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WD won't fire

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SteveRogers View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 Jun 2023
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveRogers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: WD won't fire
    Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 4:17pm
Been working on the WD and I had it running good and shut it off and went back 2 days later to start it and it started and ran very erratic and quit. It wouldn't start after that.  I have spark at the points and current in the plug wires but not fire.  With the switch off it turns over easy and with the switch on it won't.  Any ideas or suggestions what I try next?
You can call me on my cell at 309-945-7126 if that's easier than a long typed answer, if you have one. 
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steve(ill) View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 4:51pm
common cause is a bad coil or condenser .... im assuming you have a Distributor ?

Edited by steve(ill) - 03 Mar 2025 at 4:56pm
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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SteveRogers View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveRogers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 5:10pm
yes - distributor.  I will double check on coil and condenser. thanks
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steve(ill) View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 5:39pm
if you have a coil on another tractor, it only takes a few minutes to switch for a test...
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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55allis View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 55allis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 9:28pm
I’d agree with it being the coil or points.
1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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Les Kerf View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Les Kerf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 10:23pm
Originally posted by SteveRogers SteveRogers wrote:

...  With the switch off it turns over easy and with the switch on it won't...

Please elaborate.
So, when you energize the ignition, do you mean the engine doesn't spin at all, or does it still spin but slows down dramatically?

Ignition that is too far advanced can cause the starter to labor; the advance mechanism could get stuck or the distributor may be turned inadvertently.


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Steve in NJ View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve in NJ Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 10:55pm
Inspect the Ignition switch for corrosion or bad connection. Bad connection or switch could give you power, then no power. No power to the Coil, no sparky..
Steve@B&B
39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife
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truckerfarmer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote truckerfarmer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 5:48am
I'll second what Les said. Sounds like timing is advanced. If advanced to far, it will fire before piston gets to TDC and will force the piston back down, thusly trying to spin the engine backwards. When that happens the starter has to fight against the compression of the engine.
Doesn't cost anything to check timing. Just a little time. Worth a check before throwing parts at it. If timing is off, it doesn't matter how many parts you put on, it still won't run.
Looking at the past to see the future.
'53 WD, '53 WD45, WD snap coupler field cultivator, #53 plow,'53 HD5B dozer

Duct tape.... Can't fix stupidity. But will muffle the sound of it!
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mdm1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mdm1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 7:13am
Try running a jumper wire from the battery to the coil.  Will by pass switch. Maybe try a little sand paper on the condenser mounting surface. I've had one  not grounding good.
Everything is impossible until someone does it! WD45-trip loader 1947 c w/woods belly mower, 1939 B, #3 sickle mower 1944 B, 2 1948 G's. Misc other equipment that my wife calls JUNK!
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Brian G. NY View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian G.  NY Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 10:53am
Steve@B&B is the expert here......ignition switches on tractors are often exposed to weather unlike your typical automotive awitch.
If your tractor has ben converted to 12 volts and the ignition switch feeds 12 volts to the coil in "start" position and reduced voltage by way of a resistor in "run" position there may be a problem with your ignition switch.
You might try "hotwiring" it as mdm1 suggests.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Les Kerf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 3:01pm
"I have spark at the points and current in the plug wires but not fire..."

This statement is somewhat ambiguous; I interpret "current in the plug wires" to mean there is spark, and "but not fire" to mean it doesn't actually ignite the air-fuel mixture, but I may be wrong.
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steve(ill) View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 9:05pm
i took that to mean that when he fingered the point , he could see a small  arc... but looking at the spark plug, there was no Spark.
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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SteveRogers View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveRogers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2025 at 11:43am
I am wondering if it could actually be a fuel (gas) problem.  It appears I have no gas getting to the cylinders when there is gas in the carburetor.  I can't find the timing marks.  I have an inspection plate in between the PTO and the oil pan but don't see the fly wheel and marks there.  Also I have a hole up by the distributer and it has a mark that I have had lined up with a little hole inside, is this the timing mark?
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SteveRogers View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveRogers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2025 at 1:41pm
Well we did everything suggested and what we could think of and it's running.  Not sure what we did or why it's running but it is.  So thanks for all your help and suggestions.
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mdm1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mdm1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 2025 at 4:45pm
Thanks for posting your results. Always nice to see that.
Everything is impossible until someone does it! WD45-trip loader 1947 c w/woods belly mower, 1939 B, #3 sickle mower 1944 B, 2 1948 G's. Misc other equipment that my wife calls JUNK!
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