8N wont start

Feb. 4, 2001
You really need to get those bushings replaced or a new distributor plate. Also is the centrifugal advance is bent you are probably running with the ignition very late.(after top dead center compression stroke) Should fire a few degrees before TDC. It is possible to advance the ignition by loosening the screw on the left side of the distributor that holds the distributor plate secure and push the screw up all the way to begine with and then re start and see how it sounds. If the engine wants to try to kick back it is too early on the ignition and you will have to move the timing screw back down just a tad and try it again. If the ignition points are fabricated from plastic that may be the reason you can't get them adjusted anymore. If the adjustment was this way when first installed they may be OK but if you have gone back in and found them closed up all the way as if by a grimlin then they may have changed shape from overheating one of those times when you couldn't get it started and let the ignition sit while on and the engine not running and melted that plastic in the points.
If you can find them you should only buy the points that are fabricated from "bakelite" material. Looks sorta like cardboard material. This was what was in the distributor originally and it will not melt when it gets hot the next time you forget to turn the ignition off. You could be getting a current drop across that toggle ignition switch too. Take the wires off and twist the two ends together and see if that improves the starting. If it does you should replace the switch. Be sure that the ignition resistor is in the circuit between the ignition switch and the coil. It could be bad too. They do deterioate with age. Replace it if it is as old as the tractor. :o)