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Alternator conversion on MD

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
Tried to start MD yesterday. No luck. Acts like mag has no spark. Tractor has alternator with exciter switch which all worked when I got it. Now, with just a few cranks, + and - cables and starter start to heat up. I think I have everything hooked up right. Tractor also does not turn over easily; cranks, then hesitates, cranks again hesitates. Hope someone will chime in on this, as I know nothing about electrics.
 
need more info. did you try switching batteries? clean posts? good heavy duty battery cables? if not start there. also make sure it's switched fully over to gas before trying. if there's no spark check manifold cut-out switch. when switched over to diesel this switch grounds the mag.
 
Check to make sure your cables are clean and tight on both ends, if it has repair ends on them at the battery, take them completely apart and clean them.Also have battery tested, If all that is good , pull starter and have rebuilt. jstpa
 
Thanks for responses. Checked mag. Very hot. Got a good jolt out of it. Could it be a timing problem? How does an engine crank thats 180 degrees out of time? It seems like its kicking back on the starter when cranking, so maybe timing is off? I thought I had it right when reassembled, but maybe not. Getting grayish white smoke thru exhaust when cranking, so it's getting fuel, right?
 
You can check your mag's timing by bringing No1 piston to TDC on the compression stroke. Then remove the mag's cap and see where your rotor is pointing. If it's not at the No1 plug tower you need to pull the mag and rotate the rotor so it is at No1 and reinstall. Are you sure you have the plug wires in the correct firing order? The rotor turns CCW on this tractor. Probably should be in this order:
1-2
3-4
Hal
 
I and a friend did exactly as you said. I had the plug wires looking like 3 1
4 2 and we changed them to
1 2
3 4 and it started right up. It had been 90 degrees off. Thanks for input.
 
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