Newly installed points do not close

[used red MN]

Here are answers:

#2 When I said "no spark," that is what I meant. With a spark tester between the spark plug and the spark plug wire, there was no spark.

#3 This is a 2N, not a 8N. The gear shift must be in the neutral position to start. Even though the gear shift "stick" was moving freely, the tractor was not in neutral.

According to you, "the diagnostic steps should have taken a far different path." It would be interesting to know what you would have done.

Tractor Gal

As an edit to this post, here is the description from the Ford shop manual:

From pages 18-19: Figure F042 on page 18. Quote from page 19 on starter motor and switch:

"Starter switch on 2N, 8N and 9N is provided with an interlock shown in Fig F042 which prevents starting the engine when the tractor is in gear."

This is what prompted me to check the neutral position of the tractor. The interlock is not electrical, only positional.

No harm no foul. Probably should have left my reply at the first sentence, sorry if I wandered off into accusitory land. Did not mean any offense. It was late and I probably should have been sleeping instead of typing. I did wrongly call it an 8N but the neutral start systems on the 9N, 2N & 8N are very similar in operation and only affect the starter circuit and not the ignition.
Have a nice day and enjoy your tractor!

 

[Jim.ME]

Here are answers:

#2 When I said "no spark," that is what I meant. With a spark tester between the spark plug and the spark plug wire, there was no spark.

#3 This is a 2N, not a 8N. The gear shift must be in the neutral position to start. Even though the gear shift "stick" was moving freely, the tractor was not in neutral.

According to you, "the diagnostic steps should have taken a far different path." It would be interesting to know what you would have done.

Tractor Gal

As an edit to this post, here is the description from the Ford shop manual:

From pages 18-19: Figure F042 on page 18. Quote from page 19 on starter motor and switch:

"Starter switch on 2N, 8N and 9N is provided with an interlock shown in Fig F042 which prevents starting the engine when the tractor is in gear."

This is what prompted me to check the neutral position of the tractor. The interlock is not electrical, only positional.

The starter switch with interlock prevents starting the engine when the tractor is in gear — by preventing the starter from cranking the engine. So if it is not cranking, there will be no spark. The interlock mechanically blocks the starter switch from activating to complete the electrical circuit to activate the starter. So was the starter cranking the engine over every time you were checking for spark? Thus the answers would be different if you said the starter was not cranking the engine over. The only time you might get a spark at the coil wire without it running is if you opened closed points with the key on.

 

[Non-farmer]

Yep, my bad. Dunno what I was thinking about the safety disabling power to the coil.

 

[tractor gal]

Interesting info about the neutral interlock. It certainly was a strange sequence of events. Yes, the starter was turning over. Because it wouldn't start, I checked for spark and got none. I immediately went to the distributor, coil, etc., as I have outlined. Because none of that changed anything, I was totally lost. BUT, when I shifted the gears, it immediately started the moment I pushed that button. Now, what could've happened to allow the start? There was nothing else done. Maybe I held my mouth right?

But, perhaps this is one of those we'll never know. Either way, it works and I'm glad.

Thanks for the willingness to help.

Tractor Gal

 

[Jim.ME]

If it wasn't in neutral and you were using the starter to crank the engine, the tractor would have moved, unless you were holding the clutch down every time you engaged the starter. In any case the start and ignition circuits are separate, and the mechanical interlock only blocks starter button travel preventing it from working, it has nothing to do with the ignition electrical circuit.

This sounds more like there was a loose wire or bad connection that while you were working on the no spark issue got moved enough to make contact again. Or if something was grounding out on the ignition side it got moved enough to clear the ground.

 

[Btzj02]

Thought I would share: I received two sets of points today from YT and the brand is REGITAR USA. I tried to search as to where the points were actually manufactured and it seems that they come from over seas. So many people talk about points manufactured in the USA but I am becoming a little skeptical that there are any points made in the USA. I did find that thier voltage regulators are USA made....

 

[tractor gal]

If it wasn't in neutral and you were using the starter to crank the engine, the tractor would have moved, unless you were holding the clutch down every time you engaged the starter. In any case the start and ignition circuits are separate, and the mechanical interlock only blocks starter button travel preventing it from working, it has nothing to do with the ignition electrical circuit.

This sounds more like there was a loose wire or bad connection that while you were working on the no spark issue got moved enough to make contact again. Or if something was grounding out on the ignition side it got moved enough to clear the ground.

I hear you, Jim.ME, as well as the others. From this standpoint, it seems reasonable but I don't see how it would've happened.
I heard a click when I put the tractor in gear and then the beautiful sound of the engine firing. BUT, as the story goes, whatever it was, is no longer! For me, it will be a mystery. For others, I'm sure that's not the case. We can live together anyway.

Tractor Gal

 

[HarryVanderpool]

It looks like this site has been hacked.
I had a pop-up here this morning as well.