John Deere won''t start unless pulled

gdtractor

Member
My John Deere H ... won't start with the starter

But if you pull it ... 2 or 3 feet ... it starts and runs great all day!!

Any suggestions when
 
I should have asked what kind of ignition system you have. If you're still with the old Edison-Splitdorf magneto my answer above doesn't apply.
 
I would guess you have a Wico magneto that needs looked at as Coonie said something must not be right with the impulse drive. If the magneto
turns over stiff the spark will suffer especially at impulse cranking speed.
 
Let me tell you a little story incase it's a distributor.

I bought a forage wagon from a guy one time. He had a restored Ferguson 30 sitting there. He said it had belonged to his dad. He said that years ago they were hauling hay with it. They pulled a load up with it and the battery gave out. He said they ran to town and got a new one, put it in and every since then it wouldn't start with the starter. It'd crank over, but not start. He said if you pulled it two feet it would start.

He said they gave up messing with it and parked it for a lot of years. His son got old enough and wanted to restore it. He discovered that years ago when they put that new battery in it, they hooked it up negative ground instead of positive ground like it had been and was supposed to be. He said the boy put another new battery in it, hooked it up positive ground and it started just like it should.
 
gd, what you describe if it has a Magneto Ignition is so often caused by a faulty magneto spring wind and trip impulse assembly.

It could have a weak or broken spring or the spring wind up and trip mechanism isn't functioning.

If you roll the flywheel over (subject to mag) every 180 degrees of rotation you should hear a definite loud SNAP not any faint thin hard
to hear clunk lol

If (subject to mag) you were to remove a plug with it still connected but grounded safely away from the plug hole and turn the flywheel
over every other time the mag spring winds and trips (if alls well) and SNAPS the plug should fire

EVEN IF THE MAG IS OKAY it could be be due to the start timing is incorrect. The mag should SNAP right at TDC (LHI mark on flywheel at 3 o
clock), if too late its harder to start if too soon it can kick back.

If its a battery powered coil distributor ignition it could be a low voltage problem.

There ya go

John T
 
(quoted from post at 11:35:58 06/10/20) I should have asked what kind of ignition system you have. If you're still with the old Edison-Splitdorf magneto my answer above doesn't apply.

It has a magneto ... it is a 1946 with electric start but with a Magneto .. thanks I will try and edit the above ..
Thanks
Gary
 

I failed to mention that it has a magneto .. I had it rebuilt 2 years ago .. and it worked fine .. starting ... it has set for a year or so .. now .. and this spring .. it would NOT start with starter .. but pull it .. and it starts in seconds !! thanks much Gary
 
Thanks for the update, when you now post "it has set for a year or so .. now .. and this spring .. it would NOT start with starter .. but
pull it .. and it starts in seconds !!"

Same as myself and others commented below, it still sounds like a problem with the mags spring wind n trip impulse assembly. If it sat a
long time rust or crud or corrosion may have caused the engagement dogs to stick so the spring isn't winding up and releasing as it should
??? Often a good clean up and light lube can fix it if ???????? that's the problem.

John T
 
Thanks for more information.

If it clicks, the impulse should be working, I would clean up the points.
 
(quoted from post at 03:42:10 06/11/20) Thanks for more information.

If it clicks, the impulse should be working, I would clean up the points.

I will try that first .. then if it doesn't fix it .. "go deeper" !!

Thanks much !!

Gary
 
gd, You're welcome,

I discussed it below, but ask again, DOES IT OR DOES IT NOT PRODUCE A LOUD HARD SNAP EACH FLYWHEEL REVOLUTION ??????????

If NOT the spring wind n trip impulse assembly isn't functioning explaining why it has to be pull started but then runs fine

If it DOES let me know and I will offer other tips

Let us know, best wishes

John T
 
(quoted from post at 17:28:00 06/10/20) Thanks for the update, when you now post "it has set for a year or so .. now .. and this spring .. it would NOT start with starter .. but
pull it .. and it starts in seconds !!"

Same as myself and others commented below, it still sounds like a problem with the mags spring wind n trip impulse assembly. If it sat a
long time rust or crud or corrosion may have caused the engagement dogs to stick so the spring isn't winding up and releasing as it should
??? Often a good clean up and light lube can fix it if ???????? that's the problem.

John T

Thanks so much .. I am beginning to feel it might be more crud and corrosion .. because I was shocked it did NOT start correctly ... when it started and ran so good .. and I drove it very little !!! Gary
 

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