John Deere 60 will not run

tomstractorsandtoys

Well-known Member
I have a 60 in my shop from a neighbor that I can not get to run.The tractor set for about three years and was not running good then.We put it in the shop and cleaned the gas tank and had the carb rebuilt by a professional. New points,plugs and condenser were installed.I have good spark at the plugs.No go, so we removed the valve cover to find a stuck valve, freed that up and still no go.Plenty of gas to the carb(we rebuilt the sediment bowl assembly as well).I can not even get any smoke.The bypass starting has been removed so it is 12 volt. Tonight I took the carb of my 630(it runs fine) and put it on the 60 and still nothing.I even sprayed either in the air cleaner and no go.The intake and exhaust manifolds were both replaced several years ago and appear good.I rechecked the plugs and put a tester on the wires while turning it over and it has spark.What should I do next? Is it possible that compression is to poor to start? I do not have a compression tester but can get one Friday if someone recommends it. What compression should it have? It seems to have plenty of air coming out of the spark plug holes without plugs,but that would only be a guess and a poor one at that.I am using Autolite plugs, I think a 386.If I can supply any more info just ask as I will check mu computer several times this evening. Thanks Tom
 
Sounds like U don't have enough vacuum to pull the fuel into the cylinders. If the compression is down, so is the vacuum. Take the air intake loose at the carb and hold your hand over it while U crank it. U should be able to feel some suction.
 

Manifold has corroded through. How much lift and duration on the camshaft? Are the plugs really firing at TDC of the compression stroke ?
 
Manifold is good and the valves appear to be moving as they should. I do not know about the distributer but it was running ok when it was last parked. Thanks Tom
 
"The tractor set for about three years and was not running good then"

"I do not know about the distributer but it was running ok when it was last parked"

i am not trying to be richard here....but which is it? was it not running good when it was parked or was it? That alone would make think about what direction i wanted to take troubleshooting....

Does it smell like gas when it comes out of the spark plug hole?
Are the plugs getting wet?
 
Sat 3 years likely it need an ATF treatment to free up sticking rings which is likely to be causing low compression and low compression means no run condition
 
If it was turning over with a stuck valve, and you didn't notice that, then I'd say you have almost zero compression on both cyl's.
 
Check oil bath air cleaner to make sure it's not full of dirt etc. I have had it were tractor run poor because it was starving for air.
 
If you have spark and you have fuil it will run, you need to take plugs out and pull it in 6th gear and let the trash blow out than put a little oil in each cyclinder and put plugs back and turn fuil on and pull it in 6th gear it will start,if if back fires change the plug wires to differant hole on distributor cab.
 
How much should I put in each cylinder and how long should it set before trying to start. Should I turn it over without the plugs to get the oil out before trying to start? Thanks
 
I would first check timing. Quik check is that the distributor is normally positioned so plug wire terminals are about 5 degrees below the 3 oclock position. If not there is a cam or governor timing issue. Next check the valve open and closing and timing with crank position. Miore than once I have seen the three cap screws that hold the cam gear on come loose. We often found that belting another tractor up to diagnose starting issues saved a lot of time. Good luck
 
Forget about compression test. Either make or buy a fitting to thread into the spark plug hole and put 50 psi air pressure (from compressor) into cylinders one at a time when on TDC comp. stroke. You will have to have it in gear and set brakes and maybe even hold pully brake so as to keep it on TDC when pressure is put to it. Once the air is hooked up then listen to top of muffler , air intake , and crankcase oil fill cap and while you're at it look in radiator for bubbles.You should hear just a hint of air pressure noise and should be equal on ea. cylinder.Lots of air noise at muffler(burned/stuck ex. valve) at intake (stuck/leaking intake valve) in crankcase (bad rings/broken or burned piston) and bubbles in rad. could be expensive. Use an old spark plug and hollow it out and weld in a quick coupler (male) so you can just plug on your air hose. This will tell you the condition of any engine and what needs repaired/replaced. If this tractor hasn't enough compression to fire then you should hear a LOT of air leaving somewhere. In a good engine , you will hear just the faint sound of air and it will be about the same all three places which is the sound of normal leakage past rings. I really don't think compression is your problem. If you hear a loud hiss when rolled with plug out then that is enough to fire. These can be pretty worn out and still start and at least run. Antifreeze getting into cylinders WIll keep it from firing tho.
 
Being that the 60 is like my B you need to jack the front up around 18 inches then fill the cylinders as full as you can. Put the plugs back in then pour ATF down the exhaust to make sure the cylinder with the open exhaust valve it over full. Then let it sit 24-72 hours. The more the better. Then pull the pulls and spin it over. By the way it will make a mess so if you can do it out side as the ATF will spray all over the place but that is what it takes to free the rings up
 
(quoted from post at 21:56:42 11/26/14) Someone had put a carb off a 50 on it. It ran ok but not great.

Remove the 50 carb from the 60. Locate the person that installed the 50 carb on the 60. Take that 50 carb and soundly beat that person with the carb.
How do you know the manifold is ok ?
 

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