450 won't start

[David Robinson]

I'm first time owner of tractor and having trouble getting my 1957 Farmall 450 with gas engine to start. It had been starting and running absolutely great all summer then just all of a sudden wouldn't start. I checked gas flow from tank to carb and seem to be getting plenty of flow throughout. Cleaned sediment bowl, checked screen, opened plug on bottom of carb and got good stream. Going back to my farm tonight to take out/check plugs and make sure getting spark from spark plug wires. Just seems strange it just all of sudden wouldn't start without any previous signs of acting up etc. Turns over fine just doen't act like it's even beginning to want to start. Any advice on how to narrow down the problem???

Also, is the fuse holder on the dash just for the lights???

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Anonymous-0]

David - I had the same problem with my truck this summer. Check the dist. cap and rotor. Also check the coil, coil wire, and the wiring to the coil. Sounds like a lack of fire problem for sure. Also check the cap to see if its come loose or has moisture in it.

 

[Janicholson]

Fuse is for lights. (unless wired differently by others)
Use a piece of 250 grit (or finer) silicon carbide paper on the points, followed by a folded dollar bill. Then start it! It is a common causw to find a bit of oxide on the points giving grief. JimN

 

[El Toro]

You may want to start by cleaning the points with a piece of 320 wet or dry. Make sure the points
are set at .020". Then see if tractor will start.

If it doesn't start you need to check for battery voltage at the coil with the points open. Make sure your ignition switch is in the on position.
You should have battery voltage at both small terminals. This is if you have battery ignition
and not a mag. If you have battery voltage and you have cleaned the points and it still won't start. I would install a good condenser and try it again. Hal

 

[Brownie450]

Check points & condenser. Condensers you get now aren't too good on quality. Check for voltage at the coil first. If no voltage there, check the ignition/ key switch.

 

[David Robinson]

I'll do as suggested and let you all know what happens. Thanks for all your help. I sincerely appreciate it!!!!

 

[old]

Your points may have slipped and or you could have a rotor that went bad. I have an Oliver 77 that was running just fine and I was cutting hay with it and it just died and it was a bad rotor. Put in a new one and it fired right back up. 5 minute fixes are real nice to have LOL
Hobby farm

 

[JOSSETTE]

gf

 

[David Robinson]

Not much luck over the weekend getting my tractor started. I'm fairly certain my limited knowlege is making this a little more difficult then should be but I'll no doubt learn first hand as I go. I took off the distributor cap and found there seemed to be a little condensation inside. Wiped everything dry as I could, ran some fine sandpaper between the points anthough they looked fine, went ahead and put in a new condenser while I had things opened up since I had bought an ignition kit to take with me. The spark plug wires looked ok where they connected to plugs but seemed a bit corroded where they pluged into distributor. I tried to clean them up with sandpaper the pluged them back in. Could not take plugs out to check them cause spark plug wrench I had would not fit so went ahead and tried to start tractor. Wouldn't start but came very close to it and seemed like it wanted to. Think I flooded it trying and had no way to pull plugs so quit. Gas was dripping out of connection from air intake to carb which confused me also. Going back Tuesday with fresh battery, starting fluid, and better assortment of spark plug sockets to try again. Any thoughts???