No spark

Got a WD tractor for free last week.It has been sitting for maybe 15 years.The tractor has been inside.Before doing anything I made sure the engine would turn over with the hand crank,and it did.Oil still looks fresh in pan,wires look new as the point condenser,cap and rotor.Put a new 6 volt battery in and it will turn over freely.Took a plug out and didn't see a spark.Could I have put the battery in wrong? Have it hooked up to a neg. ground.Will be changing the plugs out and make sure plug wires a hooked up right.Looks like they tuned it up and put it away.Thanks for the help.

bought a wd45 the same way. try taking cap off and check spark at points. on mine the gas was beyond tar, it was asphalt.
changed tank, rebuilt carb, after soaking 3 days, put in fresh battery, positive ground, pulled it about 75 feet and she fired
right up. put e85 in original tank and soaked about 2 weeks and it cleaned up good. put trip loader on it and use it nearly
every day

1 it's positive ground
2 points can carrod just sitting there to the point they have no electicity going through them
clean your points even if they look new and make sure the power flows thru them

One that sat that long will have the points corroded so you need to either clean them or replace them. gap them to 0.020. If 6 volts it should be + ground but the coil and points do not care which way it is. You could also try a hot wire from the ignition side of the battery which if you leave it the way it is will be the + side and run that to the ignition side of the coil and see if it has spark then

If its a battery powered coil distributor ignition, COIL POLARITY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. If you installed the battery at the wrong polarity it can still fire a spark, but its more efficient if wired correct. For POS Ground the coils + wires to the distributor while for NEG Ground the coils - wires to distributor. The coil has those terminals labeled + and - for a reason you know, if coil polarity made no difference, why would they bother labeling them???????????? Yes Billy Bob and Bubba it can still produce a spark even if wired wrong lol but I suggest the coil be wired AS LABELED

THEREFORE if you installed the battery at the wrong polarity the coil wires should have to be reversed to match the above, but easier to just install the battery at the correct polarity so the coil is wired correct and so is the ammeter and charging system.

TYPICAL cause of no fire is the points (even if look clean) are oxide coated which dragging a dollar bill through may cure, or burned or pitted or mis gapped which a good clean up or light filing may cure but replace if bad then gap correctly.

I would clean and gap the points, install battery correct, insure coil is wired at correct polarity, Polarize the genny, give it a try.

IF STILL NO SPARK to avoid guessing or throwing parts and money at it, work through my Ignition Troubleshooting Procedure which can diagnose the cause of no fire WITHOUT any fancy or expensive equipment, maybe a screwdriver or jumper wire etc

THIS OF IF ITS A BATTERY POWERED COIL DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION NOT A MAGNETO

Install battery and coil at correct polarity AS IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=farmall&th=5745


John T
John Ts Ignition Troubleshooting