Question for John T

John T. First of all I want to thank you for your trouble shooting skill and process. You have saved me countless hours. A quick question. I was using my Allis WD45 a couple of weeks ago when it just shut down. I checked for spark at the spark plug and found it real faint. I checked at the points and it looks like a pretty good spark, but not blue. What should I be looking at first? I do not want spend a lot of time on this as it is only between 20 and 30 degrees out, but would like to get it inside for the the winter. Any help would be appreciated.

tractorkrum;I had a similar problem on my Case 411 a month or so ago. Points spark looked good plugs spark looked weak. I chased it around swapped out the coil, changed a couple of corroded spark plug wires. New cap new rotor. No start. Pulled a plug, dry??? Yeah was not getting fuel. That tractor has never ever had a fuel problem. So bad on me for not thinking thru the basic trouble shooting regimen. May not be your problem. Remember the basics. gobble

Thanks for the kind words, you're most welcome, glad to help anytime I can.

I recently had a weak spark on my AC D 15 so I hear you.

You ask " I checked for spark at the spark plug and found it real faint. I checked at the points and it looks like a pretty good spark, but not blue. "

Its the spark at the plugs (NOT the points) that needs to be a bright visible blue versus a faint thin wimpy yellow spark.

You ask "What should I be looking at first?'"

The FIRST item I suspect is the POINTS GAP. Insure its correct.

The SECOND thing I suspect is the POINTS THEMSELVES. If they aren't burned or pitted or carboned up you may get by with a good clean/buff/polish to get them smooth n shiny to improve the spark. HOWEVER if badly burned or pitted Id just install a new quality set from NAPA not the cheap ones from Tractor Supply or Central Tractor or Rural King.

Next suspects are a weak or open condenser. Unless its shorted if its open or weak the spark will be weak.

Next you have to test to see if the coil (independent from cap and rotor and plug wires) is producing a good visible blue spark. If so but NOT via the cap n rotor n plug wires Id install a new set of plug wires and a cap n rotor.

In general terms a good general tune up isn't all that expensive IE new points and condenser and cap n rotor and plug wires and plugs IF ALL IS NEEDED but you may just start with points and condenser n see what happens.......

Merry Christmas

John T

"I checked at the points and it looks like a pretty good spark"

To add to what JohnT said, the more visible spark at the points the more wasted energy that could have been added to the spark at the plugs.

The purpose of the condenser is to reduce sparking at the points, and if you are seeing a lot of spark there you MAY have a defective condenser or a mismatch of condenser capacity to the coil, IMHO.

FWIW and as typical I agree with Bob...............A too big spark at points will burn them quickly. No condenser at all will yield a huge spark at points and the points burn up quick and you can still get a spark at plugs but its weaker

John T