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starts hard... then runs good... B John Deere

SweetFeet

SweetFeet

Well-known Member
Anyone have an idea what might be causing a starting-issue with our 1935 B John Deere?

Could it be a weak coil (though it appears to have good spark)

It starts hard... but then runs great. This old girl used to start on the 1st or 2nd turn of the
flywheel.

Here is what HAS been done to it in the last year or so:
Had valves ground
Removed and cleaned carburetor
Cleaned points
Magneto (Wico X)seems to give good spark
Has gas in it... LOL and good gas flow

Thanks if you can help out.
 
This sounds like it is too lean for cold starting. I might suggest that the choke may not be closing fully, or if there is a prime circuit, it may be clogged. Many older engines like a very rich mixture for starting - even when warm.
 
"appears to have good spark"? Only sure way to find out is grab onto the wire...LOL Looks are deceiving. Any citiot about to visit? One who hasn"t learned about electric fences?
 
My 1935 JD-B that was my grandfathers will start hard if I did not run it often and has always been that way bit pull it 10 foot and it starts easy and then starts easy if you start it a lot.

Do you hear the impulse in the mag trip when your trying to start it??? If you don't that is likely to be where the problems is. That is one of the problems this B I have has once in a while. If it pull starts real easy it could well be the impulse since puling it spins it over a whole lot faster
 
Try some Auto-Lite 3077 plugs. Did you clean all the passages in the carb? Try adjusting carb richer. I could make a road trip. Ron Mn
 
One typical cause of a weak starting spark yet still an excellent running spark IS A WEAK MAGNETO IMPULSE SPRING or else the start timing is a tad late. It should make a loud sharp SNAP when the impulse trips NOT a faint dull clink (weak spring) and the impulse needs to trip RIGHT AT LHI TDC. If too fast she kicks back but if too slow hard to start. If you turn the flywheel the impulse must trip when the LHI is even with the flat mark at 3 o clock......... no later no sooner.

If the ignition (good spring) and timing LHI at 3 o clock with good loud sharp SNAP Id check carbs idle and adjustments. My 38 B with a Wico X Mag likes to start at slow idle on throttle and don't over choke and flood

Try a new set of the hotter deep reach side wire electrode Autolite 3077 plugs versus the 3076

Hope this helps

John T
 
How old is the gas? My Oliver 70 is miserable to start if it's set for a long time without fresh gas.
 
If you mean Autolite 377, they are no longer manufactured.

I spent half the morning looking for some for a Farmall. Can't find them for sale at a reasonable price anywhere. Can get Autolite 386's for $2 a piece just about anywhere.
 
Like John said,,most likely the impulse spring is broken or weak, after the engine is running it is not needed..you should be able to hear it "Click" as you turn the fly wheel..
 
I resemble that in the last few years!!! Had stints installed to maintain good flow to oil pump. Still have problems with the one way check valves, and have a problem with the hydraulic hoses deteriorating. My suction hose now needs more stints, and my distributor must have warn bushings, because my spark is weak and inconsistent.
My carb is still pretty good, and ingesting fuel good, but my pistons rings, and valves must be getting bad, because I am blowing some soot out my muffler.
A large dose of coffee in the morning seams to help keep the wheels turning during the day and some barley pops in the evening seams to smoothen things out for the evening, prior to shut down.
Loren
 
My grandpas first tractor was a used JD B. He always told me he could spin that #$%@ flywheel till he was blue in the face and could not get it to run. My grandma would see him give up and come out and give it a couple turns and it was running! Needless to say it did not take him long to buy a farmall!! The only thing grandpa could figure was grandma was spinning it slower. Not sure but it always made for a funny story!
 
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