3020 wont start again...

BuckBannon

New User
FRUSTRATED !! 1968 3020. Last fall, missing out.
Changed points,condenser,plugs,wires,cap and rotor. Ran fine. About 2 weeks ago, started missing then wouldn't start. New flame thrower coil and another cap and rotor as spark seemed week. Didn't help. Bought electronic ignition, tractor fired up and ran great. Ran fine for 2 days. Shut it down, wont start. It's getting fuel but just wont fire ! Doesn't even pop !
I'm wondering now if it just isn't cranking fast enough. If it's slower, it hasn't changed much.
ANY HELP or buyers...I'm at wits end.
 
Had a problem with my 65 JD 3020 firing up. Mine issue turned out to be a weak fuel pump. Do a fuel pump pressure check or spray a little ether in the air cleaner when it won't fire. Did you put a spark indicator on one of the plugs to be sure it was getting good spark?
 
starting fluid doesn't help. Spark seems week again. I've ordered another new set of plug wires from this site. Thanks for your response!
 
I used to have 2 3020 gassers. Both were impossible to keep running right. I gave up and sold them. I later bought a 4020 gas and now it is a diesel.
 
measure voltage with a voltmeter at the coil with the points closed(working circuit). If ok remember your points are grounding this voltage when closed. you must have a good ground from the points all the way back to the battery. Quick way to check this would be voltmeter connected from battery ground post to the wire on the points. when points are open you should read battery voltage, closed 0 volts. If you see more than 0 volts, move meter leads closer together until you pinpoint your voltage drop.
 
Check your coil If you leave the key on engine off on some of the breaker less ignitions you can burn up coil, wires or key switch.
 
Thanks for your response! I will try that and report back what I find. It's been a good tractor but once I have it back up, it's for sale !!
 
Make sure you have a 12 volt coil on the tractor. Our 3010 had run before a rebuild but would miss after. We found the spark very weak. The tractor had a 6 volt coil on it.
 
I bet it's the electronic ignition. Those are known to burn up. Especially with a bad install. Put it back to the original ignition and I bet it starts right up.
 
I had endless problems with my first pertronix install for my 59 chevy, I only got the control unit and after three attempts to get it working decided that maybe what I needed was the flamethrower coil to go with it. No luck on the fourth attempt either, but the coil alone made such a real difference, I've been a flamethrower convert ever since. I finally set up a fake ignition system on my workbench in the house with voltmeters hanging off of everything and gave it a go there - still no spark or signals to the coil to make one. Then I turned the magnet ring upside down to find that it does work that way, so when I put it on the pickup for the fifth time I was not surprised to see it crank right up like it's done every time I've tried to for the past decade at least, but only with the magnet ring upside down. This tip is not in the instructions, but as it comes from the box, it won't work on a 59 chevy until you put the magnet ring on upside down. As near as I can tell the magnets are mounted near the top of the ring and not in the center, it couldn't have been off by more than a tenth of an inch but just that little bit is a night and day difference in my case anyway. Certainly worth a try. How much of a discount are you going to sell it for once you get it running?
 

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