Please help, my tractor won't start!

[Harley T]

I have a 1958 International 350 Utility. While plowing snow this weekend, after about 1/2 hour the engine started popping, spitting, backfiring, running terribly.

Thought I might have gotten some snow/water in the gas, so put some drygas and STP gas treatment into the tank, and filled it up with fresh gas. Then it wouldn't start. Sounds like it's not getting spark. SO, I go to the store and buy four new plugs, put them in, and it starts right up. Purrs like a kitten. Put it away for the night, and now it won't start again. I pulled the distributor cap, it's clean and dry, the ventilation holes are clean. The plug wires are in good shape, no cracks, no corrosion inside. I'm running out of places to check. Any ideas out there? The snow is piling up, we've gotten 52 inches since Saturday morning and I HATE running the snowblower. PLEASE! Any ideas appreciated.

TIA.

Harley T.

Fulton, NY

 

[dex3361]

I had a IH 424 and it was gas and had a voltage reduction resistor to help the points last longer. Sometimes when it was hard to start I would jump around it to give it a bit more spark. While checking for that you didn't mention anything about the points or condenser. Did you check those?

 

[DJ54]

Coils have been known to give those type of symptoms too. If it does it again, carefully feel the coil, and see if it is hot. A thin pair of gloves may be an idea, or just give it a real quick slap with the fingers. Just don't grab it... They really do get hot..!! Don't ask me how I know...

 

[mrutkaus]

Check plug wires with ohmmeter?

Yes, coil sounds like something to look at.

Mike

 

[Harley T]

Randall, thanks for the reply....

I didn't check the points or condenser, but will tonight when I get home. Gonna try and jump it to see if I can get it started, too. After cranking last night in the cold, afraid I'm gonna wear the battery down.

DJ54, thanks also.

Funny, I called my grandpa last night. If ANYONE would know what was wrong, he would. He also said it sounds like the ignition coil to him, but couldn't be much help from 750 miles away. If I can get it started tonight, I will feel the coil (with gloves...LOL) to see how hot it is.

Thanks again to you both. I will let you know how I make out.

Harley

 

[Harley T]

Thanks, Mike.

If the coil is bad, will it start with a jump? Will it continue to run poorly until I get a new coil? TIA

 

[dqdave1]

Might want to clean fuel bowl and change/clean fuel filter.

 

[dex3361]

With the distributor cap off have someone turn the tractor (taking all safety precautions) and watch the gap open and close on the points the spark should be blue in color if its correct. Here is a tutorial on troubleshooting points.
TROUBLESHOOTING IGNITIONS SYSTEMS

 

[zzvyb6]

Make sure you are using gas without any ethanol added. Its up to 15% around here now. The ethanol compounds wreak havoc on spark plugs, o-rings, and loosen fuel sediments. New car engines are designed for use with it, but older motors are having trouble. Even my snowmobile had a spark plug problem before I switched to straight gasoline. The plug will show spark when pulled out of the engine, but is fouled under compression in the presence of ethanol. My Honda engines are the worst for plug fouling with it.

 

[DJ54]

If the coil has completely shorted out, then doubt it will run. Somethimes they will do this several times, before finally biting the dust. Get hot, then short. Cool off and maybe do it again.

As mentioned, try looking for spark in the points, or off a wire to plug.