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Hard or no start John Deere B

B

BJH2915

Member
This spring, for what appears no reason at all, my B either won't start or it starts only after cranking for a long period. After it starts, it runs just fine. Couple of years ago I had the mag rebuilt, put in new points, condenser, cap etc. etc. and the tractor ran and started great. So, the timing didn't change by itself, the point gap didn't change by itself but something did. I'd like to spray some starter into the carb and see if its a gas problem. But you can't get the spray into the intake it pretty sealed up. I don't know if I have spark or not. Not sure how to even check that. I asked my neighbor to hang on the spark plug and tell me if he was getting a shock, but he won't do that.
I've had this tractor a long time and this is the first time I'm having this problem.

all ideas welcome.
 
It sounds tome like the impulse spring is weak or broken. You should hear a distinct snap as you are turning the tractor over.
 
You can pull the plug on number one cylinder and crank the engine over to observe the spark. If the points are bad, replace them. Filed points usually don't last very long. You could also have a bad condenser in your mag, if you're running a mag. You can also shoot some starter fluid in the air intake to see if you have a fuel problem.
 
The easiest way to check for spark is to take a spare plug and attach the plug wire to it. Lay the plug against the frame and hit the starter. Allowing the engine to turn over at its normal speed should give you a nice blue spark in the gap of the plug. Its a simple test that only takes seconds.
 
Start with new points. Old can't really be pollished for long run. They are about $16 and NAPA.

Mine tend to need them every year or two.

Rav
 
When you put the mag back on, the timing could be different. Or it was never really "right" before so when you put it on this time slightly different and it's "less right".

Pull both spark plugs and lay them on the manifold. Roll the flywheel over real slow and see how close to "LH IMPULSE" it's actually firing. You want to make sure that #1 (flywheel side plug and TOP of mag) is firing right at LH impulse or just a tad after it.

When you rotate the mag, it adjusts both starting and running timing.
 

What plugs are you running..??

Autolite #3116 is the plug you want..

How fresh is your gasoline..??

New gas does not store as well as it used to..

Ron..
 
Thanks for all comments from everyone. I'm going to start from scratch again. It's been a few years since I replaced points, rotor, etc... I had a similar problem with a motorcycle. It ran really bad and I could not find any problems. By pure accident, I put a new set of points in and ran like a champ.
I've tried starter fluid. That's not it. Gas is good.
I'll find another neighbor to hang on the plug. I've got one on each side of my house.
I did try roughing up the surface on the points. To my surprise there was a lot of black junk that came off of it. But it still didn't start.
 
The mag's been on for a couple of years. Use to run just fine. This year its giving me a hard time. After I get my new points, I'll try retiming again.
 
This is new on me. I never heard of an impulse spring. I've never heard any snaps, even when it started fine last year.
What does the impulse spring do?
 
You"re chasing your tail if you"re replacing points. Look at what jdpuller and Tom said. If you aren"t getting spark when you roll it over and don"t here that snap, it"s something related to the impulse.
 
My AR was a hard starter from the time I bought it and I finally pulled the mag off, put it in a vise and turned it over. It was definitely not snapping - the wind-up cogs were not engaging, so it wouldn't start until it got to the point where it was turning fast enough to make spark without the impulse spring. Pulled the impulse cup off the bottom (keeping everything in the proper place) and found the spring in 7 pieces. I ordered a new spring, but since I wanted to run it that day, I took out the small pieces and brazed the 2 pieces with the holders on them together and put it back together. Put the mag back on and it started on the 2nd compression - maybe a little extra snap from a shorter spring ? Anyway, the new spring is still in a bag on the bench a year later - I'm sure I'll recognize the problem if it happens again and will put the new spring in then ! Meanwhile the AR is an easy start ! -Ron
Tractors and Mexico travels
 
I still don't understand what this snap is? Electrical snap or mechanical snap. Where would I hear it coming from?
 
Is it set up so you can spin it over by hand??? If it is then do so and listen for the impulse to trip. If you can not here it trip then you have found where your problem is. No trip means very hard to start if you can get it to start. Also you need a spark that will jump a 1/4 inch gap and is a blue white color
 
The snap is from the impulse part of the mag. It is sort of loud click sound from the mag and if you turn it over by hand you should be able to hear it loud and clear. No click/trip hard start like I said in my other post. Oh by the way what year is your B. I have a 1935 hand start B so if you have one like I have you learn fast about the impulse work or not working or you end up having to stop to catch your breath 10 times before it starts
 
Looks like I've been misleading everyone, sorry.
This is an electric starter with a WICO XB40 which I assume now is not a Mag.

Probably explains why I didn't know what the impulse click was. Dah!
 
Well do you have a wire from the battery to an ignition switch and then a wire from that switch to the distributor or what looks like a mag??? If you do then you have a distributor but never heard of a Wico distributor. Now if all you have is a kill switch which grounds out the mag you do have a mag and even electric start JD-Bs had mags on a good many of them
 
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