So after a full rebuild of the engine and carb on my TO-30 it will not start. Changed the points gaped at .020 and the condenser, rotar and cap. plugs 1 2 and 3 spark okay but 4 is very weak. Bad wires or could it be something else. All of the wire ends look good. And the tractor ran before the head gasket blew. Could the coil be going? Tried a different plug with the same result.

Thanks
 
I got the spark back. One wire had a bad connection. Still will not start. I had the head rebuilt. Should I double check all of the valve settings?
 
You realize the firing order and the distributor turns counter clockwise? Did you make sure MAKE SURE it was on # 1 COMPRESSION at TDC?
 
1 should be the top left correct? Then 3,4,2. I just can't figure out what is going on. What else should I be looking for?
 
just from the hip it sound like your plug wire is bad, are the solid or fiber wires? to test the coil just put the center wire that goes to the coil and ground it to the engine make sure the place you ground is clean and shinny with no rust ( sandpaper a small spot) turn the engine over and check the spark if you have spark there then the coil is good. you may even try a small squirt of fuel in each cylinder put the plugs back in and then turn engine over, but once it fires be ready to use the choke in order to draw up more fuel.
 
I was able to get spark again. The wire was a little loose in the cap so I adjusted the end a little and it came back. I will give it a shot with the gas and see if that does the trick. I did try starter fluid in one but that did not do it. I have the carb set at 1 1/4 turn on the main jet and 7/8 on the idle according to the service manual.
 
From what I have read number one should be at approx. 10:00 o'clock position when the front number 1 cylinder is at TDC on the compression stroke. Number three spark plug should be hooked to the dist at approx. seven o'clock position and number four should be hooked to dist. at about four o'clock position. Number 2 should be hooked at about the two o'clock position. Are you getting gas to carb? Do you have spark at plugs? The distributor shaft is not sloppy is it?
 
I have gas to the carb. New screen and new fuel filter. I did get spark back. and the plugs get wet as I am trying turn it over but nothing fires
 
That is how I have it. I just can not get it to go. The plugs are getting wet when I try to turn it over. Does this mean it is to rich? The engine turns but will not fire. I have spark and gas but no luck. The exhaust is puffing so that is not blocked. I need to measure the voltage across the system to make sure. I just can not think of what else it could be. These engines are so simple. I did replace all of the wires on the tractor. One by one with new ends and matching wire gauge but I did this before the engine died and it was running fine.
 
Can you remove your valve cover and verify that when #1 is at TDC that both valves are closed and that the rotor in the dist. is in approx the right position to be hitting the #1 plug wire? Have you done a compression test after rebuild?
 
I spoke to a friend of mine who is a retired Ferguson Mechanic and we walked through everything. It looks like my resistor is shot. The connectors are lose inside the resistor and the spark is weak. I will change it out tomorrow and see what happens. I also need to double check the valve setting to make sure I put it back together correctly. Thanks for the tips and advice.
 
I am going to take it apart and check tomorrow. I
need to check the valve settings anyways. It will
be a good time to see how things are lined up in
there.
 
that sounds right if I remember, every tractor is a little different the idle screw went turn in make the mixture more rich unlike most other idle screws
 

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