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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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Farmall A Died Suddenly

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Larry Hardesty

04-11-2004 14:45:09




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I was mowing with my 1946 Farmall A (actually an International A) yesterday and it died suddenly. No sputter or anything, just quite like the switch had been shut off. The battery is fine. But there is not change in the ammeter when the switch is turned on and off. I do not see any loose wires but I assume there is a break somewhere. Previous owner converted it to alternator with a toggle switch. Anything I should check first, second, third, etc. I replaced a couple wires and cleaned connections but nothing. Any help greatly appreciated. Larry H.

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Larry

04-11-2004 19:51:55




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 Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to Larry Hardesty, 04-11-2004 14:45:09  
Is it our of fuel? OK just kidding. No really did you check? If it died it is either fuel or fire. LOL. All those people with their test lights are missing it. GO right to the coil and see if you have power there. If you do, place your test light right on the wire lead that goes into the distributor. When you turn the tractor over your test light should flash as the points short to ground. The easy way to test for fire is a screw drivewr in a spark plug wire.

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Larry Hardesty

04-12-2004 08:39:10




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 Re: Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to Larry, 04-11-2004 19:51:55  
Turns out it was a loose wire connecting into the coil. Don't know why, but as I used the test light, I got power to the wire, but not coming out of the coil. I took off the wire, cleaned the terminal, etc., reconnected it and tractor started fine. By eyeballing it, it looked okay, but evidently either loose or corroded. Thanks

Larry



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Loren

04-11-2004 15:50:41




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 Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to Larry Hardesty, 04-11-2004 14:45:09  
Try using a test light. Start between a battery and the opposite cable. Then the other combination. That'll check both cable to battery connections. Then connect to a good ground and start checking towards the ignition. Should light at the battery side of the ign. switch and then when you turn it on you should have power on the out side of the switch. If the points are closed you should have a light all the way to the points. It really takes a lot more saying than doing.

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Larry Hardesty

04-12-2004 08:42:29




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 Re: Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to Loren, 04-11-2004 15:50:41  
Got it fixed. Loose or corroded wire going into coil. Looked okay by eyeballing and wiggling it, but showed up with test light. After cleaning and reinstalling the wire, tractor started fine. Thanks, Larry H.



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Larry Hardesty

04-11-2004 16:23:46




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 Re: Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to Loren, 04-11-2004 15:50:41  
Loren, Well, I started doing this but not sure. Let me tell you what I have done. The tractor turns over with the starter just fine...just no fire. The test light comes on just fine when one end connected to positive post of battery and either S or I post of the starter solenoid. I just have not systematically traced it from there. It does not come on when I connect the light to either side of the on/off switch...just a toggle switch some previous owner installed. Ran out time to do more. Thanks Larry H.

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old

04-11-2004 15:23:59




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 Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to Larry Hardesty, 04-11-2004 14:45:09  
Try hot wireing it, if it runs then you have a bad switch or wires from the switch to the coil etc. If it doesn't run hot wired you probably have points/rotor problems



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Larry Hardesty

04-11-2004 15:47:35




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 Re: Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to old, 04-11-2004 15:23:59  
Good idea. Thanks much. Larry



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old

04-11-2004 16:27:28




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 Re: Re: Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to Larry Hardesty, 04-11-2004 15:47:35  
Its one of the fastest and easyest ways to find a problem. I even have a tractor that I hot wire all the time just to make run, the wireing is so messed up I figure I'll get around to fixing it but I use it to much to do it at this time



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Larry Hardesty

04-12-2004 08:44:28




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Farmall A Died Suddenly in reply to old, 04-11-2004 16:27:28  
Thanks for the help. Got it fixed. Loose or corroded wire going into coil. Looked okay by eyeballing and wiggling it, but showed up with test light. After cleaning and reinstalling the wire, tractor started fine. Thanks, Larry H.



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