8N not starting

Good evening:

My previous post from the other day is below. After looking over the advice given, i checked the points and they looked good, and had the proper gap. The rotor looked in good condition as did the inside of the distributor cap. However, when i tested the plugs, i am getting no spark at all. Would this possibly be caused by a bad coil? Is there a way to test the coil to see if it is bad?

Thank you


[i:cbd124f713]Hello:
I own a 1951 8N. In the 11 years i have owned it, she has never had trouble starting...until today. The engine cranks very nicely, but i get the smell of fuel quickly, and she never catches. The first thing i did after she wouldn't start was change out the sparkies (H-12's) for a fresh set of 437's, but she still wouldn't catch. There were a few drops of gasoline coming off the bottom of the carb. Can anyone suggest a next step in diagnosing this issue? [/i:cbd124f713]
 
Here's what I would check first with no spark.
Do you have power to the coil? Through it to the distributor?
Then to the points? Do the points spark when they open?
Spark from the coil wire?

Unless you have a spare coil and spare time, I wouldn't go
replacing it until I prove it is the problem.
I do not know of a definitive bench test for a coil unless the
windings are open.
 

I would take the dist cap off, take rotor off, take dust cover off if you have one,

MOre than likely the points will be open. With the key on, hold the wire from coil to the dist so that the end that goes to the dist cap is near bare metal. take a screw driver and touch both contacks of the points and when you take the screw driver away, you should see a spark. What you are doing is the same as when the points open and close. If you get a spark when you short out the points, then i would hold the wire close to the metal and crank the engine over with the starter. you should see a spark. if not clean or replace the points and regap to 0.025"

If you have trouble holding the wire close to metal just hold the metal end of the coil wire and you will find out real quick if you have a spark!! Not for anyone with a weak heart. :lol:
 
(quoted from post at 04:10:58 11/22/14)
I would take the dist cap off, take rotor off, take dust cover off if you have one,

MOre than likely the points will be open. With the key on, hold the wire from coil to the dist so that the end that goes to the dist cap is near bare metal. take a screw driver and touch both contacks of the points and when you take the screw driver away, you should see a spark. What you are doing is the same as when the points open and close. If you get a spark when you short out the points, then i would hold the wire close to the metal and crank the engine over with the starter. you should see a spark. if not clean or replace the points and regap to 0.025"

If you have trouble holding the wire close to metal just hold the metal end of the coil wire and you will find out real quick if you have a spark!! Not for anyone with a weak heart. :lol:

Thank you for the advice. I went through the testing procedures and never got spark anywhere, so i replaced the points, but still no success. After spending hours on this problem, i decided to remove the battery and take it inside to trickle charge it. While taking the battery out, i noticed a wire hanging loose behind the dash. I re-attached that wire (top blue-ended wire in picture), and lo & behold, the tractor fired up and ran like a champ. i feel kind of dumb...live and learn :-/
mvphoto13279.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 03:18:15 11/23/14)
(quoted from post at 04:10:58 11/22/14)
I would take the dist cap off, take rotor off, take dust cover off if you have one,

MOre than likely the points will be open. With the key on, hold the wire from coil to the dist so that the end that goes to the dist cap is near bare metal. take a screw driver and touch both contacks of the points and when you take the screw driver away, you should see a spark. What you are doing is the same as when the points open and close. If you get a spark when you short out the points, then i would hold the wire close to the metal and crank the engine over with the starter. you should see a spark. if not clean or replace the points and regap to 0.025"

If you have trouble holding the wire close to metal just hold the metal end of the coil wire and you will find out real quick if you have a spark!! Not for anyone with a weak heart. :lol:

Thank you for the advice. I went through the testing procedures and never got spark anywhere, so i replaced the points, but still no success. After spending hours on this problem, i decided to remove the battery and take it inside to trickle charge it. While taking the battery out, i noticed a wire hanging loose behind the dash. I re-attached that wire (top blue-ended wire in picture), and lo & behold, the tractor fired up and ran like a champ. i feel kind of dumb...live and learn :-/
mvphoto13279.jpg

on a normal side mount 8n, that part does not exist. don't know how yours is set up but it is not by the manual. glad it runs.
 
Glad you found it. Looks like a roll-your-own 12v conversion.
Normal troubleshooting steps, i.e. checking power to the
coil and tracing back would find that wire too.
 

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