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What did i do wrong and how can i fix it

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=207334
Printed Date: 11 Jul 2025 at 4:32pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: What did i do wrong and how can i fix it
Posted By: dr p
Subject: What did i do wrong and how can i fix it
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2025 at 8:07pm
Took the head off one of the wd 45 for repair( intake valves were not seating properly) finished putting back together and now i can't get it to start. I have a good flow of gas at the carburetor, a nice blue spark from all plugs. I double checked the timing( it didn't change but how could it) and the spark plug were in the correct order, 1243. What am i missing. I reset tappets at 016



Replies:
Posted By: Steve A
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2025 at 8:27pm
Try pulling plugs, put a little gas in each cylinder with a dropper, reinstall plugs see if it fires then. I have a WD that needs that if I don't run it once every week or two.


Posted By: AMB(wcIL)
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2025 at 10:02pm
Not to be a smart Allick, did you reset your valve clearance?  Andy


Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2025 at 11:15pm
1243 is the correct order... but WHICH ONE is #1 on the distributor ?? ... clockwise or counter clockwise ?

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Like them all, but love the "B"s.


Posted By: nella(Pa)
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 6:17am
Are the spark plugs wet after trying to start the tractor, maybe carburetor problem.


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 6:34am
I did put a little gas in the cylinders and often i get a "pop" when i let off the starter. And you are not being a smart alleck about resetting the valves, i did, 016


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 6:35am
And clockwise on the spark plugs wires


Posted By: Gary Burnett
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 6:52am
I bought a WD awhile back  very hard to start and ran worse and worse as it warmed up.Per past experience took off the valve cover, about all the valves were adjusted too tight.Loosened up the valve starts and runs great now.I've run across this with a lot of old tractors over the years


Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 8:10am
It takes 3 things for it to run:  COMPRESSION.......fuel/air mixture at a proper ratio..........good spark at the correct time.  Being as how you just did valve work, in 5 minutes or less I could run a cranking compression test and VERIFY that compression ain't (or is) the problem. Have the throttle wide open and a battery charger on the battery to do this.    How about a leaking intake manifold gasket(s) ??? You worked on valves and had the manifold off. If the carb wasn't touched, that shouldn't be the problem. Timing shouldn't be an issue either if you never touched the distributer.


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 7:58pm
130 all four cylinders. That has become my mantra since you answered one of my texts 10 years ago. Did that before i put the hood back on.


Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 8:03pm
if you have good compression and you have good fuel flow and spark.... then spark timing could be the problem.... Im still wondering if a couple plug wires are switched, or all rotated one hole off on the distributor cap.... not being mean.. its a common problelm.

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Like them all, but love the "B"s.


Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 8:09pm
Compression will be fine even is there is an intake manifold gasket leaking.


Posted By: HudCo
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2025 at 10:44pm
you say you get a pop when you let off the starter are you getting enought voltage to the coil when cranking  is their good spark when cranking


Posted By: ekjdm14
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2025 at 5:27am
Originally posted by HudCo HudCo wrote:

you say you get a pop when you let off the starter are you getting enought voltage to the coil when cranking  is their good spark when cranking

That was my thoughts too, sounds to be a spark/ign switch maybe kind of issue.


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Stuck Farmer


Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2025 at 12:14pm
Sounds to me like it could be just a simple connection problem. I don't know if its been raining up there like it has been down here, but man between the humidity and the wet weather, that would cause a bad connection issue somewhere in the ignition circuit or at the key switch. If you just pulled the head off, you never touched the Distributor some timing wouldn't be an issue as the Doc mentioned. If a spark plug wire or two were on wrong, it would probably be backfiring through the exhaust or Carb. You need spark for that. Not spark, no boom or pop....  HTH
Steve@B&B


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39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2025 at 9:53pm
Itd been raining and raining and raining. And my garage has a gravel floor


Posted By: AcFordHawk
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2025 at 9:31am
Originally posted by ekjdm14 ekjdm14 wrote:

Originally posted by HudCo HudCo wrote:

you say you get a pop when you let off the starter are you getting enought voltage to the coil when cranking  is their good spark when cranking

That was my thoughts too, sounds to be a spark/ign switch maybe kind of issue.

May or may not be similar to your issue, I had a D17 do the same, crank but not start/pop until key was released to the run position then ran great.  I removed some damaged wiring and discovered afterwards there is a separate wire supplying power to the coil from the start circuit.  Fixed that and started and ran like it should.


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IB (restoring), MF GC1705, MF 2705E


Posted By: Alex09(WI)
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2025 at 1:03pm
Originally posted by HudCo HudCo wrote:

you say you get a pop when you let off the starter are you getting enought voltage to the coil when cranking  is their good spark when cranking

That short statement also caught my attention. To test that theory, use a separate battery with jumper cables to power JUST the distributor and coil. Do not turn the ignition switch on. Crank the engine over with the tractor battery and see if it starts. Also some engines need a LOT of choke when the head is taken off and put back on.


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www.awtractor.com
A&W TRACTOR 920-598-1287
KEEPING ALLIS-CHALMERS IN THE FIELDS THROUGH THE 21ST CENTURY


Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2025 at 5:20pm
A few years back I had the same problem with my 45.  What I found was that the ignition switch was bad.  Just happened all of a sudden.
When cranking, it worked well and wouldn't start.  Would let out a 'pop' when letting off the key.  Swapped it with another running tractor and it popped right off.
Bought a new switch and installed and it's still working.

Don't know what the trouble was, the the switch turning too far?  Broken off point inside?  The solder let loose?  I don't know as I didn't bother to take it apart.
Give it a try...


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"Allis-Express"
19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2025 at 5:59am
Replaced plugs ,cap, rotor yesterday. Cleaned up all the contacts on the entire electrical system. No change . Going to pick up a voltage tester today. Its a six volt system. What kind of numbers should i be looking for and at what spots on the system should i check


Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2025 at 6:26am
Takes 2 people.  One in the seat to yank on the starter pull rod. Remove the coil wire (center) from the distributer cap. Hold the end of the wire 1/4" from the cylinder head or block casting. Crank the engine. There should be a healthy blue spark. This is the first test with zero tooling.


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2025 at 7:44pm
Got a blue spark from the coil on the tractor but went through my stuff and found a six volt coil thst was two inches taller. Figure bigger is better and true to form, the blue spark is much more impressive. Still did not start but more sounds like it wants to


Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 5:22am
Are you sure the plug wires were replaced in the correct orientation on the distributer cap? With #1 cylinder on TDC at the end of the compression stroke, the rotor should be pointed at the #1 plug wire. Going clockwise should be 1-2-4-3.


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 6:09am
Yeah, checked that many,many times


Posted By: jdeere562
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 9:10am
Had a guy bring me a WD many years ago. Was running fine until he converted it to 12 volts. It cranked very fast and would not start until you let off the starter, and the engine slowed down. He had done nothing to the distributor or ignition system.

Ended up the timing was too far advanced from cranking so fast. Had to put slightly heavier advance springs in the distributor. Highly doubtful that would be your problem,
beings you only had the cylinder head off.

Just an example of a head scratcher that one can hit at times. They can make you pull out your hair and then be something simple.


Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 9:38am
Did you leave a rag in the air intake for keeping debris out while working on it? I’m half joking half serious. You have compression, spark, fuel (?) air? Pretty much leaves timing, blocked / leaking intake, blocked exhaust? Crazy.


Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 10:25am
Instead of cranking over with the starter, try ‘pull starting’ the tractor.

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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.


Posted By: DB74
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 1:05pm
Curious about the possibility of a leaking intake??
What is the best way to test/check for this condition?


Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 1:37pm
Intake/exhaust manifold should be installed by snugging the very front and very rear stud nuts first. This will "square" the manifold to the cylinder head. Then, tighten the other nuts by alternating top to bottom and bottom to top. Do this in several steps to keep the manifold flat against the head.


Posted By: Stan R
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 1:52pm
Old gas, gas with ethanol that absorbs moisture ??


Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 4:23pm
drained tank and sediment bowl. when in doubt, listen to the health care professional. going to pull manifold and reinstall



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