Just bought an rd4 and need help with pony motor

Welcome Davehitch, I have a 1936 RD4 too and use it as often as I can, they are a nice tractor to drive and that diesel really barks, regarding the pony my advice is drain the oil and refill with some 30W engine oil, it doesn't take much, about a quart I think, plus make sure the pony pinion housing has oil in it too, that's the compartment with the 2 starting handles, I'd drain the old oil out and flush it with diesel before refilling it with ATF, it doesn't take much, less than half a pint I'd guess, oil level plug is on the side, try running the pony and see if you get lots of smoke, from memory any excess fluids like fuel or oil will find their way into #2 cylinder, that's the one on the right when sitting in the seat.

Regarding the orange spark, my advice is clean the points in the maggy and reset the gap, come back with the make of maggy so we can advise on the correct gap, might be a Eisemann or other brand, plenty of motors run fine with a orange spark but a nice blue spark is the goal, it's a bit of a pain getting access to the points so do it now while you are still keen, if you are super keen remove the pony gas tank and give it a good clean with some nuts and bolts banged around inside with some diesel to loosen the old crud and flush the fuel line, with the pony tank off access to the pony magneto is easier. Run your pony on premium gas or higher octane gas as it has a better shelf life.

Make sure you get a Owners Book for the RD4 if you don't have one already, it shows regular service points including the pony, also do a search in the Discussion section on "pilot" or "pony" motors, you will find hundreds of threads on this topic.
Good luck
Mike

Thank you both
What about spark plugs got a recommendation for me I think it had an auto lite 386? I'm also thinking a new condenser? The tractor is a couple
Hour drive for me so part numbers on that would really help I can prob get them local. I know I need to pull the carb and tank bring it home and go through them but figured if I can the mag sorted out there I would not have to pull it (which timing it I gather is a pain) n bring it home. But... Not knowing what mag it is I'm prob screwed on that one.
Thanks Dave

Hey Dave,

What town is the tractor in? Maybe someone can come help... :eyebrows:
glen

[quote="7upuller"]Hey Dave,

What town is the tractor in? Maybe someone can come help... :eyebrows:
glen[/quote]

It's just outside placerville and I'm north of there in auburn ca

Thank you both
What about spark plugs got a recommendation for me I think it had an auto lite 386? I'm also thinking a new condenser? The tractor is a couple
Hour drive for me so part numbers on that would really help I can prob get them local. I know I need to pull the carb and tank bring it home and go through them but figured if I can the mag sorted out there I would not have to pull it (which timing it I gather is a pain) n bring it home. But... Not knowing what mag it is I'm prob screwed on that one.
Thanks Dave

how much you pick that up for?

[quote="Davehitch"]Thank you both
What about spark plugs got a recommendation for me I think it had an auto lite 386? I'm also thinking a new condenser? The tractor is a couple
Hour drive for me so part numbers on that would really help I can prob get them local. I know I need to pull the carb and tank bring it home and go through them but figured if I can the mag sorted out there I would not have to pull it (which timing it I gather is a pain) n bring it home. But... Not knowing what mag it is I'm prob screwed on that one.
Thanks Dave[/quote]

386 Autolite is a "resistor type" plug and not recommended for magneto use as they will put too much strain on a maggy over time, try and find some Autolite 3116, they are a "non resistor" type, condensers are generally pretty reliable on these old mags and rarely need replacing however if over time you find your points burning then by all means replace it but in the mean time I'd leave that one alone as I've found it challenging finding the correct condensers for my old Cat mags even out of the USA and I've had 10 or 12 mags "reconditioned" over the past 10 years by different "Magneto Experts" , getting the right condenser that fits the space is the challenge and once you ID the mag brand that will help big time. If you continue to have a orange spark at the plugs then clean your points and if there is gas getting into the cylinders that pony will fire with compression as low as 25 pounds.

Keep everything simple right now with this pony, it might be good to go as is, change the oil, fresh gas, water in cooling system, make sure you can shut it down if it takes off on you, and try firing it up, only takes a hour to take things apart, can sometimes take a month to a year to get them back on the old Cat.......
Mike

[quote="Mike Meyer"]386 Autolite is a "resistor type" plug and not recommended for magneto use as they will put too much strain on a maggy over time, try and find some Autolite 3116, they are a "non resistor" type, condensers are generally pretty reliable on these old mags and rarely need replacing however if over time you find your points burning then by all means replace it but in the mean time I'd leave that one alone as I've found it challenging finding the correct condensers for my old Cat mags even out of the USA and I've had 10 or 12 mags "reconditioned" over the past 10 years by different "Magneto Experts" , getting the right condenser that fits the space is the challenge and once you ID the mag brand that will help big time. If you continue to have a orange spark at the plugs then clean your points and if there is gas getting into the cylinders that pony will fire with compression as low as 25 pounds.

Keep everything simple right now with this pony, it might be good to go as is, change the oil, fresh gas, water in cooling system, make sure you can shut it down if it takes off on you, and try firing it up, only takes a hour to take things apart, can sometimes take a month to a year to get them back on the old Cat.......
Mike[/quote]
Thanks your right I'll grab plugs n clean the points on the dizzy side change oil ect but I'm pulling that carb and going through it I just know it needs it they all do today's gas is garbage