New Problem with CA.

The flywheel only fitts one way. Put you thumb over the number one spark plug hole hav a fried crank it with the hand crank till it blows you thumb out of the hole. Now stick the mag on with the rotor pointed to number one. There are two marks on the flywheel. I'm guessing your using the TDC mark it'll never run your about 30 deg off. You need to be using the fire mark. Should have a little F by the mark.

My guess if like some other allis machines one of the holes in the flywheel is out of position. allowing only one installation location. Rolling it by hand and feeling the compression on the power stroke is a great way to see if number one piston is up and ready to fire. Maybe the tractor ran but not very good???:)

Edited by Sugarmaker - 22 Sep 2018 at 3:31pm

The distributor may not be installed correctly. Go with what Dakota Dave says

Dakota Dave is right; before starting make sure your points are good and the gap is set at 0.020". Now onto the ignition timing, Note location of the #1 spark plug wire on the distributor cap, remove #1 spark plug, hold your finger over it (it may help if you remove all the plugs) and rotate engine until feel pressure. Insert a wire or cable tie into the hole until it contacts the piston. Slowly rotate the engine until the piston is at TDC. Remove the cap and dust cover, your rotor is pointing to where your #1 spark plug wire should be. If not correct, adjust the distributor until the rotor points to where the #1 spark plug wire is to be. Check your wire timing; firing order is 1-2-4-3 Clockwise. Loosen your distributor and fire the engine and run at idle speed. Rotate the distributor 1 direction until the engine loads up then rotate it in the opposite direction until it loads up again. Rotate it back 1/2 way between the two points. Set your engine to run at 2/3 to 3/4 throttle and repeat. If this does not work you have other issues (worn distributor, poor points/condenser/valve timing or wear)

Why the flywheel only fits one way, from the Allis Chalmers CA manual.

One bolt on the flywheel is not on the same circle as the other three. If all four bolts are in it can not be off. The most bolts you could have in if it was not correct would be two.

Finding number one piston on the way up on the compression stroke can be done with the thumb or a balloon over a fitting. Because of my crippled hand I now remove the valve cover and watch the rocker arms. Knowing that you can not have compression without the valves being closed and for the valves to be closed both of the rocker arms need to be up and loose on the valve. ( check for TDC in the inspection hole) I then set the distributor rotor pointing toward number one terminal. I then rotate the distributor back and fourth with the switch on watching for the points open with a spark. I rotate back and forth to make sure the points are just ready to spark. If TDC line is in the center of the inspection hole as it should have been you are in time. You will then find the fire line in the inspection hole when running at high idle or wide open with a timing light.

It is just that simple.

Edited by Dick L - 22 Sep 2018 at 4:57pm

[ I discover when the center line is centered in the port the number two cylinder is at an apparent TDC and number 3 is very close behind it.  number1 and 4 are at , or near, BDC.  I have rotated over and over to make sure I am seeing what I see. 


The only way number three could be close behind it would have been someone cut off an eight cylinder crankshaft and stuck it in.







At the link is more pictures of the inside of your engine. You can click at the top and see a bunch more.


https://public.fotki.com/DickL/allis_chalmers_engi/allis-chalmers-c-st/

Edited by Dick L - 22 Sep 2018 at 5:20pm

Dick L wrote: One bolt on the flywheel is not on the same circle as the other three. If all four bolts are in it can not be off. The most bolts you could have in if it was not correct would be two. Finding number one piston on the way up on the compression stroke can be done with the thumb or a balloon over a fitting. Because of my crippled hand I now remove the valve cover and watch the rocker arms. Knowing that you can not have compression without the valves being closed and for the valves to be closed both of the rocker arms need to be up and loose on the valve. ( check for TDC in the inspection hole) I then set the distributor rotor pointing toward number one terminal. I then rotate the distributor back and fourth with the switch on watching for the points open with a spark. I rotate back and forth to make sure the points are just ready to spark. If TDC line is in the center of the inspection hole as it should have been you are in time. You will then find the fire line in the inspection hole when running at high idle or wide open with a timing light. It is just that simple.

Weighing all your observations against how the engine is built I don't think you have actually had number one piston at TDC. You said you observed number two with number three close behind it. On four cylinder engines two pistons are at the same place in the cylinders at the same time. When number two and three are at TDC One and four are at the exact bottom. With number one being at TDC on the compression stroke number four is also at TDC only on the exhaust stroke rather than the compression stroke. Firing to the plugs on the cylinder at the proper time is achieved with the crankshaft rotating two times for each time the camshaft rotates one time.


If you do have the number one piston at the very top and can feel it with a wire change directions moving the crankshaft back and forth with the rocker arms loose at the change of piston direction you are at TDC on the compression stroke and a different flywheel. If the above can not be proven the way I laid it out they your camshaft is out of time. If it is in time it will start and run with fuel.



The flywheel is no big deal as you can remark it if desire to see marks with a timing light. Knowing the piston is at the exact top the TDC or CENTER line can be marked through the hole. You can glue a cheap plastic protractor to the end of the crankshaft at TDC and turn the engine backward 30º and mark the FIRE line.    Timing lights were used very little on these engine in the 30's and 40's to set timing.









Edited by Dick L - 23 Sep 2018 at 8:11am

Rocker arm rapid movement brings the oil over the top of the rocker arms. It works but is different than most auto's. If you take it apart you would think it could not work as it does.

The oil pump will need primed. Several ways to prime it getting oil into the vane pump so it is not just pumping air. These pumps are not self priming. What I think is the easiest way is to remove the filter, place a gas line hose on the stand pump. I like a hose long enough to hang over the rocker arms but a short hose and a can will work just as well. I fill the hose with motor oil and let it seep down for a couple minutes and refill and start the engine. If the engine is not running it can be done with the starter spinning until oil comes out the hose. When oil is flowing out the hose I stop the engine, remove the hose, replace the filter and restart the engine and watch the gage come up. If it does not come up I would refill one more time the same way. If it still does not come up the pan comes off to check the suction tube. I have never had it not build pressure to first time if I get a good flow of oil out the hose.   

....after checking and re-checking the distributor timing, fuel supply, wiring for fire,...don't know how many times, and trying to start with no luck, I tried one more time last night and it started and ran perfect on the first crank..I am relieved, to say the least ...but still mystified at why prior attempts failed...Oh well...!