350 john deere distributor

have a 350 johnd deere track loader. it is 3 cylinder gas motor. orginal distributor had short, friend worked on it checked with meters and said it was okay, but when you hook hot work to fire flies and will melt the wire if you don't un hook it. it does the same if you test with 12 volt battery. it is factoery 12 volt system. does any one know the problem thanks
 
Could be a number of thing. The insulator going threw the body of the distributor could be shorted out seen that many times over the years on distributors. Also the condenser wire where it hooks to the points could be shorted out also seen that. Also know what a pain in the back sides it is to work on that machine I have a friend who has one and guess who has to make it run when he can't
 
Try removing the point them self and condenser then try power. In a distributor there is not much that can short out since the points are a switch that triggers the coil and when the points are closed it is a direct short and when open it is an open circuit.
 
There is nothing in the distributor that can short other then the insulator in the side of the distributor. If you pull that wire off the points and have it hanging out in the air and hook up power you should have an open circuit. You could also have a burned up coil that is shorted out.
 
"when you hook hot work to fire flies and will melt the wire if you don't un hook it. it does the same if you test with 12 volt battery."

What you are saying makes NO sense since 12 Volt power is NEVER hooked directly to the distributor, the coil primary is in series between the ignition switch and distributor.

The coil primary (and the ballast resistor ahead of it, if used), limit primary current to 3 to 4 Amps, so there should be no MELTING of wires.

(The coil will get pretty hot, though, if the ignition switch is left on with the breaker points closed and the engine not running for an extended length of time.)

Perhaps a read of the material at the link below will help you understand how the ignition components work. (It's a John Deere book on an IH site!)
FOS 20
 
I am talking about the wire that runs from the coil to distributor for the igniton, when you start to hook them up with key on it puts too much fire, could it be a bad coil, it may not make sense but it is true, thanks
 
By what you are saying the trouble is in the distributor,the contact points are not installed properly or the condenser is shorted out,the contact set is made up of two parts,the anvil and the striker,the anvil is secured to the distributor body and is directly grounded,the striker (the piece that the cam operates) has to be insulated from the anvil and body otherwise there is a dead short,use a test lamp,with the points open and the coil wire removed from the coil clip one lead to it and the other to the hot battery cable,the light should not come on,if it does it is either the contact set is not properly installed or the condenser is shorted out,remove the condenser wire and test it the same way,if the light comes on the condenser is shot.
AJ
 
thanks, I think dist. plate has got short, I know where I can find one if I need it. it si too bad to work on now, thanks a lot
 
AJ has NOT done you a favor. Even with a shorted breaker plate, the coil should heat up, NOT the wire from the coil to the distributor burn up.
 
I can only go by what you say,I said that I suspected that the contact set is not installed properly or the condenser is shot and how to test them,there is probably nothing wrong with the distributor,every thing in the distributor is connected directly to ground except the striker half of the points,if you suspect the coil test it,remove the wire from the coil to the distributor,remove the HT lead from the center of the cap,clip a jumper wire to the - terminal of the coil,switch on the ignition,hold the HT lead with an insulated pliers 1/2" away from a good ground,tip the jumper wire rapidly to ground,if the coil is good a spark should jump across,no spark coil is shot,what is the story of this breakdown.
AJ
 
okay, my guy that worked on the 350 john deere distributor, when taking it in and out, knocked the ignition wire loose from wherever it is hooked, and in the mean time he got put in jail, I need to know where the ignition wire hooks so I will get fire do the distributor, I got every thing else hooke, all I need to know is where the switch wire goes, cant find the other end, I got fire coming from the key switch, any help. thanks
 
The wire coming from the ignition switch should connect to the + terminal of the coil,the wire going to the distributor should connect to the - terminal of the coil.
Good luck
AJ
 
okaystill having problems, points are firing but no fire comining out of spark wire, new rotar button and good dist cap. could I have burned the condensaer up. need more help thanks
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top