Posted by jdemaris on November 13, 2009 at 06:39:46 from (67.142.130.44):
I started having an ignition problem with my Deere 1010 gas-engine crawler. I've had it for many years, but this past week is the first time I've ever used it, all day and every day for over a week moving dirt. After putting a couple of hundred dollars worth of gas through it, I'm wishing it was a diesel. Also wish I had compression-igntion instead of spark-ignition.
The problem doesn't have anything to do with Deere, and I suspect it's not a problem with the Delco ignition design either . . . but at this point I'm not sure.
Engine started breaking up, skipping, then quitting. Once cooled down, it ran OK again for awhile. Got worse and worse and then finally died.
So, I was not near my shop, and just wanted the thing running so I could drive it TO the shop. Pulled the distributor cap off and looked at the cap, rotor, and points. All looked fine. Note that all was put in new not long ago. Last year and maybe 100 engine hours ago? I then suspected maybe a bad ignition resistor - so I bypassed it. That did not work. I then suspected a bad coil crapping out when hot. So, I took one out of a 92 Subaru, stuck it in and it then ran again. Thought I had it fixed - but half an hour later, it started doing it all over again. So, I then pulled the coil wire out of the distribtor cap and checked spark. It was very strong. Then, I checked spark coming out of the cap from one of the poles that goes to a spark plug. Nothing. Not a hint of spark. So, I then figured the cap was bad. Maybe a bad center pole? Luckily, I had a 1953 Case DC nearby with the same Delco distributor. I swapped caps - and still no good. Well, I then swapped rotors and that fixed the problem. Started right up and ran great. Ends up the new rotor had a carbon-track in it that was shorting out power from the coil to the rotating metal stud it attaches to. Very hard to see and at a glance, just looks like a plastic-casting mark. I later got a another new rotor from NAPA. After a day, the new rotor developed the same problem. So, now - I'm wondering what the heck is going on. I've seen caps and rotors carbon-track when they get really old and see a lot of use. But new ones? I'm wondering now if the parts we get are just cheap junk and there is no need to put any quality into them - since few people actually use these machines anymore? The NAPA rotor is not even Chinese. It's made in Mexico (at least it's American). I DO know for sure, that OEM AC Delco parts are junk and I refuse to buy from them any more. So, I'd like to fix this thing without keeping a bucket full of new rotors around. I've never seen this happen, like this, before. One thing I kind of wondering about but have not verified is this. Depending on the ignition points gap, or the position of the distribtor, spark can occur when the rotor is actually in between poles. i suspect that causes a spike in very high voltage to jump that extra gap - but I don't recall it ever been an issue before.
For now, I stuck the old worn rotor back in from my Case DC. I guess if that old rotor does not get the same problem, I'm going to assume that the new parts are just plain crap.
If so, where does one have assurance of quality new parts? Don't say from Deere. I bought some there and they were made in China.
There was a time when these old tractors got used hard. So, if a particular brand of part failed often, word got around. Now? I suspect there is no incentive for anybody to provide a quality part. But, I'm hoping I'm wrong.
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