1950 John Deere model g not starting

Ernie000 · Feb 12, 2023

I have a 1950 John Deere g 12 volt positive ground new battery but tractor just drags when turned over and barley cranks. Is this a starter problem as it’s been tuned up in wico magneto. Also when it does crank it idles erratic and when given gas it runs rough

This post was edited by Ernie000 on 02/12/2023 at 01:50 pm.

NY 986 · Feb 12, 2023

Barely cranks? How's the ground? How are both cables and the ends?

Janicholson · Feb 12, 2023

Two different issues. The slow cranking can be diagnosed as follows.
Assure the battery is fully charged.
turn on the headlights and crank the engine using the starter. If the headlights dim way down, there is either a bad connection between the starter and the battery, or the starter is internally dragging from bad frame bearings.
Finding a connection issue is as simple as disonnecting every fat wire and wire brushing the terminals and stids to shiny. then reassemble and spray on battery post corrosion inhibitor (auto parts store). if you try it and it is still slow, carefully feel all the fat wires for heat. They can fail internally and look OK. Heat is an indicator of internal resistance.
Next remove the starter and have it tested at a good autoparts store. NAPA, Auto Value, where pros shop.
The other issue is likely fuel related, a plugged fuel line or sediment bowl screen. Jim

used red MN · Feb 12, 2023

Well Earnie you waited 7 years to drop the big question
on us and this is all you got? Happy to help anyway.
Did you choke it a lot to start it or run it with the choke
on? I think JDs are like early Farmalls that do not need
a lot of choke after they start. If you run it a while with
the choke 1/2 or 3/4 on you could have ..rich fouled..
the plugs. Pull them out, if they are black and sooty
clean them. Spray with carb cleaner and wire brush
and blast them with compressed air. Repeat a second
time. Then see how it runs, try to minimize choking
while running. As Jim said your problem could also be
a carburetor issue.

caterpillar guy · Feb 13, 2023

My question is why V Positive ground? Seems like a lot of work and expense for that. When the starter and most of the rest of the tractor except the lights don't care about polarity.

Fixingfarmer · Feb 13, 2023

Positive ground would be original how it came from the factory. Theres a good video on YouTube of a 1950 model a thats running on one cylinder. It runs better than you think but he has a wire completely disconnected. Id upload it but Im not that good at that kind of thing. You could see if thats how yours runs...it would also make it difficult to start because it would have to crank the flywheel a long ways to get to a second mag impulse on the cylinder thats actually firing

Fixingfarmer · Feb 13, 2023

Oh I suppose it was 6 volt too so it got converted...

Rich'sToys · Feb 13, 2023

I think a 1950 would have been 12 volt from the factory.

MSD · Feb 13, 2023

First off try a known good battery. If that doesn't improve it then check all the connections especially the ground. If that doesn't do it then you need to pull the
starter and have it checked. It probably has never been lubricated so could be just dry but most likely needs new brushes and armature turned. Bad idle is most
likely either carb or bad condenser in the mag. Have the carb gone through by a professional so all the passages are clean. When everything is right it should start
on the first spin or two.

Fordy20 · Feb 13, 2023

Spark plug on the pulley side tends to foul early on those. Wouldn't hurt to screw in a new set of spark plugs - especially the pulley side one.

Ernie000 · Feb 13, 2023

I dropped starter off at electrical shop this morning working on carb next

big tee · Feb 13, 2023

Hey Mel--Not everyone has a starter the size of a 100 lb. LP cylinder on their G---Tee

Ernie000 · Feb 14, 2023

Question for someone on a wico x magneto should there be a lot of slack and play on the metal bar that goes thru the coil

This post was edited by Ernie000 on 02/14/2023 at 04:41 pm.

wore out · Feb 14, 2023

(quoted from post at 17:37:17 02/14/23) Question for someone on a wico x magneto should there be a lot of slack and play on the metal bar that goes thru the coil

This post was edited by Ernie000 on 02/14/2023 at 04:41 pm.

The coil being loose on it's core wouldn't affect spark, but might cause the primary wires to break over time as it vibrates around.

I've seen mag coils snugged in place with a little pitch/tar and or wooden wedges.

Ernie000 · Feb 14, 2023

The metal bar that runs through the coil is missing the spring piece of metal that keeps it tight inside

This post was edited by Ernie000 on 02/14/2023 at 04:58 pm.

Ernie000 · Feb 14, 2023

So if the spring piece of metal riveted to the bar missing that goes inside coil doesn t materialize if it s not there causing the coil to be loose

wore out · Feb 14, 2023

(quoted from post at 18:26:20 02/14/23) So if the spring piece of metal riveted to the bar missing that goes inside coil doesn t materialize if it s not there causing the coil to be loose

To be clear, is the coil loose on it's internal ''bar'' or is the bar itself loose against the laminations it fits up against in the mag body?

The first situation won't affect spark, the second would.

Ernie000 · Feb 14, 2023

Ok thanks the bar is very tight in place with the 2 screws and straps it s just the coil wiggles on the bar as the piece of spring metal which comes on the bar is missing I tried to video it but I m. We at this and lost on what to do thanks

tlock0331 · Feb 15, 2023

Ernie000, im really wondering where you are located and if you would share your serial number, i have a couple of 1950 G's and always wonder if a consective serial number is out there.

Sleufoot · Feb 15, 2023

I live in Mn and have a 50G also. Tom in Mn

1950 John Deere model g not starting

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