Trying to start my 1945 John Deere B

Beatles65 · Nov 19, 2010

I have been trying to start my 1945 John Deere B tractor. I am not sure what is making it not start! I changed the spark plugs and set the gap and I also changed the spark plug wires. I know that there is fuel getting through. I even sanded the points in the Wico magneto as they were burnt and so now they are all clean up. I know that there is spark as I pulled the plug and set it against the block and it was getting a good spark. After trying to start it with the battery we tried to pull it to get it to fire but nothing. It did pop once but that was it.
I have had this tractor running a few months ago and it would start up just fine but now it wont do anything!
Here are photos of the tractor
What do you all think?
Any advice would be great!
Thanks for everything.
From Nebraska,
Andrew.

Daninsc · Nov 19, 2010

i'm not a expert but if you know the spark is good and it's getting fuel would be there isn't enough compression. take the valve cover off and make sure the vavles are not stuck and while you are at it you can check the clearance .018-.020 you make also pit a little oil in the cylinders to help build up compression. these are some of the basics, i'm sure other people will help you more in-depth.

J.Wondergem · Nov 19, 2010

Have you pulled the plugs out to see if they are wet? If they're dry you aren't getting fuel to the cylinders. If they're wet, no spark.

mnoliverguy · Nov 19, 2010

Has this tractor been sitting outside in the rain? If so check you air cleaner to see if it is overflowing the oil with water. If so each time it turns over it can suck up moisture to the plugs and not start. I have had this happend many time now I cover air intake with can. If there is water in the oil leave the oil bath off and let it drain awhitl and try to start open petcocks to clean out engine cylinders also. Hope this helps

old · Nov 19, 2010

Did you by chance switch the left and right plug wire so the firing order is 180 out?? If you did it will not run. Also be careful pulling a green one with a red one might make the green one mad at you. LOL. Is your spark a nice blue/white spark that will jump a 1/4 inch gap is not it will not start

TJC in MN · Nov 19, 2010

I had almost same problem on my 42 B, sold it before ever got it runnung good before shutting off and letting it sit 5 months (running good then after sitting didnt) The buyer tried everything so did I I thought, buyer thought very much it was governor was bad which quite well have been, later tractor was parted out.

Paul Janke · Nov 20, 2010

I have seen tractors with magnetos which won't start because the impulse in the mag is not working. Turning it at running speed (which you are probably doing by trying to pull start it) would bypass the problem. If the impulse is working you should be able to hear it snap while turning over the engine.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 20, 2010

4 Things:

1-Fuel- You said you have
2- Spark- you said you have
3- Timing of the spark?
4- And The most important COMPRESSION

Ill bet $5 that when you shut it off last the exhaust valve was open on one cylinder, a little water in ther and bam...you got a valve open = NO COMPRESSION.

I seem many of those Deere come through my shop with that same problem, and she wont fire and stay running on one cylinder.

Trying to start my 1945 John Deere B

Beatles65

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Daninsc

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J.Wondergem

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mnoliverguy

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old

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TJC in MN

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Paul Janke

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Anonymous-0

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