8N not starting

B W in MO · Feb 22, 2015

I have fire comeing from coil to inside of distribiter but can't get it to the plug wires. I have checked cap for cracks , have checked rotor for cracks or defects can't find any.
Thanks , for any info. B W

rrlund · Feb 22, 2015

I had a similar thing happen with one of my Olivers last fall. It had been sitting in the pasture for about 20 minutes while I fixed a wagon. The cows must have pulled on the plug wires hard enough to tip the cap just a little,then the spring clips pulled it right back down. When it tipped up though,the electrode came out of the center of the cap It's kind of a spring loaded deal in that one and I think what happened was,part of it broke right off. There was still some of it there,but it wasn't long enough to touch the rotor anymore. I don't know if I ever would have figured it out,but the little broken piece laid down inside.
I put some electrical grease on it to stick it back together and quick put the cap back on. It held it in place and the piece shoved back up inside far enough for it to work. In fact,it still does.

Jo Bird · Feb 22, 2015

Try filing the points, they get corrosion on them while sitting for long periods of time and won't let current pass when they open.

old · Feb 22, 2015

How are you checking the cap and rotor for cracks??? Many cracked caps or rotors can be cracked in such a way you can not see the crack. Also telling use if you have a front mount or side mount distributor and if 6 or 12 volts helps us help you. If you have a side mount pull the center wire out of the cap and spin it over and see if you have a good blue white spark that jumps a 1/4 inch gap or more.

FarmallCT · Feb 22, 2015

What kind of the condition is the cap in? Newer/original/few years old?

When I got my 1941 Farmall H it did not have spark at the plugs/plug wires. The cap looked and tested perfectly fine. I filed and cleaned everything and still nothing. I finally just got a new cap for it and it started right up.

If nothing else works I'd suggest just getting a new cap.

Animal · Feb 22, 2015

Lately condensers have been dealing us fits, that's where I would start first.

C. Amick · Feb 22, 2015

With the switch on, crank the engine over and see if you see a spark when the points break. If you have a spark and have tried the suggestions below without success, the problem might be that the switch isn't letting enough current through. Run a wire from the battery to the coil in order to bypass the ignition switch and see if it fires.

teddy52food · Feb 22, 2015

Soak the inside of the cap and the rotor with ether. As it dries a crack may show up that you can't see otherwise. And if it is a moisture problem it may correct it too. If you think it is moisture, WD40 is good.

Dell (WA) · Feb 22, 2015

Jo Bird.......good suggestion ...except... "won't let current pass when they open" is a oopsie on you. When points OPEN the ain't NEVER gonna pass current. That is the way switches (points) work. Points haffta be CLOSED to make sparkies when the points OPEN.

Yeah, filing the points will semi-fix yer sparkies problem ...except... you will be replacing yer points innna 'bout 8-hrs 'cuz they will be BURNED and no longer make HOT enuff sparkies fer engine tor run. ........yer self-appointed sparkie-meister Dell

schumy ia · Feb 22, 2015

check for spark at the coil wire.that will take the cap & rotor out of the equasion

John B. · Feb 22, 2015

You didn't explain if you have primary power coming from the coil to the points or secondary power coming from the coil tower to the cap.

Or Secondly it;

Sounds to me like your timing is way off. It's firing between the towers on the cap and you won't see it at the plug wires.

MARK ROBKE · Feb 22, 2015

While cranking the engine,hold a test light on the coil primary wire that goes to the distributor:it should flash on and off as the points open and close. Or,you can take the cap off,and open and close the points with a screwdriver and check for spark out the coil tower.See if your points are gapped correctly or your condensor may be bad or your points are grounding out.Mark

old · Feb 22, 2015

Don't know if I am just lucky but I have filed many a set of points and they have lasted for years. Do it all the time on many things and as I said not had a problem out of them

B W in MO · Feb 23, 2015

Thanks guys, I have fire inside at points,and alos at coil wire comeing in to top of cap but no fire out of plug wire to plugs . Am going to check more with timeing lite today.
Thanks for the info, B W

Eldo case · Feb 23, 2015

Is the rotor turning?

oldtanker · Feb 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 04:48:02 02/23/15) Thanks guys, I have fire inside at points,and alos at coil wire comeing in to top of cap but no fire out of plug wire to plugs . Am going to check more with timeing lite today.
Thanks for the info, B W

Where is the distributer located. On the front right side or in front of the engine? From what you are saying it sounds like a side mount, the first one I mentioned. If you have fire from the coil to the cap (and the coil wire is inserted correctly) and no fire after the cap then either the rotor or the cap is bad unless it's real weak spark. It should be a bright blue spark that will jump at least 1/8th of an inch or more.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Feb 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 00:15:24 02/23/15) check for spark at the coil wire.that will take the cap & rotor out of the equasion

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8N not starting

B W in MO

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rrlund

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Jo Bird

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old

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FarmallCT

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Animal

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C. Amick

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teddy52food

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Dell (WA)

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schumy ia

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John B.

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MARK ROBKE

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old

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B W in MO

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Eldo case

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oldtanker

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Anonymous-0

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