Ferguson won't start

[RichZ]

Ferguson won\'t start

Last night, I went to start my Ferguson TO-20 to do some snow plowing. It started up on the first try as usual, and was running fine. I was going to let it warm up for a while before I started plowing. It ran for about 5 minutes, and then abrubtly stalled, which it never does. When I went to start it up again, it turns over normally, but it just won't start. I figured fuel wasn't getting to the carb, so I took off the sediment bowl. It had a small amount of gunk in the bottom, very little. I cleaned it out, put it back, and Fergie still won't start up. It turns over fine, and the last time I used it over the weekend it was running fine. No sign of any trouble.

Could the cold have caused condensation, so there's water in the line? I always put in a can of dry gas everytime I add gas, which I usually do in 5 gallon increments. Would hooking up the block heater overnight take care of the problem? Any ideas on what I should try next?

Thanks!

 

[RobertN]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

Maybe you got a goober in a jet? If the sediment bowl is clean, that wouldn't seem to be right.

You did not mention spark?

Pull a plug, check it's condition, wet or dry, and see if it's got spark while it's out.

My old('89) F250 Ford died abruptly on the Freeway, the day after we got home from a 1500 mile trip. The module in the distributor went out, fortunately only three miles from home. Had that happen on a '76 Chevy pickup a long time ago too.

You might open the fuel bowl drain, and see if gas comes out. Maybe the float/needle valve stuck. Sometimes you can tap the carb with a rubber mallet to get it loose(tap, not hit/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif hit=$$$).

 

[beenthere]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

With those "oldies" there are about only two things you need to check first - if getting spark at the plugs - and if getting gas at the plugs. From there, work backwards depending on it being a gas problem or a spark problem.

I am assuming you know what to do to check these at the plugs.

Spark problem? then check:
points
coil
Distributor cap, rotor, condensor, broken gear drive
moisture under cap

Gas problem? could be:
freezing water - depends on your temps
water in line
water in carb
dirt in carb
dirt in line

 

[s1120]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

Hey Rich, didn't you say you had a water problem in the fuel tank? That would do it. Its been REAL cold. If the line freezes, you are not getting any gas. No gas, no fire. No fire, no happy Ferggy owner./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Do you have a warm place you can put it? It would only need to be around 30 deg. Get things flowing.

Now if your getting gas, I would check for a bad wire in the ingnition system. A bad cap, rotor, or points, usly does not just shut off. Its a slow death. A grounded wire on the other hand, can shut her right off.[Been there, done that, got the T-shirt/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif] Now if you still can't find it, or your tractor repair guy is busy, drop me a line. I love working on old stuff, and can take a look at it.

 

[RichZ]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

Boy what an offer, thanks Paul!! I keep Fergie in my garage. I have a block heater, but until now I've never had to use it. Last night I started it up, and the same thing happened. It ran for about a minute, and conked out, just suddenly goes dead. I checked, I'm getting a spark. So I pluged in the block heater for about two hours. Same thing again. I left a meesage on my farm mechanic's phone asking him for advice, he'll probably call me tonight. I'll keep you posted.

 

[s1120]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

One more thing. Try removing the fuel cap. Sometimes the vent plugs up, and will not let gas out of the tank. Sometimes a little ice can get in there, and plug it up.

 

[RichZ]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

Great suggestion, Paul!! I'll try that tonight. That's something even a mechanically challenged nimrod like myself can handle!!!/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[s1120]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

Ow, come on Rich, don't be that hard on your self./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I figure if you can hook up a 3 point brush cutter, and get it to cut you can do anything./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobertN]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

Since it's starting, you must have spark. But, you're either not getting gas, or getting very little. Eat more beans... Oh wait, that's something my 8 year old would say /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

There should be a plug on the fuel bowl of the carb. Try pulling that plug out. Note if you get a steady flow of gas, or does it quickly go dry? If you get a steady flow of gas, then you're getting plenty to the carb, and the problem is most likely in the carb. If you do not get a steady flow of gas, then something is getting goobered up either in the fual line, filter, or tank.

If the fuel line or filter is clogged, it will trickle gas into the carb, giving you enough to run for a minute or two. My old Farmall did that once. It got a goober in the line. It would run for a minute and quit. Pulled the carb plug; no gas to the carb(very little gas). Blew out the fuel line and cleaned the filter; gas flowed, tractor ran.

If you're getting plenty of gas to the carb, then maybe there's a goober in the jets or something, which would require a good carb cleaning.

 

[RichZ]

Re: Ferguson won\'t start

Thanks for all the responses. It was just too much for me, so I had my farm mechanic come in. It turns out that I had a buildup of ice in my carb!!/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I was surprised, becasue I keep it in a garage, and I put in a can of dry gas with every 5 gallon can of gas I put in. I guess now I'll put in 2 cans of dry gas with every 5 gallon can of gas.
But ol' Fergie is running like a top again!!!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif