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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs

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Bill46

04-26-2006 05:13:33




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Been having problems with an old tractor dad had.
It's a JD 50. It's been setting a long time, but I decided to get it out and see what I can do with it.
I bought one last year...and it does the same thing.
Try to start it cold and it is really hard to start. It will finally go if you let the carb fill up, shut off the gas and try again.
I rebuilt the carb...and nothing changed.
I was fooling with it last night and decided to look at the pulgs and plug wires. I could see it needed new wires right away, but the right plug was wet and had carbon on it. I hit it with a piece of sand paper, put it in and the tractor fired right up.
I do not intend to rebuild it as it starts and runs fine once it starts and warms up. It uses no oil at all.
So...it now has Autolite 388 plugs in it. Can someone tell me where to find a heat range chart or tell me what a hotter plug number would be?
I feel that might help. I might even try to find a more modern ignition for it.
I think a Champion is the lower the number the hotter the spark...but have no idea on an Autolite or a Delco.
Any help is appreciated.

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John T

04-26-2006 07:09:47




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 Re: Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs in reply to Bill46, 04-26-2006 05:13:33  
Bill, while Autolite 388 is hotter then the 386 BOTH are Resistor Plugs and I would use NON Resistor Plugs such as the D21 Champion (AC C88) or the hotter D23 (AC C 88L) taken from plug chart data posted by Glen down in Texas.

More important then plug brand are other things which can help reduce premature fouling such as the use of air restrictions or shutters etc and thermostats to get and keep the temperature up to 180 and over,,,,, ,wire core NOT carbon core suppressor plug wires,,,,, ,clean fresh properly adjusted ignition points,,,,, ,,,,clean fresh hotter plugs,,,,, ,,,and dont run the carb any richer (excess black smoke) then necesary.

Let us know, good luck

John T

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Glen in TX

04-26-2006 11:34:16




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 Re: Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs in reply to John T, 04-26-2006 07:09:47  
John and Bill, Some more non resistor plugs to consider if you can find them are Autolite 378 = Champion D23 and Autolite 377 = Champion D21. Not as hot either but have the extended firing tips are the Autolite 3116 and Champion D18Y. CHP lost lots of business when they quit putting a better finish on the electrode insulators making them definitely a throw away plug after fouling. Last few warranty issues I had with CHP plugs also were not taken care of to my liking with new plugs with bad cut threads. They replaced plugs but no pay on what I was out of in labor and repairs. So pay attention to the threads!! Companies today don't care about quality and just want to sell you another new one and take your money. I've used some foreign made plugs and cleaned them until they were flat wore out on the electrodes so quality is still out there someplace but unfortunately they don't make a 18mm plug for most of our old tractors.

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Bill46

04-26-2006 10:12:43




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 Re: Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs in reply to John T, 04-26-2006 07:09:47  
Well John, I used to use nothing but Champion years ago...but had a lot of bad luck with them and stopped. I guess I can give it a try.
Thanks.....



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Bob

04-26-2006 09:14:52




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 Re: Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs in reply to John T, 04-26-2006 07:09:47  
Also, an "old farmer's trick" for these tractors was to install an extra sealing washer on the spark plug, and tighten it no tighter than needed to seal. Doing that makes the plug run a tad hotter, because it sheds a little less heat to the cast iron it's screwed into.



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John T

04-26-2006 09:19:52




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 Re: Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs in reply to Bob, 04-26-2006 09:14:52  
Good Point Bob, I agree, when I was just a pup lol my uncles told me of that on old flathead Fords if I recall correctly, and Ive seen that posted on tractor boards over the years also.

Take care John T



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Bob

04-26-2006 05:57:22




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 Re: Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs in reply to Bill46, 04-26-2006 05:13:33  
http://www.autolite.com/pdf/UnderstandingHeatRange.pdf

Link



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Bob

04-26-2006 05:59:57




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 Re: Spark Pulg Heat Range Chart for JD 50 plugs in reply to Bob, 04-26-2006 05:57:22  
That didn't work. Click "OK" on the page that opens, then fill in the "thread size" (18MM), and the "seat" (gasket), and it will show the available plugs.



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