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240 U won't start.

S

Scotmick

New User
I have a 240 U that won't start. Last week I had a backfire problem, cleaned out the fuel line and it started without backfiring. I ran it for about 45 minutes and parked it. I went back a couple of hours later and it wouldn't start and hasn't started since. I had the starter rebuilt, changed the coil, checked the points and still no spark at the plugs. I tried starting fluid in the cylinders, charged the battery overnight, checked all the wiring and still no start. Now, the good part. I swear that this tractor was negative ground. Checking the manual I have, it said it should be positive ground. With a Mechanic friend of mine, we replaced the battery and coil again, switched it to positive ground and still no spark at the plugs. No Mechanic now, I'm on my own and I need HELP!

Thanks, Don
 
Use a volt meter and see if you're getting battery voltage to your coil. With the points open you should have voltage on both small terminals when your ignition switch is in the on position. If there's no voltage you need to check back at your ignition switch for voltage to see if you have voltage feeding the switch. If you have voltage feeding the ignition switch check the terminal on the switch to see if there's voltage on the terminal that feeds voltage to your coil. If you have voltage to the switch and none out your switch needs replacing.

If you have battery voltage on terminal on the ignition switch and none at the coil you have a a bad connection or your wire is broken between the switch and your coil.

If you have battery voltage on both terminals on the coil use some 320 wet or dry and clean the points then see if the engine will start. Hal
 
Is your 240U 6 volt or 12 volt? If 6 volt it would be positive ground. Other than the battery, check the connections on your coil. The coil terminal to the distributor should agree with the battery ground. If positive ground, "+" on the coil goes to the distributor. If negative ground, "-" on the coil goes to the distributor.
You may want to check the timing. Worn teeth on the distributor drive or sheared or missing pin in the drive gear could cause the type of problem you are having.
 
Thanks to you both; it's raining quite heavily now and when the tractor quit, it was out on my lawn, so it's in the open and I have to wait for the rain to stop. My tractor is 12 Volts and the new Coil I installed is also 12 volts. Question: what if I was correct and the tractor had been converted to negative ground when it was converted to 12 volts, at some time in its 51 year life? How much harm could I cause if I went back to negative ground on the battery and coil to check it out?
 
If it was converted to negative ground when it was converted to 12 volts it should still be neg grounded unless you or someone changed it. The wire from your ignition switch should go to the + terminal on your coil. If your tractor is sitting out in the rain you probably will have water inside the distributor & cap. It will also get in the plug boots. Any of these can cause a no fire to your plugs. Hal
 
Thanks Hal; it's covered up with a large new tarp, it won't get wet. I'll attack it tomorrow. I think I'll change it back to a negative ground for the battery and coil and see if that's the problem. In 51 years I'm sure 25 Guys worked on it.

Don
 
Hal, it looks like a generator to me; now I'm completely confused. This is the first time I've had a problem since I bought it last July (2010), so I hadn't got into it before. It seems like I have a tractor that someone changed to a 12 volt battery, with the generator. I installed a 12 volt coil and had the original starter rebuilt last Friday. The strange thing is, it's been running fine up to last week. It' still raining out so, I'll have to wait a while before changing back to a negative ground to see if that fixes the starting problem.
Don
 
Tuesday Morning update. I have 12.6 volts going into the coil, but not out. I tried both positive ground and negative ground. Same thing. I installed another new coil, same thing on positive and negative grounds. Voltage going in, but about .6 volt coming out. What I really need is a real detailed wiring diagram of the starting system; the one I have is a very simple diagram (with no expected voltage readings anywhere) in a photocopy of the 12-29-59-5B # 1 014 140 R1, Operator's Manual that I bought on eBay along with a photocopy of the Preventive Maintenance Manual which has NO diagrams. I've searched the Internet to no avail. Any suggestions? I really have to get this tractor running again.



Thanks, Don
 
Wednesday AM. Seeing that I am not getting voltage on the output of each of 2 brand new coils, is their something in the circuit that could be frying these new coils as soon as I turn on the ignition switch? I am at a loss and don't know where to go from here. I don't know of any tractor mechanics in my area.

Thanks, Don
 
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