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Bad Ignition Switch???

B

Bob Kirk

New User
My 1955 IH 300 utility has been known for starting first time every time. But lately, including today, it has failed to fire at all after sitting for a week or two. I have replaced all ignition parts including the coil, but today again there is no "pop" at all.

But as soon as I hooked a hot wire from the positive side of the battery to the positive side of the coil, she fired right up.

Something in the back of my mind tells me that this means the ignition switch is bad or I have a bad wire between the switch and the coil.

Is this correct? Can I identify which wire runs to the coil just by looking at the back of the switch?

This tractor is 12 volt, negative ground. It has some kind of ceramic gizmo mounted on top of the coil that the positive side wire goes in and out of -- I think for regulating voltage to the coil? Could this gizmo be my culprit?

By the way, is there any downside to running the tractor temporarily with a hot wire from the battery to the coil?

Thanks very much for your thoughts. Bob
 
could be the ballast resistor is bad, thats the ceramic deal. use a voltmeter and check the voltage at both sides. be sure the breaker points are open. should have 12v on one side and maybe 6-8 volts on the other side. if not change the resistor. napa has em. ask for one for an early 1970's b body chrysler car.
 
The "gizmo" could be your problem. It is a ballast resistor that steps your voltage down from 12v to 6v, since the tractor was originally 6v. It allowed the tractor to keep the original 6v coil but use a 12v battery.

When you replaced the coil, did you get a 6v or 12v coil. If you put a 12v coil in place and left the resistor there that is your problem. You are still stepping the voltage down, but have a coil that needs 12v. When you hot wired the tractor my guess is you skipped right past the resistor. Either remove the resistor, or put in a 6v coil. If it was mine, I would remove the resistor and use a 12v coil.

Hope this helps.
 
Either buy a cheap Multimeter or test light and trace the problem out. it will take all of the guess work out of it.

Personally I think that if you don't know what a ballast resistor is them maybe you should take a course at your local high school or get a book for Dummies on automotive repair, they have them at Amazon

Walt
poke here
 
Glennster,

I agree with your recommendation that the ballast resistor is bad, however, I was thinking that the voltage on both sides of the resistor would be the same (in this case 12 volts) if the points were open. Wouldn't that result in an open circuit with no current flowing through the ballast resistor?

It seems to me that the voltage drop across the ballast resistor would only occur if the points were closed and current was flowing through the resistor and coil. Or am I thinking wrong?

Tom in TN
 
Tom,
You are 100% correct. No current is flowing with the points open and you should see battery voltage on both sides of the coil.
 
Walt you are getting a little crusty.I know you are supposted to have a higher I.Q. than the rest of us mortals, however this fellow only wants to play with his tractor. He might be the skilled surgen who could save youe life or a fireman to save your home and just needs to play with his toys to relax. You don"t have to be a locksmith to unlock a door!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Paul - Your advice sounds right to me (feel a little stupid I didn't think of this when I was replacing parts!)

I did put in a new 12 volt coil. Do you know if the points and condenser will be OK if I go to 12 volts all the way through the distributor?

Thanks. Bob
 
if you put in a 12 volt coil it should be made with an internal ballast resiston almost all older ignitions are really 6 volt 12 coil cuts down to 6v
 
if you put in a 12 volt coil it should be made with an internal ballast resiston almost all older ignitions are really 6 volt 12 coil cuts down to 6v
 
if you put in a 12 volt coil it should be made with an internal ballast resiston almost all older ignitions are really 6 volt 12 coil cuts down to 6v
 
I hope he went to a good school to learn how to do that brain surgery.
So what's wrong with getting a book to learn how to fix the tractor.
Some how I wonder why people get upset when I suggest getting a book or manual so as to learn how to fix something.
I have been a mechanic now for over 52 years and I wouldn't be without my manuals. They are the first thing I buy when I get a new piece of equipment.
Ever try to time a baler without the book, good luck.
Walt
 
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