Well that's a bit embarrassing!

Royse

Well-known Member
I was out plowing snow with my '44 2N yesterday, had the plow up, was
backing up a long stretch of driveway, not starting or stopping, and it died.
Didn't spit or sputter, just died like I'd turned the key off.
Huh. Pulled a plug wire and checked, no spark. Figured.
So I got the Jubilee out and pulled the 2N back to the shop and let the snow
melt off until I could work on it today.
The picture below is of the points. I'm not sure if you can see it or not, but
the contacts only touch about half of their surfaces, they don't meet square.
They're pretty corroded, so I was wondering when I last replaced them.
I got out the maintenance logs to look, and that's where it gets embarrassing.
I bought this tractor as a non-runner 4 years ago, already converted to 12v.
Drained, flushed and filled the gas tank, changed the oil and plugs and it started up.
So I changed all the fluids - oil, tranny, antifreeze, and put it in service.
I have never changed the points. Nor have I serviced them. :oops:
When I took the distributor off, there was a gasket under the coil, but the
other three were missing. It's a wonder it has never died from moisture.
So I put in a new set of Blue Streak points (got to use my new-to-me timing
tool from The Old Hokie) and a new gasket set and was back in business.
How on earth can a guy who keeps records of every part replaced forget
to to check the points on a newly purchased tractor?
Senior moment I guess.
I ordered replacement parts to hang on the pegboard from YT tonight, and
I checked all the other maintenance logs. The rest of the tractors have all
had the points checked/gapped/greased once a year, just not this one.
If it ain't broke don't fix it?


14681.jpg
 
I'm sure, but he sell them out about as fast as he can come up with them.
His contact info is posted on the forum if you search, but email is [email protected]
TOH, hope you don't mind me re-posting it.
 
xring.......would you believe the weird 4-nipple frontmount is timed to 1/4" (use a 1/4"-drill) per the picture in yer I&T FO-4 manual. ($25, cheap) The 4-nipple dizzy has built-in timing retard/advance screwdriver adjust on the LEFT side of the dizzy. That was to compensate for quality (octane) of gasoline available in 1939-45. Even today's cheapest gasoline far exceeds the requirement of the LOW COMPRESSION 23hp flathead engine. So you don't need to futtz around. HOWSOMEVERS: recommend non-ethyl high-test gasoline as E85 is not kind to carburetor parts. ........Dell
 
Well, I guess I'm pretty dumb also - went to put new points in
my sidemount '50 and grabbed the wrong set (for my front
mount '48). Stood there scratching my head and wondering
what the h is going on here when the ah ha light came on and
I went back in the barn to get the right set.......
 
(quoted from post at 02:15:21 02/10/13) was
backing up a long stretch of driveway, not starting or stopping, and it died.
Didn't spit or sputter, just died like I'd turned the key off.

I took the tractor down our long driveway like this just to get the mail and newspaper and it just died.... it does that when you run out of gas! Long walk to the garage and back with a small can of gas.
 
(quoted from post at 11:48:54 02/11/13)
(quoted from post at 02:15:21 02/10/13) was
backing up a long stretch of driveway, not starting or stopping, and it died.
Didn't spit or sputter, just died like I'd turned the key off.

I took the tractor down our long driveway like this just to get the mail and newspaper and it just died.... it does that when you run out of gas! Long walk to the garage and back with a small can of gas.
ESERVE?
 
(quoted from post at 11:48:54 02/11/13)
(quoted from post at 02:15:21 02/10/13) was
backing up a long stretch of driveway, not starting or stopping, and it died.
Didn't spit or sputter, just died like I'd turned the key off.

I took the tractor down our long driveway like this just to get the mail and newspaper and it just died.... it does that when you run out of gas! Long walk to the garage and back with a small can of gas.

In my case, it was not out of gas. Lacked about 3 inches of being full to the top.
I have run them out on occasion, but not this time.
The walk of shame. ;)
 
(quoted from post at 16:53:19 02/11/13)
(quoted from post at 11:48:54 02/11/13)
(quoted from post at 02:15:21 02/10/13) was backing up a long stretch of driveway, not starting or stopping, and it died. Didn't spit or sputter, just died like I'd turned the key off.

I took the tractor down our long driveway like this just to get the mail and newspaper and it just died.... it does that when you run out of gas! Long walk to the garage and back with a small can of gas.
ESERVE?

Nope, had it cranked all the way out so I used up the reserve. Thanks for making me feel even dumber! :oops:
 

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