Farmall Super A - Surging

Well guys,

I really only have one problem. The engine is surging at any speed, idle, full throttle and anything in between. Surging gets worse as engine speed increases.

The engine did not surge/gallop before when I first started it (after cleaning it and changing all the gaskets and fluids since it sat for a while) and the first day. I also have little control over engine speed with the hand throttle. In order to try and fix the lack of throttle control that I had, I took off the governor just to see what condition it is in. I cleaned it and oiled it and put it back on. (I also made sure that the linkage to the carburetor is inline with the throttle linkage.)

Ever since it has been surging. I can see the governor arm going back and forth and the linkage to the carburetor.

Pulling the choke doesn't do anything, so I don't think the carburetor is blocked or something, esp. since it ran perfectly before.

I tried to adjust the bumper spring in the governor, but I sadly couldn't budge it with the governor still on the tractor. Is it supposed to be that hard to turn? I'll have to take the governor off and try turning the spring in (service manual says this can possibly stop engine galloping)

Has anyone had problems like this before and have some advise?

Thanks everyone, I am learning as I go, and the manual/service manual isn't the most descriptive or specific help.

Jan

Jan: Sounds like you have a handle on adjustment.

Here is a silly little thing I had happen with my 140. After trailering 60 miles, it wouldn't fire up, and problem was no gas going through needle valve. I discovered that damn plastic tip had wedged in the seat, had to pull it out.

After putting carb back together it started surging at all speeds. I had just came off 50 hours of steady operation over 5 days. What ever could make a tractor act like this after working that steady. I discovered I wasn't careful enough, or hurried too much and pins that hold choke and throttle control in place were contacting each other. I fixed that and cured it.

A couple/three quick thoughts.

If you've got that left-side linkage set up, I tend to suspect the carb, either the float or a bit of crud that broke loose and got lodged somewhere in the cleaning process.

The only thing that will usually go wrong with a governor in a hurry is the main spring breaking. If it was okay when you took it apart, I wouldn't bother about that.

As far as the bumper spring, (it shouldn't give out suddenly either) you do have the acorn-style jam nut off of it, right? Sillier things have happened, but the adjustment is on what looks like a full-threaded slot-head set screw. It is covered and jammed in place by an acorn nut over the top (or bottom, in this case). If you're trying to turn the acorn nut in to cure the surge, you won't be getting anywhere.

My money's on the carb.

Well, in saying I have the left side linked, I mean the best I can.

I know that in order to do it properly, you put the throttle to the full gas position. Then take the carb linkage and also have it in the wide-open position. The linkage should slide right into the arm, but for some reason it doesn't. And I do know that the linkage from arm to carb can be shortened and lengthened, but I have it on the shortest setting and it still doesn't fit just right, better though than when it was longer.

But if we do rule out the governor, do you guys recommend just a new good thorough cleaning of the carb?

If there is anything else I should be looking for/doing please let me know.

This was actually the first time I worked on an engine (age 18) and I have learned quite a bit from it.

Thanks everyone

Jan: I am confident you know what your doing as it applies to adjustment. I like Scotty have to agree if this surging started suddenly it has to be carb related. I gave you that silly little item that happened with my 140. Your problem is no doubt different, but you may find just as simple. Go through the carb with a fine tooth comb, there are dirt factors that could do this. Make sure nothing impeeds movement of throttle shaft.

Did you replace the bearing and put new springs in the gov assy when apart and how much play does the input shaft have as they usually wobble around a bunch. Is the linkage going to the carb adjusted correct and is there any binding in all parts of the linkage a little here and a little there all add up.The gov spring should be installed with the hooks turned correct or the spring can bind and are the holes in the gov apring linkage worn Ive been buying and selling these little tractors for a long time and have 8-10 around all the time and found out long time ago that throttle linkage and gov operation is important for good starting and throttle response.When things are in good shape they sure work better.

Well, I would say there is a good half inch of play in the input shaft of the governor. I adjusted the linkage to the carburetor the best I could.

When I had the governor off and open, I did not change any parts. I did notice that where the spring is hooked, that It seems to have elongated the whole where the top of the spring hooks in. To describe it better, the circle has a notch at the bottom where the spring constantly pulls down (this is for the upper portion of the spring attached to the input shaft side. Perhaps I do have to replace that arm from the input shaft the the spring?

What bearing are you talking about that I should replace? Sorry, I don't know the different parts of the governor that well.

Also, the spring looks fine (no corrosion or rust) but how can one tell if it is too worn?

Jan