tractor cuts off after about one hour operating

Andy Stone · Mar 10, 2009

I have owned a 1964 Ford 2000 gas tractor for 20 years and just recently it has been cutting off after it has been running for about an hour. It had already been converted to 12 volts when I bought it. As soon as it cools down, it will run fine again . Any suggestions

NEIADan · Mar 10, 2009

Just a guess but I would first check the coil. It is not uncommon for them to create an open circuit after heating up. Then once they cool down the short will close and it will run fine for awhile. Check to see if you have spark out of the coil when it quits next time. Good luck

paul · Mar 10, 2009

After hard work, gets pretty warm?

Coil overheating.

Fuel line getting hot & vapor lock.

Condenser overheating.

Distributor shaft worn & messing up the points - condensation comes up past the shaft.

--->Paul

Lanse · Mar 10, 2009

hows the gas cap?? Is it vented or is there a real small hole in it?? If not the gas flows out and no air goes in holding up the fuel from getting to the engine

Ralph 1111 · Mar 10, 2009

I'm sure you will several replys my 2 cents is to start with checking coil and condenser
Ralph in Iowa

davediehl@hotmail.com · Mar 10, 2009

I look at the coil first.

Jerry/MT · Mar 10, 2009

As soon as it dies, get off pull the center high tension lead off the distributor cap and holdit near a good ground. It should have a fat bluish white spark. If it doesn't, then the problem is in the ignition. Make sure that you have a real 12V coil like NAPA IC-14SB (~$15). It sounds like you have an overheated coil.
If you have a good spark, then check for a fuel flow restriction.
If I had to guess the former is more likely.

Hobo,NC · Mar 11, 2009

(quoted from post at 02:06:46 03/11/09) I have owned a 1964 Ford 2000 gas tractor for 20 years and just recently it has been cutting off after it has been running for about an hour. It had already been converted to 12 volts when I bought it. As soon as it cools down, it will run fine again . Any suggestions

Stress test the coil cold, it should jump close to 1/2" gap cold (test point is pull the coil wire out of the cap),,, when it knocks off stress test it again,,, don't worry so much about the color,,, you are look'n for its ability to jump a large gap.

Coils give the best fits so its best to just replace it with a IC14SB are a IC64 no resistor needed used with 12V's

Also check the other stuff Paul suggest

Anonymous-0 · Mar 11, 2009

I believe your tractor used to be a DOT tractor. Work an hour , then break time . lol I would check fuel delivery , then coil .

trucker40 · Mar 11, 2009

The others have good ideas,but it could be a wire somewhere going to the coil,a switch,a terminal some where.I was a mechanic from 1977 until 1991.In that time I saw 2 bad coils.There is not a lot that goes wrong with a coil.I know a coil can get hot and not work,cool off and work,but usually its something else.Most of the time those crimp on wire ends go bad so I just twist the wires and put shrink tube on them or tape them.A switch or really anywhere there is a terminal that hooks to the coil eventually to make it run,could be a problem.Sometimes if you check the wires right after something like that dies you might get lucky and find a connection thats hot and that will tell you its loose.You can use a test light to see if you loose fire to the coil and that will tell you if its the switch or wire or what.If you are getting fire through the coil its maybe the condensor.

Andy Stone · Mar 12, 2009

thanks to all for the advise, I have now installed a new coil, but haven't put it to the test yet.

John B. · Mar 12, 2009

I had a tractor do that once, turned out my gas tank sealer was coming off and would cover up the hole in the bottom of the tank, it would spit and sputter and die, then set for a few minutes and go again.

Also my lawn mower would do that and I found the problem after dark one evening, one wire on the ignition switch was loose.

If your tractor has been switched to 12 volt it most likely was 6 volt pos ground. When switching from 6 volt pos ground to 12 volt neg ground you have to switch the primary coil wires also and put a 12 volt coil on it or run a resistor to drop the 12v down to 6v.

tractor cuts off after about one hour operating

Andy Stone

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paul

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Ralph 1111

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