Rex 48 - Is Sick

[PVF1799]

Hi all, ol'Rex '48 raked 5 acres of hay on Sunday - was parked for more raking on Monday - but.....he played hardball by throwing a no spark issue. He just refuses to spark. Cranks over well. Everything has no more than 25-30 hours on it after a total rebuild of the entire tractor. Since the rebuild it's been rock solid, starting instantly every time, until last Monday.

I'm a bit unsure where to start. Is there voltage tests I should do first? We were trying to put hay in, so I could do anything other than see if the coil was putting out voltage and that was 30V but only for a short time of 1-1.5 seconds.

As always, your suggestions and help are thankfully accepted, Ken

[ricky racer]

Distributor ignition? If you remove the kill wire (the single wire on the external post on the side of the distributor)from the distributor, will it fire? That's a quick 2 minute check.

[PVF1799]

I will try that first. It is distributor ignition. Results pending.

[Glen]

Hi Ken,

Only the magneto has a wire they call the kill wire on here, from the post on the side of the magneto, to the ignition switch.
The small wire on the side of a Battery Ignition unit goes to the coil + post, if the system is positive ground.

The condenser or coil could have quit, if there is no spark. Or the points could have a problem, or could have got corroded sitting, if it is wet there some of the year.

[tst]

look it over Ken, start by checking the points for condition and correct gap, does it have power to the coil ?

[ntrenn]

Every time I have had a sudden no spark it has been either condenser or coil (once you prove voltage to the coil). Just had the latest one about 2 weeks ago...this time was coil.

[Gary Dotson]

I generally find it to be poor contact through the points. It can be coil or condenser but I usually find it’s just the points.

[Barnyard]

Ken, was the switch left on? That could burn the points.

[PVF1799]

Ken, was the switch left on? That could burn the points.

Switch not left on, but it's clear I'm gonna have to get in there and look about. Thank you.

[Winfield Dave]

Moisture in distributor cap due to high humidity? WD-40 and dry off.

[ScottyD'sdad]

Ken, A friend had an issue with a Super A, that turned out to be the switch. Run a wire from the battery to the coil, and see if you get spark. Friends, fired right up, so we changed the switch.

Ed

[Clemsonfor]

Well any results?

[PVF1799]

Hi All - Very long time no speak. I wanted to let you know that Rex '48 was cure by replacing points and condenser. Unclear to me how this happened in a matter of minutes from one start to the next. With the loss of mom and dad inside of a year the farm and life in general took some twists and turns. That being said, life remains good but different.

Thanks to all who thanklessly until now helped with solutions.

Ken

[tst]

the points will glaze over over time, clean em off and set the gap

[inairam]

I have had a lot of issues with points and condensers until I switched to napa for all ignition parts. Even the IH/case brand had issues.

Contact Set (Points) - Magneto - Ag Part # ECH CS1600
Distributor Condenser Part # ECH IH200
Distributor Rotor Part # ECH IH300
Distributor Cap Part # ECH IH350