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Farmall M won't start

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Jon Wolter

05-07-2002 12:20:58




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I have an M Farmall that won't start. It is a 12 volt system, and has always started great. Yesterday, while discing my little 3 acre field, the tractor simply died. Acted like you pulled the kill switch (wasn't out of gas!). I metered the kill switch. It was defective. Metered open no matter what position it was in. My father replaced it while I was at work. He did not disconnect the battery leads. While replacing the kill switch, he blew the fuse inside the light box, where the ampere gauge is housed. I thought no problem and replaced the fuse. Turns over great but still didn't start. Today, I simply guessed the coil was bad so I bought one and installed it at lunch today. Still doesn't start. Acts like there is no spark. I remember the ampere gauge used to show a discharge while the engine was being cranked. It no longer does that. When I hit the starter button, it turns over great, but the ampere gauge doesn't show a drop and it acts like there is no spark. I repair computers and printers for a living, so I can turn a wrench and run a Voltmeter. I just don't know the procedure to prove what may be wrong with the M. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Jon

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Chris

07-11-2002 20:41:14




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 Re: Farmall M won't start in reply to Jon Wolter, 05-07-2002 12:20:58  
Have you tried changing the ignition condenser?? i've had a couple tractors that if you dotn reduce the voltage to the distribitor and condenser with a drop resistor it will blow the condenser and it'll be dead. no spark whatsoever.
Let me know how ya come out.
chris



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Jerry B

05-08-2002 05:40:20




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 Re: Farmall M won't start in reply to Jon Wolter, 05-07-2002 12:20:58  
You mentioned "kill switch" therefore I tend to think you have a magnito rather than coil and distributor ignition. But you say you replaced the coil...hhhhh mmmmm . Do you mean igition switch?

If you have a mag ignition, remove the kill wire from the mag and try starting again. If this works something is mis-wired farther up the system.

If you have a convetional ignition, use your meter set to volts and turn the igintion on. Start checking for open circuits from the battery, through the amp gauge, through the ignition switch and down to the points. Make sure the points are open for this operation.

I bet you find a wire not connected from the amp gauge to the iginition switch.

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Jon Wolter

05-08-2002 07:05:18




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 Re: Re: Farmall M won't start in reply to Jerry B, 05-08-2002 05:40:20  
I have a 12 volt battery (positive ground). I have a pushbutton starter and a separate Kill switch. When pulled out, the kill completes the circuit, when pushed in, it opens the circuit and shuts the tractor off. I have a 12 volt solenoid, a 12 volt coil, a 4 cyl distributor. Those are my parts. Can you tell me what the fuse does in the light box? Is it ony for the lights (which are no longer on the tractor)? That little "brick of goodies" inside the light switch housing is a comfusing spot. I think all it does it handles the lights and the ampere gauge. Thanks for you help.

Jon

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Jon Wolter

05-09-2002 07:58:40




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 Re: Re: Re: Farmall M won't start in reply to Jon Wolter, 05-08-2002 07:05:18  
I was thinking there was no way the wiring could be wrong, because the tractor has been working all these years. Then I got to thinking. My father removed the defective kill switch, and replaced it while I was at work. Maybe he got the wires backwards on the Kill switch, when he put it back together? I metered some things last night. When the Kill switch is in the OFF position, one leg on the Kill switch has +12 volts to it. That leg attaches to the amp gauge. Is that correct, or should the dead leg of the Kill be going to the amp gauge? Dead leg of the Kill switch is currently connected to the negatieve lead of the coil. Please advise. Thanks..... .Jon

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Jerry B

05-09-2002 05:37:29




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 Re: Re: Re: Farmall M won't start in reply to Jon Wolter, 05-08-2002 07:05:18  
12 volt positive ground????? Should be negative ground. But any way.....

Make sure you are getting voltage to the coil and points. Don't worry about the light switch unless you have run the supply voltage for the ignition through it. You can always by-pass the light switch by connecting the supply wire directly to the amp gausge.

Keep us posted.



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