I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the magnetos on the John Deere D. My D is a 1938 Model with the Edison-Splitdorf Model CD Magneto. My dad re-built this tractor in the mid-1980's, but never got the paint finished. We could never start it by the flywheel, but would have to move it once a year to get access to our crop sprayer, and we would pull it about 10 feet and it would pop right off. At that time, we had an old John Deere mechanic as a neighbor, so I'm thinking him and my dad went through the magneto and got it timed and such. Anyway, both have since passed away, my dad being gone for 8 years now.
Well, I remember the last few years we would start it, it started spitting and backfiring, and it seemed that each year it would be worse. After dad died, I continued to start it and it ran for maybe the first two years after he passed away, while the coughing and backfiring still got worse each time. Finally the last time it ran, it quit completely and would no longer start at all. I saw that the gas tank was all full of crud, so I thought maybe that was the problem. I took it off a couple of years ago, cleaned it out, and lined it with Red Coat. I also put a carb kit in and yesterday pulled it out for the first time after getting it back together, but no luck. It wouldn't fire at all. After a few trips of being pulled around the block to try and pull-start it, I took one of the plugs out and routed the wire back to me and there was no spark at all on the plug.
I just talked to Albert and Renaissance Tractors regarding a gasket for another of my tractors, and I mentioned this to him and he suggested switching magnetos to a Wico Model X. He says they are much simpler and produce hotter spark. I am wondering if anyone has ever done this, or if there are any other suggestions. As far as keeping original parts, I guess I just want the tractor running again in memory of my dad. Thanks for any opinions or advice and sorry this got so long winded.
Randy
Well, I remember the last few years we would start it, it started spitting and backfiring, and it seemed that each year it would be worse. After dad died, I continued to start it and it ran for maybe the first two years after he passed away, while the coughing and backfiring still got worse each time. Finally the last time it ran, it quit completely and would no longer start at all. I saw that the gas tank was all full of crud, so I thought maybe that was the problem. I took it off a couple of years ago, cleaned it out, and lined it with Red Coat. I also put a carb kit in and yesterday pulled it out for the first time after getting it back together, but no luck. It wouldn't fire at all. After a few trips of being pulled around the block to try and pull-start it, I took one of the plugs out and routed the wire back to me and there was no spark at all on the plug.
I just talked to Albert and Renaissance Tractors regarding a gasket for another of my tractors, and I mentioned this to him and he suggested switching magnetos to a Wico Model X. He says they are much simpler and produce hotter spark. I am wondering if anyone has ever done this, or if there are any other suggestions. As far as keeping original parts, I guess I just want the tractor running again in memory of my dad. Thanks for any opinions or advice and sorry this got so long winded.
Randy