Abrupt engine shut-down

Recently was raking hay with 1965 MM M-670 (gasoline). Have owned tractor for years, runs well, no issues. Also, it is quite original & absolutely un-molested (original wiring harness, possibly original ignition coil). Anyway, it wasn't being overworked by the 9' Kuhn pto-driven rake though it was a warm day, maybe 90 deg F. Half to 3/4 hour into raking, the engine quit abruptly - no warning - no sputtering. Cranked engine, would not fire. Pulled it aside with a Jet Star & used it to finish raking. Next morning walked out to tractor, started engine just like normal & drove it back to yard. Seems like something electrical? Would appreciate your thoughts . . . Chuck
 
Coil overheating? On the old Fords the ignition switch getting hot would cause the same symptoms.
 
Just spit-balling here, but does it have a condenser? I'd check that first as it's probably the cheapest fix, if not that then maybe the coil? Good luck.....I hate electrical problems.

JD
 
Just spit-balling here, but does it have a condenser? I'd check that first as it's probably the cheapest fix, if not that then maybe the coil? Good luck.....I hate electrical problems.

JD
 
Abrupt shutoff is electrical in 90% of the cases. Especially if it cooled and restarted. The two most suspect components are the coil, and ballast resistor (if it has one. Either of these can fail from one instant to the next, and come alive when cool. A condenser can also fail from age/heat, but usually sputters along before failing unless internally shorted. Diagnosis is to run it again till failure and feel the coil with your hand. If it is way too hot to touch, replace it. The ballast is just a replace task, and when it fails there will be no power at the ignition switch side of the coil when it won't start. Jim
 
When that happens one need to trouble shoot the moment it does that
#1 check that you have a good blue/white spark that will jump a 1/4 inch gap at the center wire of the cap and at the plug wires.
#2 pull the carb drain plug and make sure you have good steady flow of gas that will fill a pint jar in less then 3 minutes.
#3 pull the gas cap an listen for suction or air blowing out.

Hard to trouble shoot after it has cooled down since to me that sound like it is heat related
 
Sounds like the coil to me, but if you do change condensors, be aware that there is a pretty high rate of bad new ones right out of the box these days. You might want to check the condenser by taking one out of some other rig you have and trying it in the Moline first, before buying a new one.
 

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