WeekendWarrior
New User
I use my 9N for just about everything, including weekly mowing. Recently I was mowing the lawn and the motor unexpectedly died. I discovered that the wire from the alternator to the battery melted on the exhaust manifold and then managed to weld itself to #4 spark plug!
Now my 9n will not start, I have no 'sparky' at any cylinder. Here is some important info about my setup and my testing so far:
9n
Front mount distributor
12v negative ground with GM alternator
Ballast resistor
Round automotive style coil
I installed a Pertronix Ignitor electronic ignition kit in February and it has been running like a champ until now.
Tractor came without the original wiring harness, and they weren't using a ballast resistor, so I burnt through a few square can coils and messed with TSC melted points before installing the EI. It has been running like a champ for months and starts in -20 or 90 degree weather all the same.
Here's what I have tested:
I have 12+ volts at the battery, after the ignition switch, after the ballast resistor, and at the coil.
Disconnecting the alternator has no effect on the starting problem.
I took the automotive coil out and used it to start up an old van, which ran fine on the coil (coil works).
I took the distributor out and bench tested it according to the manufacturers instructions and it WORKS! When I rotate the dist shaft the voltmeter shows 12 to 0 and back to 12v as I rotate it, which is the desired result.
Here's the kicker: when everything is reinstalled on the tractor and I crank the motor with the voltmeter on the neg side of coil and grounded to battery there is 12v and it does not alternate to 0. I don't know if this is to be expected (maybe it happens too fast to detect?).
In any event, my 9n will not start since the alternator wire incident. I'm scratching my head over here....any advice or suggestions are welcome. And yes, I know I will take flak for installing the EI!
Now my 9n will not start, I have no 'sparky' at any cylinder. Here is some important info about my setup and my testing so far:
9n
Front mount distributor
12v negative ground with GM alternator
Ballast resistor
Round automotive style coil
I installed a Pertronix Ignitor electronic ignition kit in February and it has been running like a champ until now.
Tractor came without the original wiring harness, and they weren't using a ballast resistor, so I burnt through a few square can coils and messed with TSC melted points before installing the EI. It has been running like a champ for months and starts in -20 or 90 degree weather all the same.
Here's what I have tested:
I have 12+ volts at the battery, after the ignition switch, after the ballast resistor, and at the coil.
Disconnecting the alternator has no effect on the starting problem.
I took the automotive coil out and used it to start up an old van, which ran fine on the coil (coil works).
I took the distributor out and bench tested it according to the manufacturers instructions and it WORKS! When I rotate the dist shaft the voltmeter shows 12 to 0 and back to 12v as I rotate it, which is the desired result.
Here's the kicker: when everything is reinstalled on the tractor and I crank the motor with the voltmeter on the neg side of coil and grounded to battery there is 12v and it does not alternate to 0. I don't know if this is to be expected (maybe it happens too fast to detect?).
In any event, my 9n will not start since the alternator wire incident. I'm scratching my head over here....any advice or suggestions are welcome. And yes, I know I will take flak for installing the EI!