Ford 8N having trouble starting -- many troubleshooting steps take -- suggestions?

[PorkChopsMmm]

Let me work on the video. It will show how it is "missing" at different throttle levels.

I agree the tractor will run without a charge device but I am wondering if there is something interrupting the power coming from the battery while it is running solely from the battery.

94 -- I was going to replace the condenser previously but was not that it was probably not the issue -- looking back I should have just replaced the dang thing.

Soundguy -- I think it would be wise to replace the wiring harness as you suggested. For some reason I have a suspicion that some of the old wiring is corroded, bad, or has a short somewhere.

I am also going to check the timing myself tonight. The guy said he did it yesterday but I want to do it myself to be sure.

 

[Egon]

Crank it over in the dark and see where the sparks fly.

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

OK, video is here. I tried to take a second video of trying to start it after it died but for some reason it didn't save. Just imagine the tractor turning over and not firing

 

[Soundguy]

no audio played on my side?

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

Youtube is blocked at my work but I was able to access this thread from my smartphone and play the video with audio. Can anyone else confirm? Without audio it doesn't give you much to go on.

 

[94BULLITT]

OK, video is here. I tried to take a second video of trying to start it after it died but for some reason it didn't save. Just imagine the tractor turning over and not firing

It is hard to tell with the audio. It sounds like you have at least 1 dead cylinder. Pull the plug wires off 1 at a time with nylon pliers if the motor runs worse that cyl is okay, if it runs the same that cylinder has your problem. If you have 2 you my have a crossed plug wires try changing them. If just one cyl missfiring check compression.

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

Thanks 94. If it runs again today I will try your tips. The guy checked the wires multiple times to make sure they were going to the right cylinder but not while the tractor was running, as you suggest. If I can find the dead cylinder I will be sure to check my recent spark plug wire work. We switched out all 4 recent Champion H12 spark plugs for Autolite 437's just to see if there was a difference. There didn't seem to be.

 

[Soundguy]

1-2-4-3 is the fire order.. an that method to check them posted by 94 is a good one. if you find 1-2 cyls the make no difference or much less difference you have found either a wire issue ( swapped or bad ).. or a plug issue ( bad insulator..e tc.. fouled.. etc. ) or a bad jug ( no compression..e tc..)

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

Fudge. Got a call from the tractor guy.

He installed the new condenser and while the distributor assembly was out he tested everything again. While we were able to get strong spark/voltage from the coil on Saturday and get it running he said he is getting very weak spark today -- more like an orange spark/glow. Not sure how I could have blown another coil unless the one I got was bad.

He made the comment that on his 12V converted tractor he has a wire going directly from the key switch (he may have been speaking generally) directly to the coil so that it bypasses the resistor. He was suggesting I try a new coil and try bypassing the resistor to see if that helps.

The key was not left on or anything while the tractor was sitting between Saturday and today and supposedly the coil doesn't have any burn marks on it.

He couldn't get it firing so he couldn't test each cylinder by pulling the spark plug wire. I mentioned this test to him and he said if you have bad compression you might as well cut your losses with the tractor and look for something else.

 

[PorkChopsMmm]

Fudge. Got a call from the tractor guy.

He installed the new condenser and while the distributor assembly was out he tested everything again. While we were able to get strong spark/voltage from the coil on Saturday and get it running he said he is getting very weak spark today -- more like an orange spark/glow. Not sure how I could have blown another coil unless the one I got was bad.

He made the comment that on his 12V converted tractor he has a wire going directly from the key switch (he may have been speaking generally) directly to the coil so that it bypasses the resistor. He was suggesting I try a new coil and try bypassing the resistor to see if that helps.

The key was not left on or anything while the tractor was sitting between Saturday and today and supposedly the coil doesn't have any burn marks on it.

He couldn't get it firing so he couldn't test each cylinder by pulling the spark plug wire. I mentioned this test to him and he said if you have bad compression you might as well cut your losses with the tractor and look for something else.