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Still no spark on #3 cylinder?

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unioncreek

02-26-2008 12:57:55




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I've switched plug wires around and still no spark on #3. I put on a new cap and rotor and still the same thing, so that eliminates the wires, cap and rotor. Today, I bought a set of points and condensor, their getting expensive had to pay $24.00. I don't really see what else it could be, but the other cylinders have very good spark. Hopefully the points will solve it, but the only way I can see it can be the points is if the #3 lobe is worn down. But, I don't see how that can happen virtually overnight.

Bob

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Brownie450

02-27-2008 06:00:50




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
Since you have spark on all but #3, the problem is in the #3 terminal on the dist. cap. Could be the rotor isn't getting close enough to #3 terminal inside the cap. Is the cap firmly seated on the dist. housing? Have you measured the distance between the center terminal in the dist. cap & each of the individual terminals? Maybe #3 is slightly further away from the center than the other 3 & the spark can't jump the gap???

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James Williams

02-27-2008 04:52:23




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
Go find another mechanic,two eyes are better than one

jimmy



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gene bender

02-27-2008 04:19:14




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
As pale rider says why dont you just remove the #3 plug and replace it with one that you say fires wouldnt be the first time a bad plug showed up. I would have done that first cause of the other three fire that says a lot. I have found out a new plug out of the box dont always fire and i dont care what brand is either.



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Brownie450

02-26-2008 18:40:07




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
I forget if you have checked for continuity through the dist. cap with an ohmmeter. This would show up the possibility of no contact on the #3 terminal--even though you have changed dist. caps. Chances of getting a grounded {shorted] spark plug put in #3 as many times as you have had it in & out is probably not the problem. I'd start the engine & pull out the #3 wire from the dist. cap & put a bare wire in #3 & feel if you have a spark. If you hold on tightly, it won't bit too much.

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Pale Rider

02-26-2008 18:08:04




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
I hesitate to mention this since it is so obvious that it is almost an insult to a person's intelligence, yet you did not mention it nor has anyone else up to this point. You claim that you have switched plug wires and tried a new cap and rotor yet the simplest and cheapest fix would be to simply swap locations with the plug that isn't firing with one that is and see if the problem follows the plug or remains with the location of the number 3 cylinder. Frankly I suspect you simply have a bad plug or perhaps installed a bad plug in a locaion where there was one before.

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onefarmer

02-26-2008 17:06:58




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
Using a timing light is not a good way to check for spark. A good way is since it runs on the other cyls, pull the plug boot back on the problem cyl, fire up the engine, and carefully remove the wire from the plug and hold it a small distance from the head or block. See if it jumps a spark and report back to us on long of a gap it has when it can't jump any further. If it will jump good this way then it is time to look at the plug, then the cyl. Also if it will jump a spark this way, switch the plug with one from a good cyl.

It is possible the bushings in the distributor are worn enough that the points won't open enough on the one cyl. Seen this a few times on cars. If this is the case I would guess the plug wire for the problem cyl is on the same side the points are on. The constant side pressure of the points spring can wear the bushings

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HAS

02-26-2008 16:59:27




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
DO this test: With the ignition off and the cap removed, hook an ohmeter from the primary on the points to ground. Slowly rotate the engine two full revolutions and watch the ohmeter as each lobe opens the points. The ohmeter should go to zero (infinity) as each lobe opens the points. If it does not, the cylinder affected by that lobe will not fire.

Do this with all the plugs out so the engine will be easy to turn.

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Maark

02-26-2008 14:40:23




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
Did you pull that wire out of the cap and look in the tower for a piece of paper, ect. That will stop the spark from getting out to the wire...



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Maark

02-26-2008 14:37:21




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
If that plug is "slightly wet", it won't fire.



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Janicholson

02-26-2008 13:28:16




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
I am going to ask a different question:
Do you have no spark, or no combustion.
To say "no spark" has lead us to give you information on getting spark. (having successful ignition is very different)
Put a different spark plug into the #3 spark plug wire, and hold its metal shell against the block.
Start the tractor and see if there is spark at the gap of this plug. If there is, it is not a spark issue, it is a combustion issur, and you can stop working on the ignition.
If your timing light does not work when it is connected to #3, and you think that is the definition of no spark you might be mistaken. A shorted sparkplug will reduce the voltage to very low numbers and cause the timing light to fail to trigger.
Before we go farther, check the actual spark as above. If it does spark. change the plug and see what happens. If that does notr work let us know, and we will go to the next step. JimN

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Janicholson

02-26-2008 13:28:02




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
I am going to ask a different question:
Do you have no spark, or no combustion.
To say "no spark" has lead us to give you information on getting spark. (having successful ignition is very different)
Put a different spark plug into the #3 spark plug wire, and hold its metal shell against the block.
Start the tractor and see if there is spark at the gap of this plug. If there is, it is not a spark issue, it is a combustion issur, and you can stop working on the ignition.
If your timing light does not work when it is connected to #3, and you think that is the definition of no spark you might be mistaken. A shorted sparkplug will reduce the voltage to very low numbers and cause the timing light to fail to trigger.
Before we go farther, check the actual spark as above. If it does spark. change the plug and see what happens. If that does notr work let us know, and we will go to the next step. JimN

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JT

02-26-2008 13:24:56




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
Are you actually testing for spark with a tester, or are you assuming that it has not spark because of a dead cylinder? You obviously did put new plugs in? Did you get copper cored wires? If you have done all you said you done, there is really no way you could not have fire on #3. I would start lookign for mechanical problems. Stuck valve for one, blown manifld gasket, had that on an H once. Something just does not add up here.
Jim

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unioncreek

02-26-2008 13:31:58




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to JT, 02-26-2008 13:24:56  
Jim,

I'm testing for spark with my timing light, the other 3 cylinders show spark with it. The plugs and wires are 6 months old and are copper core wires. It's not mechanical, I've checked all that, I can pull a plug and ground it on the frame and block and there is not spark. That's the only plug that does it. I'm going to put the new points and condensor in tonight if I get time and see what that does.

Bob

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El Toro

02-26-2008 16:21:37




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 13:31:58  
You need to take look at the cam lobe in your distributor to make sure it isn't worn. Bring No3 piston to TDC on the compression stroke and see if there's any point gap. Do what someone else mentioned is to snap those points open and close while someone watches the plug to see if it fires. You need the ignition switch on too. Hal



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El Toro

02-26-2008 16:11:06




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 13:31:58  
Try a new plug and hold it against the block and see if there's fire. I don't think its a points problem. You should have fire to the plug even with a worn cam lobe. It just opens and closes the valve at the correct time. Hal



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Janicholson

02-26-2008 13:37:22




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 13:31:58  
If you pull that same number three plug, that may be shorted (see the post above) and a different plug will show spark. TUrn the cam around so the rotor is pointing to #3 (should be down and left at 8:00 o'clock or so) and see if the points are opening. turn it a bit farther and put a screw driver against them while open and see if it sparks then. Get back to us, JimN



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unioncreek

02-26-2008 13:22:09




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
Scotty,

I used my timing light on all the wires and that is the only one that doesn't have spark. Checked the push rods and then all seem alright. Pulled that plug last night and it's slightly wet, but it would fire if there was spark there.

Bob



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RustyFarmall

02-26-2008 14:37:45




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 13:22:09  
If you still have one of the old spark plugs that you took out 6 months ago, grab one of them and try it on #3. Spark plugs DO go bad, and sometimes they will do it overnight.



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ScottyHOMEy

02-26-2008 13:31:47




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 13:22:09  
You've swapped out wires, so I'd guess that eliminates a ba wire. Have you checked for spark at the end of the wire, i.e., no plug?

Any sign of arcing on the new rotor tip or the contact in the cap for #3? It shouldn't have come up suddenly, but I'm wondering if wear on the rotor shaft or the bushing/bearings it rides in might be a factor.



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ScottyHOMEy

02-26-2008 13:11:48




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 Re: Still no spark on #3 cylinder? in reply to unioncreek, 02-26-2008 12:57:55  
Sounds like yu've done all you can electrically. Even if the block on the points wasn't greased and got crud under it, it whouldn't hve worn down the lobe for #3 any worse than the others.

Have you maybe got a valve stuck open that's flooding that cylinder making for a wet or fouled plug???



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