Ford 801 tractor runs then stops running

This video shows my final repair action that corrected my tractor running for five minutes, then stalling out issue. The problem was tricky because when the tractor stopped running it gave multiple symptoms that pointed to different functional areas of the tractor. Sometimes it would hesitate before stalling out. Other times the governor engine speed control system would cycle the throttle abruptly before stalling. At times the symptom pointed to fuel starvation. And other times it would start then abruptly stop running, pointing to and electrical problem.

[@dp4racing]

We had three 900 series Fords & when they would be running along fine & just quit, new points fixed them. Another side to it is on 6 volt systems if the plug gap is wrong say .035” the points will arc terribly! I saw this while cranking with distributor cap off. 6v requires .028” plug gap if memory serves. Points .019”? It’s been 20 years since I worked on one. I still carry a point file in my truck! 😊

[@MrBruce0777]

A lot of people say if the motor just suddenly dies after running for 5 minutes or so. It could be the coil , condenser, or something I find often is the gas flow from the gas tank is not keeping up with the amount of gas needed at the carburetor and it is starving for gas and just dies instantly. I always simply check this by putting a pan under the carb remove the drain plug from the bottom of card and let a quart or more f gas drain into the pan You should get a quart in a few minutes...Put plug back in and if your gas is clean pour the clean gas back in your gas tank. . . Remember you have a filter inside your gas tank too that gets dirty or clogged..Possibly and inline filter and another at your carb and the sediment bowl... Many times I do this test and all I get is a drip drip or it takes 5 or more minutes to get a quart of gas. So I clean all the filters and lines....

[@tractorman4461]

If those points were Tisco points, they fail for the fun of it. The alloy they use is soft and it transfers material from one contact to the other and inhibits the electron flow. I've had Tisco points fail within an hour of changing them. You are money ahead making the purchase of actual Ford ignition parts for these old tractors. Sounds like you got it though !!

[@rancedelong]

Just like my tractor and its symptoms. Mechanic can’t get here for days. Going to try your tips.

[@kickford]

I have had two problems with my 860 like this. One was the ignition coil would stop firing and get very hot. But later in the tractors life, the gasoline would start to barely boil in the tank due to a poor heat shield and being so close to the exhaust manifold. It would end up creating a sort of vapor lock to the carburetor. The cap would be hissing and as soon as I opened it I could see boiling gas. Once I opened it, I could start the thing back up fairly quick everytime.

[@double-h-farms]

Sometimes the secondary in a coil gets hot after a few minutes of running and separates a possible break in the wiring then no longer giving spark to the distributor, tractor cools down after a few minutes of not running and starts back up and dies again after 10-15 minutes

[@arod762]

I'm working on my 861 and this was helpful. Thank you!

[@abrevas]

Glad it was helpful. I suspect it is the capacitor that is slowly breaking down and shorting out as it warms up.

[@arod762]

@@abrevas I got mine figured out. Somehow the sediment bowl wasnt letting fuel through into the carburetor so I flipped it upside down and now it works fantastic. At least i cleaned all the other parts of this tractor trying to find the problem 😂

[@fxpestoperator5527]

Man I will have to try this. Great video Brother!!!!

[@onceANexile]

Coil.

[@bsboggyboy5432]

👍👍👍