1972 Ford 3000 wont stay running

Mkonieczny

New User
Had two occasions that this has happened. After approx an hour Plowing tractor died. I thought I hit the key and turned it off
Tried starting and it seams to want to run only when the key is turned and starter is engaged. Let sit for approx. 15 minutes and was able to get running by open close throttle , choke on , off.
My father left me this tractor.... always been kept in the garage , 1800 hours in great shape. Not very experienced with how it all
Works .... just looking for advise on where to start looking
Thanks in advance!
 
I assume that it has a gasoline engine, and not a diesel, correct?

If so, it sounds like the wire from the run position on the key switch to the coil has gone bad or become disconnected. There's a wire form the solenoid to the coil that provides power to the coil when the key is in the start position, and another wire from the run position on the key switch to the coil and that one is the one I think has the problem. The original wire had an inline section of resistance wire that served as the ballast resistor. If it is still original then the resistance wire section of the wire may have burned out, or as I said, the main wire or one of the contacts could have failed or become disconnected.
 

Tractor guru ... yes gasoline engine, friend and I were discussing that exact thing. Whats odd is that after several tries it would eventually start and run for a period of time , then It had the same issue again. Let it sit and it started again after some time.
Is it possible its going bad , just hasnt shot craps yet?
 

The ignitions resister wire operates the coil at a reduced voltage for longer point life, the feed back wire from the relay sends full voltage to the coil, that's why it's only active in the start position.
I'm thinking the coil is getting weak when it gets hot but will still fire when getting full voltage.
 
Whats odd is that after several tries it would eventually start and run for a period of time , then It had the same issue again. Let it sit and it started again after some time.
Is it possible its going bad , just hasn't shot craps yet?

How long are "a period of time", and ""some time""? And does it start and run "for a period of time" every time when it has had time to completely cool down, like when it sits overnight? If so then it is likely the coil going bad as Destroked has said.
 
I had ran it for approx. 2hrs and it quit running , sat for approx. 15-20 minutes and started, then ran for approx an hour and quit running, sat for approx 15-20 minutes then got it to start and drove it up to park it.
Dont know if it would make a difference but it was chilly here in Missouri , mid to upper 40s
 
Did you pull the fuel fill cap off and see if it would run then? Clogged vent hole in the cap...engine pulled fuel out of the tank, fuel out, vacuum inside,
fuel pump can't suck very well against a vacuum.
 
Yes that was my second guess after I checked to make sure I didnt hit the key off. Emptied the filter bowl and cleaned the element. Reassembled and when I turned the engine over the bowl filled up.
 
I've got a lot of relatives in and around Freeburg. I used to spend my summers there when I was young. That's where I learned to drive and love tractors.
 
Im guessing my best option at this point is to replace the coil. From what Ive read on other topics is I need to determine which style I have ... internal or external resistor. If Im reading correctly to determine that I need to follow the wire that runs from the coil to the key switch and check for a resistor or a ballast resistor. If a resistor is present I will need a 12v coil (external resistor required) if no resistor is present than a 12v with internal resistor.
Again I appreciate all the help and patience from everyone !
 
The original setup used a resistance wire, which appears to be a thicker section of wire covered in heat shrink tubing, so look for that as well as an external resistor. My 4000 had the original resistance wire replaced with a ceramic ballast resistor when I bought it.
 

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