ford 3000 not starting

sven6

Member
I have a ford 3000 that has run fine. Just today, it will turn over but not fire. I'm wondering if the dampness has caused a problem. Its been real cold then warm the last two days. Everything in the shed is soaking wet with condensation. I found one loose wire on the side of the coil but everything else looks good. I probably have it flooded now as a little gas is dripping out of the carb.
Ideas?
 

gas will dribble from any updraft carb if it doesn't start. Check the plugs if they are really wet it could be flooded. The weather conditions that you describe are ideal for moisture in the distributor. Determine first weather or not you have spark and take care of that before going after fuel.
 
Stupid question. Is there an easy way to check for spark by myself. I don't have a second person to turn the key while I hold the plug.
 
Remove the spark plugs and sand blast or replace.

Verify good spark.

If cold climate, remove summer formula gasoline and replace with winter gasoline.

Dean
 
EZ

100_03871.jpg
 
Not sure I get your picture. Is the spark plug wire just touching the side? Anyway, I held the spark plug connected to the wire against the side and saw no spark. So it looks like its electrical.
Now I need to narrow it down. I think I should get a tester. What procedure would you guys follow at this point?
 
Check for 12 volts at the coil + post with the key in the run or cranking position. If not 12 volts, trace it back to the switch. You can apply 12 volts to the coil + terminal momentarily, with a short piece of jumper wire, just hold it on there by hand, and it should fire. Unless you got your points fouled. you can run a piece of really fine sandpaper between the points when they are closed to make sure they have good contact. that is usually the problem when things get wet.
 
Thanks John. I'll give it a try. We have a small blizzard right now but maybe in a day or two.
 

you have the dreaded condensation disease.... inside the distributor cap... You need to pull the cap,, run a blow drier on it to get out ALL the moisture.. on the cap and the points plate... clean the points gap, then it will run fine.


Will do it every time the humidity is high. Once the tractor catches that disease you will have it for life,, till you go electronic.
 
Thanks. I did pull the distributor cap. Cleaned the points. Doesn't look like moisture. How can I test the coil or whatever I should do next. I did check the BAT side of the coil and it reads 9.5V
 
9.5v doesn't sound like enough voltage. You should have a full 12 volts to the coil. Can you verify that you have 12 volts to the ignition? You did say you found a loose wire at the coil. did that get put back in the right spot? There should be 1 wire going from - (dist) side of coil to distributor, and 1 wire going from + (batt) side of the coil to the ignition switch. If you apply 12 volts to the + side, will it fire up?
 
Thanks, yes, the wire was tightened down. And I do have 12v going to the + side. What should the ohm reading be between the two small posts (primary) and + and center post?
Someone said that if I take the distributor cap off and crank it, I should see a spark at the points. Is this correct?
 
First of all, you have to get a well-charged working battery that has a minimum of 12.5 volts. You can't diagnose anything without that. If your current battery won't hold that charge, replace it.

Then, if it still doesn't start, take the advice (given many times) to check for spark at the plugs. Get a $5 spark plug tester so you can see the spark while you crank the engine.

If you see a good spark, the problem probably isn't electrical, and you'll have to start on the fuel system.

You have to be methodical to diagnose problems. Someone's guess may be right, but that's a long shot.
 
I do not know the resistances off hand and I don't have a 12 volt coil to test, but, if you have another 12 volt coil around, a coil is a coil so you could swap it out and see what you got. it only takes a few seconds to do that.
 
You were right! After I put the space heater on the opened distributor cap for two hours, it started right up!
Thanks so much.
Steve
 

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