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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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400 ign problem again,again

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SDE

10-23-2006 03:33:32




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Each time it won't start I check for spark to the plugs, and it doesn't have any. Changed points, coil, condenser, and each time I would eventually get spark and it would start. Sat. it would not start again. I gave up and decided to use the C instead. Before heading 8 miles down the road, I was going to swap the distributor on the 400. The upper nut that mounts the unit to the hydraulic pump was loose. Tighten it and she started up, so took it to the hayride location. Must have been a poor ground issue, right? Sunday morning I try to start it and no spark to the plugs again. I gave up, went home and brought the C for the 4h hayride. When I got back, I turned the key on the 400, before unhooking the haywagon, and she started. I am totally clueless and lost as to why it will, or will not start. Please give me something to look into. I swapped the dist. caps between the 400 and the c and the caps are good. I have not replaced the spark plug wires, because the tractor runs good when it starts. With the cap off and the key on, I will open the points by hand and they spark. Wouldn't that mean the problem is the cap or wires? If so swapping the cap should have swapped the problem to the C, Right? Could the coil be weak?

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old

10-23-2006 09:24:51




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to SDE, 10-23-2006 03:33:32  
The ignition switch maybe going bad and by tring a few times it starts working. Or the insulator going into the disturbutor may have a crack in it and that could also cause that problem. Or you also might have a bad wire going from the switch to the coil and that could also cause the problem. The next time it does that I would try a hot wire from the battery to the coil. If it starts and runs then you know your problem is from the coil back to the battery. If it doesn't then its from the coil forward

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SDE

10-23-2006 14:31:13




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to old, 10-23-2006 09:24:51  
Thanks OLD, I had tried the hot wire from the solenoid to the coil on Sat., without any better luck.



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old

10-23-2006 14:50:54




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to SDE, 10-23-2006 14:31:13  
Ok so then your problem should be is the disturbutor area. You may have a bad condenser, but most of the time when they go they go and thats thats. Also could have a bad cap or rotor. I had one where the rotor was bad and it would start one time but not the next. And it could be the insultator that goes in the side of the distubutor.

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jal-SD

10-23-2006 08:39:27




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to SDE, 10-23-2006 03:33:32  
I had the same problem with my H & finally found that the "bake-a-lite" insulation "washer" on the bolt that goes through the distributor housing to provide power to the points was bad. (You might want to check that little rascal & see if its cracked.) It would short out whenever it felt like it. Found a replacement for it & I haven't had a problem since. IH couldn't find the part, but the guy at the parts house knew that old Datsun's used the same type of set-up & found one that fit the hole perfectly. (My $0.02 worth. jal-SD)

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SDE

10-23-2006 14:38:59




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to jal-SD, 10-23-2006 08:39:27  
I will swap these little pieces from my parts tractors distributor and see what happens. I hope you are right. Thanks SDE



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Nebraska Cowman

10-23-2006 04:38:24




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to SDE, 10-23-2006 03:33:32  
When you open the points by hand you should have a strong blue spark at the coil wire (the wire that goes to the center of the cap) One possability is a bad key switch that is working part of the time. Keep looking, you'll find it.



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Brownie 45

10-23-2006 04:35:54




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to SDE, 10-23-2006 03:33:32  
Check for a bad switch & check ALL wires involved with the ignition & starting system. This includes terminals & ends. We had the SMTA act like your 400, & it turned out to be the wire going to the coil, which ran in a loom over the valve cover. At the front holding clip, the wire had somehow become separated & would make contact sometimes & then would open after the engine ran for awhile. I think something like this is happening to your 400, if it is not the ign. switch or a terminal end.

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Janicholson

10-23-2006 06:13:29




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to Brownie 45, 10-23-2006 04:35:54  
I agree with the other posts. Here is a quick check. Make up a lest lamp by using a small lightbulb (like a side marker light) and socket. Ground one lead and attach the other to the coil on the side going to the key. Tape the bulb to the side of the hood with some (easy to remove) blue masking tape. When the tractor fails to start, the light will be either lit (trouble in the coil/dist.) or not lit (trouble in the wiring/switch) I hope this helps. JimN

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SDE

10-24-2006 03:23:31




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 Re: 400 ign problem again,again in reply to Janicholson, 10-23-2006 06:13:29  
Hey everyone, I swapped the distributors last night. The spark to the plug was much, much stronger and it started. I will not consider it fixed until it starts five times in the next week or two. I will want to correct the problem in the bad distributor so that I can still use it in my parts tractor. I should swap the rotor to see if that may have been to guilty party. The ohm meter gave the same reading on both of the distributor posts, if I checked it correctly. Thank you, Steve

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