Starting problem

[John T in VA]

My easy-starting 6-volt '51 suddenly won't start. I did a tune-up last fall that included new points and condencer and haven't had any cranking problems until last week. One day it cranked, the next it wouldn't. It's getting gas through the carb (pulled plug under the bowl). I have 6 volts at the hot side of the points, but I do not see any spark while cranking. I put new points in friday and it started right up. This morning it wouldn't start, and again I'm not seeing any spark at the points. I did not change the condencer friday, could this be the culprit?

This is usually a very easy starting tractor even in cold weather.

Thanks in advance

John T
 

[old]

Well if your weather has been any thing what we have here in Missouri your having wet weather so good chance you points need cleaned due to condensation which causes them to corrode a bit. With the ignition on carefully open and close the points. You should both hear and see spark if you do not clean the points and try that again bet if you do that you will be driving it soon
 

[R Geiger]

[souNdguy]

do you have bat colts ont he moving side of the points?

is their continuity thru the points?


remove coil and put a test light inline from wire to dizzy.. crank over.. lamp should blink.

if it styas lit.. there is a short in dizzy.. perhaps at the feedthru insulator.. or at eh points or condenser.

if it never lights.. points ar enot making contact, feed power is bad.. or the conductor from the side of the dizy over to the points died.
 

[John T in VA]

Update: I let it set about an hour, went back and it cranked. My starter bendix jumps out easily, and I may have just flooded it earily. I still do not understand why I'm not seeing a spark at the points.

To answer your replies, here's what I found earlier when it would not start, and a reply to Sounder.


"...points need cleaned due to condensation ..."
---New points. Do not hear nor see anything when opening points w/switch on.

"...recheck the point gap..."
---Rechecked, gap @.025" ("51 sidemount).

"...is their continuity thru the points?
---I have 6 volts at the movable contact.

"...remove coil and put a test light inline from wire to dizzy.. crank over.. lamp should blink."
__You do mean to remove coil wire but not the coil, and attach test light from wire to distributor?


Again thanks for your replies

John T
 

[R Geiger]

[old]

If your watching for spark at the points at the same time your spinning it over with the starter ya not likely to see or hear it. If your doing it by hand if in bright sun light you may not see it either but should get spark out of the coil wire when you open and close them. New points some times have a protective coating on them so they need cleaned from the get go. If you flooded it then your plugs are gas fouled and need cleaned and if you do not have auto lite 437s in that could also be your problem
 

[John T in VA]

Thanks for the info, I am checking the points by using the starter, and I am running Auto 437's. I checked for fire at the distributor per Sounder, and the light is blinking, so maybe I need to look eslewhere.

It does start now but after several trys. I'm still thinking I may have flooded it, but the plugs were not wet.

Again, thanks for your relies, and keep 'em comming.

John T
 

[old]

Check your spark at the coil wire and all four plug wires. It needs to be a blue/white and jump a 1/4 inch gap or more. If it does not do that then you need to find out why your spark is poor