I think it just doesn't like snow!

Lynn Patrick

Well-known Member
After yesterday's success story (1970 3000 gas - new points & started right up & ran great for 1/2 hour!) I went out today to push last night's snow. Tractor started better than ever, ran great for about 10 minutes & died again! That makes 5 times it's done that, running less each time, & again I had to finish snow removal so used the 2000 to push it back into shop & finish clean up. Each of the other times I could get no spark until I messed w/the points. Will pull the cap tomorrow & check things again.
Any ideas I am missing??? If it's anything else why has the only cure been to work on the points?
 
(quoted from post at 16:35:22 02/11/18) After yesterday's success story (1970 3000 gas - new points & started right up & ran great for 1/2 hour!) I went out today to push last night's snow. Tractor started better than ever, ran great for about 10 minutes & died again! That makes 5 times it's done that, running less each time, & again I had to finish snow removal so used the 2000 to push it back into shop & finish clean up. Each of the other times I could get no spark until I messed w/the points. Will pull the cap tomorrow & check things again.
Any ideas I am missing??? If it's anything else why has the only cure been to work on the points?
would be inserting an ammeter in the coil circuit & measuring SS on current.
 
JMOR, please say more?? Does the ammeter go before the coil? Also, I'm probably just having an oldtimer's moment, but what is the SS?
Thanks!
 
The reason the only cure is working on the points is because you need good current flow to make spark when the points open. If the points don't make a nearly perfect connection when closes there won't be enough current flow to get good spark. Good points (and maybe a new condensor as that keeps the points from burning up) will cure the problem. Pertronix ignitions eliminate the points so you always get the good current flow.
 
Are you running a coil that needs an external resistor without actually having an external resistor? That setup will work great with new points, but will burn them up in short order, and the coil's life will be shortened as well, but it won't go as fast as the points.
 

It could be that during the time that you are messing with the points that something else is happening, like a bad coil cooling down.
 
A little more history since I bought this tractor:
I put a tune up kit (plugs, points, condenser, cap & wires from this site) in shortly after buying as the wires were in very poor condition (one insulated w/duct tape!) & I had no idea how long since it's last tune. After that I did not use the tractor much until snow. After the last time it died I replaced the points w/a set of Blue Streak & replaced the coil w/one I had just in case it was the coil heating. I can also let it sit for several days & still have no spark until I tear into the distributor which I feel eliminates the need for something to cool.
So I guess at this point I have 2 more questions:
Does the 3000 have a reputation for a "weak little sister" (Dell's words!) ignition switch like the early N's?
Could a "bad" new condenser be causing this that somehow needs disconnected before working again?
Will do more testing/checking this morning.
Thanks for the replies!
 
I keep extra condensers around for everything that I have with points. I've even had better ones fail. They are cheap and easy to change. If they work they go for years, but in more recent years about 50% of the ones I've changed fail about like what you are describing. I won't even keep ones I've replaced that I knew worked. I suggest replacing just to rule it out.
Good Luck!
 
(quoted from post at 17:01:59 02/11/18)
(quoted from post at 16:35:22 02/11/18) After yesterday's success story (1970 3000 gas - new points & started right up & ran great for 1/2 hour!) I went out today to push last night's snow. Tractor started better than ever, ran great for about 10 minutes & died again! That makes 5 times it's done that, running less each time, & again I had to finish snow removal so used the 2000 to push it back into shop & finish clean up. Each of the other times I could get no spark until I messed w/the points. Will pull the cap tomorrow & check things again.
Any ideas I am missing??? If it's anything else why has the only cure been to work on the points?
would be inserting an ammeter in the coil circuit & measuring SS on current.
teady state= Points closed, engine stopped. The ammeter will be inserted in series so it does not matter whether it is in wire from ignition switch to coil or in wire from coil to distributor. However, if you find it difficult to rotate engine to a stop with points closed, then place ammeter in switch to coil wire & simply ground the wire from coil to distributor (that is what the points normally do anyway). Current, with a well charged battery, should be close to 4 amperes. Not too low or too high.
 

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