Sudden work stop....

[hclarkIOWA]

My 6v '51 8N suddenly stopped running. Ran fine before. Even started in 20 deg. weather last winter. So far I have replaced coil, condenser, plugs and wires but no "juice" to the plugs or coil. Starter turns over fine. Any suggestions on what's next? Replace all wiring? It's got to be something fairly simple to have quit all of a sudden. How about the regulator? Should it be replaced? Points? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or help!

 

[oldtanker]

Instead of throwing parts at it (unless you have losts more money than I do) trouble shoot! Start by making sure you have power to the ignition system when the switch is in the run position. Could be you have a bad switch. If no power is going to the coil than check and see if power is going through the switch. Check power to the switch too. If you have power to the switch and not through the switch is bad. Power throught the switch but not to the coil it's the wiring.

Rick

 

[old]

Hot wire it to see if it is the wiring. Just run a wire from the battery hot side not ground side to the ignition side of the coil. If it will start then it is from the coil back if it does not start it is from the coil forward and probably the points

 

[Bruce (VA)]

First off....the v/r has nothing to do w/ the ignition system. It's in the charging circuit.

Secondly, you ask "what's next?" How about actually figuring out what the problem is before you just start replacing parts? Unless you are working on a "stealth rebuild" one part at a time.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to getting a non-running tractor to start. One way is to just start replacing every part you can get to until it starts or you run out of money. The other way is to take a step-by-step approach to solving the problem, working from most likely to least likely. The trick to fixing these tractors (or trouble shooting any piece of equipment) is to be systematic about it. You need to isolate the problem step by step and work from most likely to least likely. You have solved half the problem by determining it is a spark problem. That doesn’t mean you need to replace all of the electrical parts on the tractor!

You say it does not have current at the coil.

Think about that for a minute.

Where does the current come from?

(the battery)

How does it get to the coil?

(Through the ignition switch. )

Jump the ignition switch w/ a jumper wire & see what happens. If it runs, you found the problem. If it doesn’t have spark after you jump the ignition switch, post back for more info on further troubleshooting. (and do not forget to turn the ignition switch off; see tip # 38)
50 Tips

 

[souNdguy]

ditto what bruce and the others said.. figure out what broke and fix it.

it could be as simple as an ignition switch.

soundguy

 

[36 Coupe]

Study the ignition until you understand how it works.Friends and I did this when we were teen agers.We did not have any money to by parts.50 cents to buy 2 gallons of gas came hard.Do this,watch the ammeter while cranking the engine.It should flick back and forth if the points are opening and closing.If you dont see this clean the point surfaces with a pocket knife.

 

[36 Coupe]

An adult man should be smarter than a bunch of kids.I was interested in radio so that gave me a slight edge.

 

[hclarkIOWA]

Thanks for all the comments. All of the parts I have replace were in need. I have tried two new ignition switches so I don"t think that is the problem. I will follow thru on all of the other suggestions. Sounds like it may come down to the wiring. I"ll keep you posted but its too late tonight to do anything. Spent the night mowing (by hand) to beat the bad weather. Will try more tomorrow evening. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Ozlander]

Very first thing I would do is check the fuel level.

 

[valhallareject]

Just my $.02 worth...I"d take a real good look at the ballast resistor on the terminal junction block...and even if it looks okay...replace it. These things get hot...cool down...get hot again...over and over. Can"t even begin to tell you how hard that is on this part. Anyway....sudden loss of spark starts at the battery...goes to the junction block...then to the ignition switch...then to the ballast resistor...maybe to a voltage dropping resistor...then the coil...then the condenser....and the points. On the high voltage side it goes from the coil to the rotor to the distributor cap to the spark plug wires and finally the spark plugs. Good luck.

 

[hclarkIOWA]

Full tank and good flow to the carbarator. Thanks

 

[hclarkIOWA]

This is a 6 volt 8N. No resistors. Thanks

 

[hclarkIOWA]

I will take your advice and hotwire tonight when I get home. Of all the suggestions, yours seems to make the most sense and will help me find the problem. Thanks