Coil Hot...Farmall 400

This tractor is given me trouble. Coil is getting hot when you turn the engine over or if the key is on. When you are turing the engine over their is no spark at the plugs untill you back off on the key. I thought the stud in the dist. was grounding out so I check that.

thanks richard

Sounds like the points aren't breaking for some reason; either worn too close or rotor not turning?

Guessing,

Allan

Just a thought or two.

If your tactor is starting kind of like an "afterthought" after you release the contact switch, it might mean that there is something wrong elsewhere. Like a weak battery or something.

The starter, by far, has the least resistance of all the electrical components in the system and the amperage will naturally go in this direction as much as possible.

If the battery is "borderline", it could be that there is just not enough juice left over to run that ignition circuit and the starter too.

This is why a lot of automotive applications ran a full voltage "dead short", at the starter relay or solenoid, to the ignition circuit during cranking.

Just thinkin' out loud,

Allan

Yes, that is exactly what I mean.

If she is borderline, you let off the starter, the engine is still spinning just a bit, and now all of a sudden we have ignition at the points because we don't have that starter a hoggin' all the juice.

A lot of automotive applications that used points and 12-volt systems would "bypass" that ignition resistor during cranking and feed a full 12 volts to the coil.

If you have ever noticed a GM starter solenoid with the extra little connector lug, this is what it was used for in years gone by. It would jump 12 volts directly to the coil primary circuit.

Same way with the Ford starter relays. Chrysler products grabbed the voltage directly from the starter’s electrical connection block.

No, I'm not good; I'm old. :>)

Hope ya get 'er goin',

Allan