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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help!

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Peabody

02-12-2005 16:45:18




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OK, I have a Super C in perfect running condition. My buddy has a 230, almost identical to my SC, ran fine up until last month, now gets no fire. He & I and two other friends who claim to know enough about these Farmalls (we own 12 between us, in varying running/not running condition) worked two hours on her today before giving up. Plenty of gas, 12-volt conversion, hot battery, switch on, juice in and out of coil, no fire from coil to distributor. Tried three coils, three condensers, new points, new dist. cap, new rotor button, new spark plugs, new coil wire, still no fire. 12 volts coming from battery to coil, draws down to seven when starter spinning. That should still be enough to get spark from coil, shouldn't it? We're all stumped and decided to walk away from it for the day. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, before we throw a match on the old girl tomorrow!

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Opa A

02-13-2005 15:36:24




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:45:18  
Just noticed you said juice in and out of coil. As Cowman said you must check as to wether the points are opening and closing the circuit. With a simple test light, ground light and probe output side of coil you should have juice through the coil (enough to light the light) with the points OPEN and no light when the points close (Current should go through the points easier than the light bulb). If the light stays on with the points closed you have an open circiut on the ground side of the coil, can be bad points, body of points not grounded to distributor body, or even the distributor body not grounding to the engine block. If the light doesn't light with the points open, you have a short to ground between the negative side of the coil and the points. Hope it helps, hate to see the matches come out!

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farmallC50

02-13-2005 06:09:47




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:45:18  
I know how you feel, one day I was out using the C and the thing just stalled out. I couldn't get it started for the life of me. Since I was kinda busy at the time, I just hauled it out of the way until I could get some time. Came back the next day, still wouldn't start, so I started looking at the distributer. After just rolling it over with the hand crank, I noticed the points were stuck closed. A simple adjustment and a roll start later (battery was dead at this point, reason why I park on slopes) and the C fired right up. I know this isn't your problem, you have already checked this part out. And the others have given some great advice. Just don't forget the simple things!

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Hermit

02-12-2005 17:48:03




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:45:18  
Have you tried to manually get a spark from the coil? Battery on with points closed then manually open the points with a stick or screwdriver. Coil wire held 1/4 inch from block. You should have spark every time you close then open the points manually. Have you connected a voltmeter to the minus side of the coil then cranked the engine? It should pulse up and down verifying the points are opening and closing. Do the points have a good ground? The distributor plate should be free of oil and corrosion. Is the point gap set at .020? Set points, crank engine a couple of turns then recheck points on a different distributor lobe. Is the distributor screw that connects the coil minus wire to the points not grounding out where it goes through the side of the distributor? It should be clean and not corroded. Just some thoughts.

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quadman

02-12-2005 18:50:46




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Hermit, 02-12-2005 17:48:03  
Sounds like you have a bad ground. Check your points for spark. If no spark with ignition on and a screwdriver inserted between the points, then you definately have a bad ground somewhere.



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Nebraska Cowman

02-12-2005 17:45:09




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:45:18  
OK take a deep breath.... The wire that goes from the coil to he distributor?.... Unhook it. Now.. Let me explain. When the points are shut that wire is grounded. when the points open the circut is broken and the spark jumps. Don't ask me why but it does. So if you ground that wire and then release it you should have a nice blue spark out of the coil. if you do the problem is in the distributor, I'd guess that it is shorting out where the terminal goes throught the side of the distributor.

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Peabody

02-12-2005 17:56:47




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 02-12-2005 17:45:09  
Great suggestions, Cowman & Hermit. I'll give these a try. Keep the ideas coming!!



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wh

02-12-2005 16:49:54




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:45:18  
if a 12v conversion have you checked your resistor. if you are at 7 v when spinning the resistor may be cutting you to 3v or less. otherwise have you checked all internal wire in distributor?



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Peabody

02-12-2005 16:55:08




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to wh, 02-12-2005 16:49:54  
Wh, thanks for the reply. There is no resistor, since it is an alternator and 12-volt coil. Besides, she ran fine last month. As to the internal wiring of the distributor, is there more than just the condenser wire and points attached to the stud running to the coil?



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Brian in NE

02-13-2005 07:48:06




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:55:08  
I noticed that nobody mentioned the high tension wire between the coil and distributor. Or carbon tracking in the distibutor cap or a bad rotor. I was once told that the resistor for the hot wire to the coil was to prevent the electricity from eating up points. Ran my SM along time this way. Finally put a resistor in it so the points wouldn't give up at a bad time.



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gusc

02-12-2005 21:39:27




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:55:08  
Having an alternator has nothing to do with needing a resistor.

You need a resistor unless your coil has an internal resistor.



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JOSSETTE

02-12-2005 21:12:52




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:55:08  
if you do not have a resistor. now would be the time to get one. you probably burn out the points and need a new set. the resistor will allow 12 v to the coil went starting but will go back to 7-8 volts when running..



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kfox

02-12-2005 19:52:05




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 Re: Calf Rope! 230 Won't Fire! Help! in reply to Peabody, 02-12-2005 16:55:08  
Have you checked that the distb. actually turns when the engine is turning over? just a thought
ken



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