Farmall 400 Quit

Anonymous-0 · Jan 16, 2011

Ok,I have a question,I was out plowing some snow and i went to back up and it quit, like you just shut off the key switch , it was not under load or anything, It is a 12 volt system, it is getting gas, the headlights work,all it will do is turn over and over.
I'm not sure what i should start checking first,, ,, I mean, the tractor never even stumbled, coughed or anything.. Anybody have any input? Thanks

Janicholson · Jan 16, 2011

Take the distributor cap off and dry it out. If close to the house or an extension cord is available use a hair dryer. Silicone spray will help prevent a repeat. (dry the coil and spray it as well. If it still won't start, check the spark at the coil wire by holding it near the engine block with insulated pliers. It should jump a nice blue spark 1/4 inch. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Jan 16, 2011

Also check and make sure the points did not break into

Shawn in PA · Jan 16, 2011

Do as Jim said, dry everything out, and visually inspect for spark at the coil before you start tearing anything apart. And while you"re there, since it is converted to 12 volts, make sure you have either a 12 volt "internally ballasted" coil, or a 6 volt coil with an external ballast resistor. If the coil has "use with external resistor" or something similar written on it, ensure that there is indeed a resistor wired before the coil. Shawn

Bob M · Jan 17, 2011

As Shawn suggests, if your 400 has an ignition ballast resistor, the problem could the resistor has failed. It's not uncommon when blowing snow gets onto the hot resistor. It'll cause it to crack and instantly shut down the engine.

Quick check: Temporarily bypass the resistor by jumpering the terminals. If you now have spark at the plug, get a new resistor (about $8 at AutoZone, etc).

El Toro · Jan 17, 2011

Pull off a plug wire and have someone make an attempt to start the engine while you hold the plug wire about 1/4" away from the plug. See if there's any fire to your plug. If there isn't run a separate wire from your battery to your coil then see if it will start. If you don't have a ballast resistor and it starts you're probably not getting battery voltage to your coil. Use a volt meter or test lite and with the points open and your ignition switch in the run position see if there's voltage at your coil. If there's no voltage here check your ignition switch for voltage and the wire that feeds battery voltage to your ignition switch. Hal

MisterT · Jan 17, 2011

(quoted from post at 00:48:04 01/17/11) Ok,I have a question,I was out plowing some snow and i went to back up and it quit, like you just shut off the key switch , it was not under load or anything, It is a 12 volt system, it is getting gas, the headlights work,all it will do is turn over and over.
I'm not sure what i should start checking first,, ,, I mean, the tractor never even stumbled, coughed or anything.. Anybody have any input? Thanks

I think everyone is over-diagnosing the problem. I think you have a faulty electrical connection between the ignition on/off switch and the ignition coil. You might even need a new switch, or a ballast resistor, but check those electrical connections first.

Shawn in PA · Jan 17, 2011

Respectfully,
I don't believe anyone is over-diagnosing anything. We offered suggestions to take corrective action, and places to look, based on the supplied information regarding this tractor. I specifically said in my previous post, don't start tearing everything apart until spark output at the coil is verified. We have offered a method for diagnosis and things to take note of, rather than simply theorizing what potential part could have failed. The only person who can properly diagnose this tractor is the owner. We can only offer suggestions to assist him in the procedure, Shawn

Farmall 400 Quit

Anonymous-0

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Janicholson

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Anonymous-0

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Shawn in PA

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Bob M

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El Toro

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MisterT

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Shawn in PA

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