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1958 ford 841

Something to check. I had a 600 series several years ago where the 4 sided lobe on the dist. shaft had turned about 45 degrees and the points were opening between the posts on the cap. I was able to turn the lobe back and puncture wound punch it for a temporary repair until the owner replaced the distributor. I have no idea what caused the lobe to move as the tractor was running one day and wouldn't start the next (or so I was told).
 
Time to stop shotgunning and time to start troubleshooting.

Buy a voltmeter (digital multimeter) if you don't already have one.

Make sure you have battery voltage (referenced to ground) at the distributor side of the coil when the points are open and zero volts when the points are closed.

If the previous tests are OK, then you should be able to get a spark from the coil when you manually open the (closed) points with a screwdriver.
 
Based on what you have said, the first thing I would check would be the rotor.

I had an issue like that once, and I removed the distributor cap and held the coil wire near the rotor contact while someone cranked the engine over. The coil wire arced to the rotor contact - it must have had a hairline crack that the voltage was following to the distributor shaft. I put a new rotor on and it fired right up. Only had that happen once in my life, but it sticks in my mind because it really had me stumped.
 
If you get a good blue/white spark that jumps a 1/4 inch gap or more from the coil wire the problem has to be in the cap or rotor. Or if the rotor clip is missing when the points open the rotor maybe not be lined up to a nipple on the cap and that can stop the spark also
 
Replace the rotor button. I have two brand new ones in my tool box that are dead. They will not fire. In both cases the owner did a tune up and then the tractor would not run. I checked and had spark at the coil wire but nothing at the plugs. Check the button with a volt/ohm meter and checked good. They must be allowing the spark to jump to the distributor shaft and ground out.
 
My new distributor will be in today, I have 4 friends coming over to help and watch to see if this makes it run today. I have been working on this problem for about 6 weeks. 2 of the 4 are full time mechanics, that have put several hours on this tractor.
 
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