Vehicles that just won't run well...

durangotang · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:10 pm

Here's my vent :furious:

I can't get the flathead 4 in my CJ to run well... frustrating because the engine is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO simple. We're talking 1bbl carb, 4 cylinder, no vacuum systems, no electronics....

Every time I try to fix the issues, a new random thing shows up... I can change it right back to where it was and it will act completely different again :dizzy:

I worked on the mixture and timing for about 3 hours yesterday and thought I finally got it... was cruising around the block, no hesitation on acceleration, no detonation, nice regular exhaust pulsing... then I start going up a hill and it stumbles and dies 10 seconds later. It runs great unless you want to go uphill in second or third gear.... first gear and reverse are ok though at any RPM and any incline :lol:

I'm sure I'll fix that and it'll only run when turning left with the headlights on... then it'll explode :lol:

daspes · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:37 pm

Compression test?

durangotang · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:51 pm

daspes wrote:

Compression test?

60-60-60-60

Tomorrow I am going to check my compression gauge against my air compressor gauge... I don't think it's accurate (or I screwed up the compression test :seuss:

)

Engine pulls 16" vacuum at idle @6000ft and isn't super weak...

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:03 pm

do the distributor advance weights move?

(and anything old needs new points/plugs and point gap 2x checked)

daspes · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:10 pm

AHHHH Points!!!! Thank God for technological advancements.

durangotang · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:17 pm

daspes wrote:

AHHHH Points!!!! Thank God for technological advancements.

I get paid on Thursday... electronic ignition being ordered late Thursday... :rockon:

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:28 pm

Points, plugs, wires, Coil, ballast resistor, distributor cap and rotor can all cause problems on this era of engine. Use a spark tester like Harbor Freight sells, no good hot blue spark at the end of each wire, find out why not. Electronic ignition will be a permanent solution for the consumable ignition items. Buy Quality components, not junk like Wells from the local farm supply store.
When you do get it started, look down the carburetor. If you see fuel dribbling or piddling, you have a clogged up air correction/pilot jet. Put the largest best quality fuel filter you can put inline to keep the debris out of the carb. Best way to fix a carb is with Fuel Injection, but that is too cashy.

ridenby · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:31 pm

Not that I know what it is....carbs can be a black art,adjusting,rebuilding,etc.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:03 pm

Let me guess your using regular unleaded gas?

Throw a double(or triple) does of lead additive and see how she runs since that engine was not designed to run on unleaded.

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:12 pm

Needs more LS1. :lol:

durangotang · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:19 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Let me guess your using regular unleaded gas?

Throw a double(or triple) does of lead additive and see how she runs since that engine was not designed to run on unleaded.

Your guess is wrong... I am running leaded fuel...

Thanks for the vote of confidence though (insert pirate salute here)

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:33 pm

durangotang wrote:

daspes wrote:

AHHHH Points!!!! Thank God for technological advancements.

I get paid on Thursday... electronic ignition being ordered late Thursday... :rockon:

Very wise choice,Grasshopper.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:55 pm

ridenby wrote:

Not that I know what it is....carbs can be a black art,adjusting,rebuilding,etc.

I log ago mastered the art of rebuilding carbs, but to be honest I hate doing them almost as much as I hate terrorists.
I never had the opportunity to try this fix, but some well placed explosives can work wonders for a bad carburetor.
Another good fix I never tried is a shot from a 30-06 or 50BMG round.

I have always stuck to cleaning "ALL" of the jets, setting up the float right, and making sure the throttle shaft is not leaking vacuum into the intake.

The one thing the Tetra-ethyl-lead did was cushion the valve seats so they would not wear away, reduce the tappet clearance between adjustments, and burn up the valves. Hardened seats cure this problem.
One problem for older engines is not the lack of the Tetra-ethyl-lead as much as the Reformulated Gasoline that is made to run with fuel injection and not carburetors. I had a lot of problems when I started running the reformulated gasoline in my '46 Farmall (has had hardened valve seats from day one), because it would send all the gunk in the gas tank into the carburetor and clog up the jets (yup I know I need to flush out the tank again). I hung on an inline filter and now I don't have to clean out the carb every time I want to use the tractor. Haven't tried the snake oil yet, it may help.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:55 pm

durangotang wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Let me guess your using regular unleaded gas?

Throw a double(or triple) does of lead additive and see how she runs since that engine was not designed to run on unleaded.

Your guess is wrong... I am running leaded fuel...

Thanks for the vote of confidence though (insert pirate salute here)

Well you never know,most do not think about that aspect these days since it's been almost 40 years since leaded gas was phased out.

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:41 pm

I've gotta fallow this one.

InCommando · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:56 am

When the F4 in my old 2a became a 225 V6, life got better....

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:47 am

tech in here..... why OT?

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:54 am

I replaced the carb on my 50 M farmall with a carb off a large crane, and did the same, put an inline fuel filter, the orig carb would gunk/gum up and fill up with trash, it worked well enough that when i built my 440 (farmall) i did the same thing but used a MSD6 on the 440 to replace the stock tractor ignition

67Customs · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:27 pm

Subscribed.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:16 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

tech in here..... why OT?

X2

Vehicles that just won't run well...

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