intermittant misfiring 1963 John Deere 2010

I have a frustrating problem with my 1963 John Deere 2010. I and my mechanic thought we had a fuel starvation problem, but now, after bleeding the fuel line and taking the carburetor apart, still have the problem. Also, a few years ago, the tractor was running rough, and the mechanic found some pine needles in the line between the tank and sediment bowl.

Presently6 the tractor's performance is this: after a quick start and smooth running, within a few minutes the tractor starts misfiring (sounds like a vehicle would with the choke out). This will sometimes last a few seconds then run well, then rough again. Yesterday, however, it kept running rough for 2 minutes before it shut off. Sometimes it will stall out completely. I wait 10minutes and it starts right up, runs well then misfires and maybe stalls.

With the past history of a few years ago, I felt for sure it was a fuel blockage. Especially due to the fact I live on a hill with a 700 foot driveway, and the problem only presents when driving uphill, never downhill. While plowing during the last snowfall, however, the problem arose while going downhill also. I have very little perfectly level driveway, but the tractor will idle there indefinitely.

Question: Could the problem be due to the coil or other electrical components? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks, in advance, for your consideration,

Bob King

First off does choking it hurt or help?? Next try some simple trouble shooting.

#1 check and make sure you have a good blue/white spark that will jump a 1/4 inch gap or more at the center wire of the distributor cap and at all 4 plug wires.

#2 pull the carb drain plug and let the gas flow. You should have a flow good enough to fill a pint jar in under 3 minutes.

If you find the spark to be weak try a hot wire from the ignition side of the battery to the ignition side of the coil. If doing that works then you have a bad ignition switch or poor connection or bad wire from the battery to the coil

Yes, first thing is to see if the tractor runs better or worse with the choke pulled or not. Keep in mind you may have to try the choke in different positions. If it does run better then the carb is plugged up or it is lacking fuel from the tank.

I want to think the issue is in the carb as you said it skips going up hill, but runs fine going down hill, well now it is starting to skip going down hill. It sounds to me as when the tractor starts to lug it is not getting enough fuel.

Carb may be out of adjustment.
Carb not getting enough fuel.
Carb may be worn out allowing it to suck more air (from throttle paddle) which changes the air to fuel ratio.
Carb may have a blocked passage way.

I would also recommend that you check and set the linkage in the throttle system (speed control lever to governor to the carb)

Check the intake manifold for holes and the manifold gasket and look for leaks. If it is sucking air it will run rough all the time not just going up hill, then again its happening all the time now....

Yes it can be the coil as they will sometimes develop an intermittent condition that will mimic a bad mixture problem exactly. Only real fix is to replace it though and if the condition continues then it's not the coil. Would of course first check the points for proper setting and decent looking contacts. Spark plug wires older than ten years should be changed out, but the random problem coming and going like you have doesn't point to the wires -- it does point directly to the coil however. They WILL do exactly these symptoms.

Hook a timing light up to it and duct tape it to the hood so you can see it from the seat and as you run it as it dies see if you still have spark indicated by flashing light. This will tell you if it is ign. or fuel problem.