Massey Pony won't start

Pasha91 · Nov 23, 2020

Hey guys,

Thanks for the help. Got an old Massey
Pony, new plugs, wires, condenser,
points, etc. New battery and wiring
harness.

Tried to start it - sounds like it's
trying but not quite 'making it'
Some small greyish smoke out of the
stack. Pushing sharp puffs of air out
of the intake manifold for some reason
- about a puff every 1.5 seconds or so.
Gas dripping out of the bottom of the
carb.

If I didn't know any better I'd say it
was running backwards?

I have it set up now as a positive
ground. 6v system.

Possible stuck valve? Unsure what move
I should make - don't really want to
start taking off the valve cover and
head if I don't have to. Compression
(thumb test) seems to be good.

Jim.ME · Nov 23, 2020

Did you check to see that the rotor points at #1 plug wire terminal when #1 piston is TDC on compression? Do you have the firing order correct and is it going the proper direction around the distributor cap? Is rotor button in place(they have been overlooked before)?

Pasha91 · Nov 23, 2020

Which piston is number 1? First from
the front (closest to the radiator)?

Distributor direction would be turning
clockwise?

Rotor button is in place, not sure if
there's a special way to install it, I
just clicked it on the spline.

Jim.ME · Nov 23, 2020

#1 is closest to the radiator.

Best way to be certain which way the rotor turns id to take the distributor of and bump the engine over with the starter, you will see which way it turns.

The rotor should only fit on the distributor shaft one way.

Jim.ME · Nov 23, 2020

Fat finger syndrome.

Best way to be certain which way the rotor turns is to take the distributor cap off and bump the engine over with the starter, you will see which way it turns.

Pasha91 · Nov 29, 2020

So I redid the wiring, turns out I had
the 3rd and 4th wire confused.

Turned it over and it gave lots of
puffs of grey/white smoke and almost
barely caught but never ever did.

Anything else I can try?

Jim.ME · Nov 30, 2020

(quoted from post at 22:57:28 11/29/20) So I redid the wiring, turns out I had
the 3rd and 4th wire confused.

Turned it over and it gave lots of
puffs of grey/white smoke and almost
barely caught but never ever did.

Anything else I can try?

Time to check some history, there may be a clue to something.

Is this a tractor you have owned and operated for a while or one you recently acquired?

If you have owned it a while, was it running and and you changed these parts because it needed a tune up. Or you got it in a non running condition, has it been setting (how long), and are now trying to get it running?

Old or fresh gasoline?

Do you know it the distributor has been removed and reinstalled?

Have you confirmed the rotor points at # 1 cylinder terminal in the distributor cap when # 1 cylinder is at Top Dead Center on its [u:ea94454572]compression[/u:ea94454572] stroke?

Have you checked the spark at the plugs?

Pasha91 · Nov 30, 2020

Thanks for the reply!!

So this is basically a barn find I'm a
young guy and was doing some work for a
neighbour and he offered to pay me in
an old Massey Pony...

He thinks it was sitting for probably
close to 10 years or so.

He doesn't really know the history of
it he got it in a trade with somebody
else it seems like it's in nice shape
still has oil in the motor,
antifreeze,it really looks like someone
was using it and basically just parked
it and forgot about it. The tin work is
all nice and straight.

When I spin the engine over it seems to
have decent compression. I put new
spark plugs in it, drained out the old
gas put in fresh gas, I had a rebuilt
starter that I put into it, new
battery, new distributor cap points
condenser spark plug wires.

The spark is there at each cylinder. It
honestly makes me think I'm forgetting
something obvious but I think all the
bases have been covered.

The only thing I didn't do was take
apart the carb and clean it because I'm
not too familiar with those models of
carburetors and I didn't want to screw
something up.

The number one cylinder is at top dead
center and the distributor rotor is
pointing directly at the number one
wire. I had confused the 3rd and the
4th wires but I fixed that.

It doesn't look like the distributor
has been removed and installed it
honestly looks like it's all original.

If I had to guess I think it's a
question of not getting enough fuel
because the spark seems to be there. I
did take off the spark plugs for a
little gas on top of each cylinder put
them back and tried to fire it up but
no luck.

I'm not sure if I missing anything I
feel it's something really simple,when
I turn it over it gives pumps of white
grey smoke and it sounds like it's
almost starting but it never does
actually catch.

I really don't like using starting
fluid so I didn't even try although I
guess that could be an option if I
can't get it to start any other way.

Any other ideas? Thanks so much for the
help.

Jim.ME · Dec 1, 2020

(quoted from post at 21:09:42 11/30/20) Thanks for the reply!!

So this is basically a barn find I'm a
young guy and was doing some work for a
neighbour and he offered to pay me in
an old Massey Pony...

He thinks it was sitting for probably
close to 10 years or so.

He doesn't really know the history of
it he got it in a trade with somebody
else it seems like it's in nice shape
still has oil in the motor,
antifreeze,it really looks like someone
was using it and basically just parked
it and forgot about it. The tin work is
all nice and straight.

When I spin the engine over it seems to
have decent compression. I put new
spark plugs in it, drained out the old
gas put in fresh gas, I had a rebuilt
starter that I put into it, new
battery, new distributor cap points
condenser spark plug wires.

The spark is there at each cylinder. It
honestly makes me think I'm forgetting
something obvious but I think all the
bases have been covered.

The only thing I didn't do was take
apart the carb and clean it because I'm
not too familiar with those models of
carburetors and I didn't want to screw
something up.

The number one cylinder is at top dead
center and the distributor rotor is
pointing directly at the number one
wire. I had confused the 3rd and the
4th wires but I fixed that.

It doesn't look like the distributor
has been removed and installed it
honestly looks like it's all original.

If I had to guess I think it's a
question of not getting enough fuel
because the spark seems to be there. I
did take off the spark plugs for a
little gas on top of each cylinder put
them back and tried to fire it up but
no luck.

I'm not sure if I missing anything I
feel it's something really simple,when
I turn it over it gives pumps of white
grey smoke and it sounds like it's
almost starting but it never does
actually catch.

I really don't like using starting
fluid so I didn't even try although I
guess that could be an option if I
can't get it to start any other way.

Any other ideas? Thanks so much for the
help.

You say the rotor is pointing at # 1 in the cap when at TDC. Are certain it is TDC compression stroke, not TDC at the overlap of the exhaust/intake strokes?

If it set for 10 years, I would go through the carb, it may well have plugged passages.

Do a compreesion test with a gauge.

John Deere D · Dec 1, 2020

Remove # 1 spark plug.......place your finger tightly over spark plug hole...turn engine over ..VERIFY that # 1 piston is on compression stroke..
What is the # of your Operators manual..??

Bob..

Pasha91 · Dec 1, 2020

Thanks that's very helpful! I don't have a manual yet, probably should pick one up. The tractor's at my dad's farm so I'll try that in a few days when I finish work and let you know if there's any progress.

Pasha91 · Dec 1, 2020

Thanks, I'll check that out. Going to pick up a compression test gauge and go from there. I pulled the carb and am going to try to clean it
up. I'll let you know how it goes.

Jim.ME · Dec 1, 2020

(quoted from post at 18:43:43 12/01/20) Thanks, I'll check that out. Going to pick up a compression test gauge and go from there. I pulled the carb and am going to try to clean it
up. I'll let you know how it goes.

Here is a link to an I&T Pony Manual on line you can down load. You should get a Massey Harris Manual, like Bob showed, but this is a start.

http://vieux.tracteurs.free.fr/pdf/massey_harris_pony11_manuel.pdf

Massey Pony won't start

Pasha91

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Pasha91

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