distributor cap tracking

[Bandit2026]

Well went through every thing again and nothing. took dist off and did continuity test. With everything on work bench I hooked a 6 volt battery to top of coil and grounded the base. Checked for power through every thing and all worked as supposed to. Points had plenty of spark as it knocked the crap out of me. put it back on and ran a jumper wire from neg cable to top of coil and tried to crank, same thing engine turns over but will not start.

 

[jaxs]

Well went through every thing again and nothing. took dist off and did continuity test. With everything on work bench I hooked a 6 volt battery to top of coil and grounded the base. Checked for power through every thing and all worked as supposed to. Points had plenty of spark as it knocked the crap out of me. put it back on and ran a jumper wire from neg cable to top of coil and tried to crank, same thing engine turns over but will not start.

Taking what you say at face value,I think the distributor might be 180* out of time. If that's the case,pull dist,rotate it 180* then reinstall. If you do not understand any part of this,ask before doing it. As a FYI,this would in no way cause no spark at coil and/or plugs,the spark would simple come at the wrong time.

 

[Bandit2026]

I understand that with the ware on something this old that the distributer cold be 180* off. I did not check for spark at the plugs but next time out I'll try to rotate the rotor and re install. I believe I can back the bolts out a little and accomplish this. Now this does not explain why all this happened while the tractor was sitting in the barn.
My father was a ford mechanic all his life. I'm a heavy equipment operator by trade and have restored cars including a 40 ford with 2 sets of points in a front mount distributor. I do understand every thing, But this think has me stumped.

 

[jaxs]

I understand that with the ware on something this old that the distributer cold be 180* off. I did not check for spark at the plugs but next time out I'll try to rotate the rotor and re install. I believe I can back the bolts out a little and accomplish this. Now this does not explain why all this happened while the tractor was sitting in the barn.
My father was a ford mechanic all his life. I'm a heavy equipment operator by trade and have restored cars including a 40 ford with 2 sets of points in a front mount distributor. I do understand every thing, But this think has me stumped.

Don't change it until we are sure everyone is on the same page. I don't intend to hurt your feelings but I would be remiss if I fail to remind you that we are not there so only know what you tell us. Don't tell us more than you know unless you say you are unsure. I said earlier on that my experience with front distributors is limited and have asked for help where needed. With that said,I thought the dist has a flat pawl unlike side dist that has teeth. If that were true,the dist will only slip into place 2 different positions 180* apart. Again,if that were true,loosining and rotating isn't possible. One thing I'm 100% sure of is that a dist will fall into pieces before it get's 180*out of time. Now you are telling me "My father was a ford mechanic all his life. I'm a heavy equipment operator by trade and have restored cars including a 40 ford with 2 sets of points in a front mount distributor." You guys should know better than me because I have never held myself out as a pro mechanic (just been taking things apart and putting them togeather since I was 9. As for how it could get screwed up???? There might be others but one way I can think of is if someone removed it and failed to clock it right when they put it back togeather. Ok TBN members,help us out with how this dist is configured. Damnation,my tonque may be hanging out if we chase any more rabbits.

 

[geblackwell]

8N Electrical System Trouble Shooting When 8n Won't Start - YouTube Might look at this.

 

[Coyote machine]

Whats the center button on the distributor cap look like? Is it spring loaded and able to move into /out of the cap and make good contact with the rotor? Or is it jammed up into the top of the cap, where it might not be making good/any contact with the top of the rotor metal? Is the rotor locked into place when put onto the distributor shaft so it can't move unless the shaft turns it? How much free play is in the distributor shaft, up and down and side to side when the distributor is in the engine? Do the rotor tracks hit the middle of the metal posts which transfer spark to each spark plug?

Your tractor was running smoothly before you put it in the Gremlin barn yes? Just prior to the no start condition what had you last done to the tractor to get it to start and run?

 

[Bandit2026]

I don't think the cap has a spring, I believe the blade on top of the rotor takes care of that. I don't believe there is enough play in the shaft as it ran too good before and l believe it would have run rough before it developed this problem. The tracking that showed was after the firing point.
When it first showed last year I replaced the everything as they had not been changed in 20+ years, points, plugs, wires, rotor and cap. When I last used to grade a gravel farm road, get on turn switch pull choke hit button and ready to go. I just can't figure what happened sitting in a dry barn.

 

[Bandit2026]

Took the distributor off a d took it to a tractor shop and he hooked it up and spun it with battery socket gun and said there was nothing wrong with it. came back re installed and still nothing. Current at top of coil it 6.33 when I hit the starter it drops to 3.53. Now what??

 

[Bandit2026]

Well guess what! I started it this am. Runs fine. My mind kept going back to the guy that said if the amp gage didn't wiggle something was grounded in the start circuit. I went out this am and turned switch on and shorted across the solenoid thus bypassing the circuit and she fired right up, stumbled a bit, probably flooded from all the trying. I turned it off and tried it through the starter and once again it fired right up. Ran for a few minutes then quit. Turn gas on dummy!!
After that I used it for about an hour and she ran fine.
My guess the voltage regulator stuck while parked then when the generator hit it opened up. I'm open to ideas as to what it was.