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fixitneal 11-04-2009 17:22:17 76.8.104.243 342086 Report to Moderator	My neighbor has an A that He had a fellow rebuild and the local machine shop turned the crank and did the valves etc. The fellow had to get someone to show him how to "time" the tractor but never could get it to crank. Neighbor finally hauled his tractor home and there it has sat for the last 20yrs.. He did pour auto trans fluid into the spark plug holes. I got involved trying to help him get it running. We installed a tune-up kit new plugs, plug wires points,condenser and rotor button. We have spark at the plugs. We turned motor over several times with starter to try to blow out fluid, nothing ever came out. We gassed her up with fresh gas and tried to crank but no go. Trans fluid started to leak out of the valve cover. Poured small amount of gas in plug hole and maybe got one pop. Can someone familiar with this engine give us some ideas of things to check, also how do we tell if he got the engine "timed" when he put it back together. I presume "timed" meant crankshaft to cam timing? I noticed the distributor hold downs are about an inch away from where they were originally. This is a late model styled A around 1950. Sorry for being so long winded. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. [Reply]   [No Email]
F-I-T 11-16-2009 02:24:15 67.233.146.5 343465 Report to Moderator	Re: No Generator on mine in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   Sent from phone. Download parts book at jdparts.com, it shows the gen and VR numbers. System is 12 volt, positive gnd, original wiring was 2- 6 volt batteries in series.   [Reply]   [No Email]
fixitneal 11-08-2009 06:22:58 76.8.104.243 342489 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to buickanddeere, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   Just wanted to say thanks to all that replied, because of your good suggestions we got the tractor cranked yesterday. The dist timing was way off. Now we are going to change the oil etc and see if we can get it running good then prep for paint. Will keep informed of the progress.   [Reply]   [No Email]
F-I-T 11-05-2009 14:00:40 137.78.94.254 342179 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   Does it have petcocks in the underside of the engine block? If so, open those and let the fluid drain out. If not, remove the 1/4" pipe plugs, and let it drain out, then replace the plugs. While it is draining, remove and clean sediment bowl and observe that a pencil sized stream of fuel runs for thirty seconds into a clean can. Replace sediment bowl, open carburetor drain valve and observe that fuel runs in a pencil sized stream into the clean can. If so, close valve, pour gas into tank. Remove flywheel cover and turn flywheel CCW until air blows finger out of spark plug hole, indicating TDC is coming up. Place flywheel impulse mark at 3:00 position, aligned with mark. Loosen distributor and roll it forward all the way. Turn switch on and watch for spark at #1 plug while you slowly roll distributor rearward, a.k.a CCW. when spark occurs, stop, static timing should be close enough for her to start and run well. If the spark occurs well off of vertical or not at all in that zone, odds are good that the cam is off a notch to the crank, or the governor gear is off a tooth to the cam. If so, report back. Turn switch off, replace flywheel cover, and fire it up.   [Reply]   [No Email]
fixitneal 11-05-2009 11:57:41 76.8.104.243 342156 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   Thanks to all that responded as I now have a good bit of things to try. I"ll start by trying to remove the rest of the trans fluid using a small plastic tube. I"ll check to make sure all timing marks are lined up. The gas tank was dry and clean. We"ll probably pull the carb and clean all passages also. We hooked up the battery Neg. ground. Is this correct or how can I tell if its correct. I know an old JD 1010 I have was Pos. ground and it is a newer tractor than the A. Just want to make sure that"s right. Thanks   [Reply]   [Send Email]
NewAowner 11-15-2009 21:20:43 208.76.92.56 343459 Report to Moderator	No Generator on mine in reply to fixitneal, 11-05-2009 11:57:41   My new old 1947 A, SN 588___ is missing its generator. What do I need to buy? I assume this is a 6 volt positive ground system. Can I just go to NAPA and buy a 6 volt Delco and expect it to bolt in or do I need to order from John Deere? The bracket is still there. Is the regulator a separate purchase and do I just ask the parts guy to match the two components?   [Reply]   [No Email]
fixitneal 11-05-2009 13:49:21 76.8.104.243 342177 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-05-2009 11:57:41   It still has the generator.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Kurt_JDB 11-05-2009 13:38:16 70.154.102.34 342173 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-05-2009 11:57:41   Should be hooked up positive ground. Be sure to polarize the generator since you had it wrong way around. However if the Generator has been replaced by an alternator, then it probably does need to be hooked up neg. ground. John T will no doubt set us straight. Kurt   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Dave from Texas 11-05-2009 05:50:37 144.177.70.5 342127 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   The valve timing is right when the mark on the cam gear matches the mark on the crank. For the dist. the gear in the governer mark has to match the cam gear. Then time the dist as described below. For starting if the timing looks right and you are getting spark at the plug, check the carb. All 3 passages have to be clear. I had the same problem and thought I had cleaned the carb. I had missed one of the passages and after cleaning it started up.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Kurt_JDB 11-05-2009 05:04:48 74.167.224.109 342124 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   I think it would be a good idea to change the oil and filter before you try to start it again. You probably have a mix of water, oil and tranny fluid in the crankcase. Also make sure you have fresh gas in the tank. Drain the carburetor bowl too. If you have petcocks on the bottom of the block, open them and any remaining tranny fluid should come out. If you don't have petcocks, or if they are not on the bottom, here is how to get the fluid out: Take a piece of coat hanger and shape into a 90 degree sweep so that when you put it in the spark plug hole the end can reach the bottom of the cylinder. Then tape a new and clean 1/4 inch clear plastic tube to the hanger wire. Make sure the tube is 3 feet long or so. Put the tube and hanger wire in the sparkplug hole so the end rests on the bottom. Gently suck on the tube and see if you can draw any fluid into the tube. If you draw up any fluid, (don't let it get near your mouth.) put your thumb over the end, take out the tube and then blow out the fluid into a bucket. Repeat as required. Check timing etc, and make sure the mag impulse snaps at TDC. Hope this helps. Kurt   [Reply]   [Send Email]
greenmech 11-04-2009 20:02:51 74.32.103.105 342105 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   Are you getting gas to the cylinders? Could be the carburetor needs a good cleaning. Ron Mn.   [Reply]   [Send Email]
missouri_farmer 11-04-2009 19:07:01 65.255.150.204 342100 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   Find top dead center(TDC) on cylinder #1 and then take the distributor cap off and make sure the rotor is touching the plug wire going to that cylinder. Do the same on the other side just to make sure (should be right though). When finding TDC make sure it comes up on compression, otherwise its on the exhaust stroke and it would be half off. This wont get it perfect but it should get it close enough to get it running. Once its running you can adjust the timeing at the distributor to get it running good. I beleive the flywheel has marks on it showing when it comes to TDC. hope this helps.   [Reply]   [No Email]
pbb 11-04-2009 18:41:35 216.163.16.126 342096 Report to Moderator	Re: Model A won't start in reply to fixitneal, 11-04-2009 17:22:17   I got a 37 A that was sitting for a long time.It wouldnt start. I started checking every thing. It didnt fire so i put points and condencer in i got it fireing still wouldnt start.So i checked all the timeing and checked the tappets every thing was rite but it still wouldnt start.Mine is hand start i almost threw my arm out trying to crank it.So i got a good freind that is a old time farmer he checked it he said it should start. We ended up pulling it . It started rite up. So check everything and if everything is ok pull start it. There hard to start if they set a long time.Now mine starts easy.   [Reply]   [No Email]