TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum

Dead Soldier!

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

trailgoat

04-22-2007 04:34:46

Report to Moderator

Hi-

First time posting. Long-time reader. Got a 1952 TO-30. Ran like a charm until yesterday. Here's my story...

I've been in the process of sanding the body, getting rid of rust so I could paint her up and get her looking nice for the Spring. I also wanted to clean the engine a bit. Bought some Engine Kleen spray (makers of Gunk!). Covered the distributor with plastic and sprayed away. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. Then, I cleaned it off with a hose. After I thoroughly sprayed the engine and got it somewhat clean----the darn thing won't start. Won't even turn over. It's like there's no electricity getting to something. I disassembled the carberator so it could dry out. I checked all the wiring. The choke seems to not stay pulled-out after I sprayed her.

Did I short something out by spraying water on the enging??? It seems strange that people leave tractors out in the rain all the time (I don't!) and it couldn't take a one-time spraying. What could have gone on the fritz in a matter of minutes?!?!!? Any troubleshooting tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Todd

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Daniel Collings

04-26-2007 13:11:23

Report to Moderator

Re: Dead TO30 in reply to trailgoat, 04-22-2007 04:34:46

Hey guy...let's think about this a min. If the motor won't turn over (i hope you mean crank or spin). If this is the case then we should look somewhere else besides the distributor. The distributor will not cause the starter to not run. You say that you have voltage getting to the coil. This lets us know that there is at least some sort of connection to the battery and power is making its way throught the switch. (again assuming that you have a switch). This does not mean that ther connections are good.
Bringing me to another point. The cleaner you used is a degreaser. A degreaser has certain chemicals in it that causes grease to loose its ability to hold together. (loose it's ability to be sticky) The degreaser also has some solvents and they act like soap. The effect soap has on water and grease is that it makes the water thinner. Kind of like when you thin paint down if its too thick. The water being "thinner" may have gotten into your starter switch. The added chemicals in the degreaser may have caused a reaction that put a film on the switch parts that will not allow it to conduct electricity.

Darn..... I did it again....I have bored eveyone to tears and put them to sleep!.....Sorry....

Anyway....Put the distributor back together and check the Starter solenoid/switch....I know it's not the best way. Take an old box wrench and use it to make the connection from the battery side of the switch to the starter side (not for too long now!) and see if the starter spins..... if it does then its the starter switch.

Also check all the battery/starter connections. You may have cleaned away the stuff that was keeping them together and now they are loose.

If the engine is spinning but wont fire, and you have power to the coil and distributor then you have a problem with the points/cap/rotor button....somewhere there.

Good Luck....Hope this was helpful. If not atleast you got a good nap.
D

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Trailgoat

04-26-2007 01:11:54

Report to Moderator

Re: Dead Soldier! in reply to trailgoat, 04-22-2007 04:34:46

First of all, thanks for all the responses. I haven't been able to try any of the suggestions yet. I will have some time this weekend, so I'll let everyone know what I find out. I just wanted to let you all know I appreciate the help!!!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

marlowe

04-24-2007 18:20:10

Report to Moderator

Re: Dead Soldier! in reply to trailgoat, 04-22-2007 04:34:46

please don't take offense but with what is going on all over the world could you please use a better term then dead soldeier. some of us have served and have loved ones serving and we are a little on edge with turms like that. i don't think you meant any harm. thank you

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jeff-oh

04-23-2007 06:02:11

Report to Moderator

Re: Dead Soldier! in reply to trailgoat, 04-22-2007 04:34:46

Did you check to see if you battery was fully charged?

That is here I would start. Then I would chack the wiring to make sure it is bright and tight.

If that does not work I would then check the wiring with a volt meter to see where the current stops. Perhaps it is the starter switch.

This can be fixed.

Jeff

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

phil(va)

04-22-2007 09:13:36

Report to Moderator

Re: Dead Soldier! in reply to trailgoat, 04-22-2007 04:34:46

Won't turn over sounds like bad battery connection, probably the ground, but it could be something else. Try this, to make sure it will start without your battery connections. Doesn't matter if 6 or 12 volt if you do it this way. Pull good vehicle alongside and attach cable to one side of battery of good vehicle and to top post of starter. Make sure tractor is OUT OF GEAR!!! Turn on key. Then just touch cable from other side of battery on good vehicle to a good ground on the tractor. Starter should turn over, and if key is on, and distributor is ok, it will start. If it starts this way, but not with tractor battery, then you have isolated the problem. In any event, even if it doesn't start, it will turn over (if starter is good). Hope that helps.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

jmixigo

04-22-2007 06:29:42

Report to Moderator

Re: Dead Soldier! in reply to trailgoat, 04-22-2007 04:34:46

WD 40 is yore friend. It is a dielectric water dispersal agent. Spray inside the distrib cap, top of coil, top of cap, then blow off with compressed air if possible. Has worked for me many times.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

John(UK)

04-22-2007 05:21:46

Report to Moderator

Re: Dead Soldier! in reply to trailgoat, 04-22-2007 04:34:46

Have you checked for condensation inside the distributor cap and check the cap for being cracked and leaking HT between the centre terminal and an outside one. The choke is better not sticking out then there is no danger of it using more fuel than it should, which it would do if it was sticking and did not fully return to open. If there is no power getting to the starter it is possibly a battery lead connection at the battery end or the starter switch end, slacken them both off and make sure they are clean and bright,refit and tighten them. You wont short anything washing it, but electrics and water do not mix and it can cause problems though not usually major ones. Check the ground lead also at both ends, if you still have one end attached to the dash panel then replace it with a longer lead that will attach to one of the setscrews near to the starter, this will make for a better connection and could also be your problem.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy