I need some help, I am at a loss

[PoconoCub]

In your magneto picture, your rotor is pointing at #2, not #1. If that picture was taken with the crank pointer as shown in the previous picture, you are off 1/2 turn on the magneto. With the wires installed as in the book, each cylinder will fire at the start of the exhaust stroke.

Two fixes, both assuming your #1 piston is at TDC COMPRESSION, not TDC EXHAUST:
1. Move the plug wires all one position counterclockwise on the cap.
or
2. Remove the magneto, turn the drive one and a half turns counterclockwise and reinstall in the exact same place it is now.

Looking at it up close it is a bit off, it's actually in between #1 and #2. The crank pointer is set on the compression stroke, it tried to push my finger out og the hole and both valves are closed.

Instead of moving the plug wires, what do you think about re-positioning the rotor?

I am going to try the mag that I took off the otherday and see where that sits also.

[Puffie40]

First notch on the pully is #1 TDC, not compression. Second notch is when the magneto is supposed to fire. (Around 13 degrees past TDC)

At TDC, the impulse is winding up and the rotor should be positioned just before the no.1 terminal. At the second notch, the impulse trips and the rotor should be just past the no.1 terminal.

If the photo of the rotor is indeed at TDC, I would think your rotor is off by a few teeth.

[Jim Becker]

Instead of moving the plug wires, what do you think about re-positioning the rotor?

Bad idea. The rotor should always be installed by lining up the timing marks on it and the pinion. Trying to eyeball it is looking for trouble. Fixing the current problem this way would require setting the rotor a quarter turn away from the pinion marker.

I am going to try the mag that I took off the otherday and see where that sits also.

Where it is at right now is not on the tractor. You can check the rotor/pinion timing marks for alignment. Where it ends up after installing it depends on correct installation. Follow the timing instructions in the manual when installing the magneto, don't just slap it on!

First notch on the pully is #1 TDC, not compression. Second notch is when the magneto is supposed to fire. (Around 13 degrees past TDC)

At TDC, the impulse is winding up and the rotor should be positioned just before the no.1 terminal. At the second notch, the impulse trips and the rotor should be just past the no.1 terminal.

The first notch is advanced from #1 TDC. The second notch is at TDC. The impulse should snap at the second notch.

If the photo of the rotor is indeed at TDC, I would think your rotor is off by a few teeth.

If the rotor isn't very close to one of the cap towers, I agree. Hard to judge from a picture. If the timing marks on the rotor and pinion are in line, the rotor position should be OK.

[PoconoCub]

I would like to thank everyone for their help, I hve her running again purrrrrrrrring like a kitten snd plowing through snow. Now I have to drive down to the gas station and fill her up. Wish me luck.

[Clownfish]

Did you find the problem and correct it or did it just start running? That has happened to me a few times.

[PoconoCub]

Did you find the problem and correct it or did it just start running? That has happened to me a few times.

I put the original mag back on the replacement looked a bit funny and had some play in it.

[Trent M]

I am happy you got it solved. Like Jim said, you really need to follow the procedure very closely when timing a magneto. That's the reason I like distributors instead, if you're off a little a simple rotation will take care of it!!

[Puffie40]

If it's the rotor that had some play, the rotor pinion is likely worn out.