52 8N plug wires connected wrong still ran...not any more.

PJ Maine

New User
Have you ever heard of a 6v tractor running with the 6v coil wired in reverse (- going to the distributer not +) AND the firing order 1-2-4-3 was reversed because I thought #1 cylinder was by the battery not the radiator?
52 8n was working fine like that and then she shut down and would not turn over after running for about 2 hours. I discovered the mistake after troubleshooting the electrical side. I have ordered a new coil, points, condenser, etc..
Am I on the right track? Thanks
 
The coil - or + wouldn't make much difference at all.
I wouldn't worry about that.

I can see how it might run with the wires in that order.
Question is, if it ran, why did it quit?

When you say "not turn over" do you mean the engine won't
turn over or that it doesn't start? Two different things to me.

Do you still have spark to the spark plugs and/or coil wire?
 
Well first off let get terms right so we know what your saying for sure.
If it does not turn over that term means the starter does not turn the flywheel. TURN over does not mean it runs.
My guess is your really saying the starter turn the engine but it does not fire up RIGHT??
Start by simple trouble shooting. Make sure you have a good blue/white spark that jumps a 1/4 inch gap at the center distributor cap wire and then the 4 plug wires. And yes #1 plug is by the radiator but it also sounds like you do not know which way the rotor turns so you need to pull the cap off and watch it when the engine is spinning over because if you have the firing order wrong you can still have 2 correct and an 8N will run that way
 

Yes, it turned over and did not fire. I checked spark with an inline spark plug tester. I had spark but don't know how strong or weak the spark is. Plugs are clean and gapped. I had checked point gap, rotor, new condenser and cap. When I saw the coil I suspected that caused the problem.
 

I check rotor rotation CCW and started with #1 wire at the front #2 next, #3 farthest back and #4, 3rd from the front. I don't understand how it was running before.
 
Those round can coils are fairly bullet proof and will work either
way. There may be a minor advantage to having it hooked the
right way, but if you still have good spark, it's working.

You can check the quality of spark just by holding a spark plug
wire a 1/4 away from a good ground, or by using an old plug,
stretching the gap way out and grounding it to a good ground.
Should be a nice blue/white color.
 
(quoted from post at 18:18:22 11/23/15)
I check rotor rotation CCW and started with #1 wire at the front #2 next, #3 farthest back and #4, 3rd from the front. I don't understand how it was running before.


I went back to how the plug wires were set up before 1,2,4,3 starting #1 from the plug nearest the steering wheel, #4 by the radiator and the tractor started and is running! I guess the distributer is 180* off?
Is there any harm running it like this or should I try and rotate the distributor? Thanks
 
(quoted from post at 12:33:05 11/30/15)
(quoted from post at 18:18:22 11/23/15)
I check rotor rotation CCW and started with #1 wire at the front #2 next, #3 farthest back and #4, 3rd from the front. I don't understand how it was running before.


I went back to how the plug wires were set up before 1,2,4,3 starting #1 from the plug nearest the steering wheel, #4 by the radiator and the tractor started and is running! I guess the distributer is 180* off?
Is there any harm running it like this or should I try and rotate the distributor? Thanks
ou have it correct & don't know it. If running fine, leave it alone.
 
From front to back the cylinders are 1,2,3,4. Plug wires should be hooked up 1,2,4,3 and from what your saying sounds like the #3 and #4 plug wires need to be swapped
 

The tractor is running smooth on 3-4-2-1 starting from the radiator. Just the opposite from specifications. The distributor must be off 180*? I'm not going to fuss with it as I ran it for 2 hours working in the woods today with no issues. Anyone else every heard of this?
 
(quoted from post at 17:51:34 11/30/15)
The tractor is running smooth on 3-4-2-1 starting from the radiator. Just the opposite from specifications. The distributor must be off 180*? I'm not going to fuss with it as I ran it for 2 hours working in the woods today with no issues. Anyone else every heard of this?
t is all in the numbers. You can assign numbers to distributor towers & cylinders any way that you want, even calling them A-B-C-D if you like! All that matters is that the firing order is: cylinder at fan , followed by next one rear of that, then the last cylinder by battery, then finally the cylinder that is second forward of battery. (1-2-4-3)
Since it is repetitive or circular, you could even describe it as: second forward of battery, cylinder at fan, second from fan, & finally rear most at battery (3-1-2-4). Or 2-4-3-1 or 4-3-1-2 or if labeled A-B-C-D starting at fan and working to rear, the firing order would then be A-B-D-C. On the distributor these sequences will all be rotating around in a CCW direction. They are all the same, just worded differently.
 

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