Mike Burgan
New User
Morning folks, I have a 1948 John Deere B. When I tried to start the tractor yesterday, it fired once, and then nothing. It ran fine the last time I used it to push snow two weeks ago (its main use). Didn't sound like it was getting spark, so I pulled distributor cab. When I turned the motor over, the rotor only turned a little bit - engine cracked over 10 times or so and rotor turned maybe 1/4 turn. Where the motor is, and with the distributor cap off, you can turn the rotor backwards by hand about a 1/4. You cannot turn the rotor by hand forward. I also took the governor cover off above the flywheel. Three of the ball bearings were out of their cage. They were stuck to bearing grease on the governor end cap. I did not see any obvious damage to the race on the end of the governor shaft. I was able to pull the cages the ball bearings ride in out of the race it rides in, so I assume it is shot and will be replacing it (New Departure #909601). I did not see anything else that was obviously broken in that end of the governor. What else should I look for? The governor gears were meshed with the gears on the flywheel (or crack shaft if that is what they are meshed with). But I did not try to turn it over to see if the timing marks were still lined up. Would the bad bearing cause the governor to not turn the distributor (seems unlikely to me). Or is the problem more likely with the WICO magneto (model X)? Any recommendations on who can rebuild the magneto in north Idaho/eastern WA, or elsewhere that I can ship it to? Thanks for your help in advance! I need to get this thing going. It is the main thing we use for snow removal, and we have a month or two of winter left!