?
If out-of-frame, was the rebuilt engine checked out on a run stand? Results?

You have two options now that the engine is in the tractor.

1) Pull start the tractor and let it run for a while until the rings and bearings are seated.


2) Remove the plugs and crank the engine for a while, taking care not to overheat the starter. This should set the rings and bearings eventually so the cranking speed is high enough to get the engine started.

Good luck