[AT] Cub problem

[jtchall at nc.rr.com]

You've gotten a lot of good advice. I'd get the spark hot before I did 
anything else. The points should be set on .013. Make certain they are 
clean, polish them again and use a point file or some 6-1000 grit sandpaper. 
The mag must fire at least a 1/4" gap to run the engine. You can check by 
holding a screwdriver from the frame to the output on top of the coil. If 
you have a 1/4" gap there, install the caps and see what you have then--at 
least you'll know if the problem is internal or lies with one of the caps, 
rotor or wires. Also, is the impulse working? If you have a hand crank, turn 
the engine over slowly and listen for a nice loud snap. Also, with the top 
cap off the mag, see if the coil feels soft, that’s a sign the insulation is 
breaking down, I'd replace it. If you decide to rebuild the magneto and 
money is not an object, put in a new coil, they certainly don't last 
forever.  Standard Magneto is the cheapest place I have found for magneto 
parts.


John Hall


-----Original Message----- 
From: Greg Hass
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 10:15 PM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [AT] Cub problem

In a nutshell, it won't start. I parked it about 3 weeks ago and
everything was fine. A few days ago I went to move it to get to the
brush hog and it wouldn't start. I checked the gas and it was empty.
Started to pour some in and got wet feet, the rubber hose between the
tank and inline filter had split. Fixed that and tried to start again
and nothing. Had someone help tow it to the shop and tried to start it
by towing, still nothing. Shot a little starting fluid in the air
cleaner while cranking and nothing which tells me its electrical. This
has magneto ignition (1949 model).  I cleaned out the distributor cap
and took off the main coil cap which both looked ok ( IH mag). Today I
took the mag off the tractor any filed the point and set to .013 as I
found online. Put back on tractor, I 'm sure I did it right as it still
won't start. The only problem I had was when I tried to put the rotor
back on I had trouble getting the flat spot to line up with the shaft
but I think it's right. My brother brought over some kind of tester you
put between the wire and the plug. The light barely shows and it was
even getting dark. I took one plug out (Champion D 15 Y) ; it was a
little damp and the insulator was sort of brown but that wouldn't cause
it to not start that suddenly. I have always swore if I had trouble I
would try to find a battery ignition unit and replace the mag so I guess
now I'm at that point. I think I might have an old mag from a cub power
unit I could try, but as I get older I have less patience to try all
this stuff. So, where do I go from here?

          Greg Hass
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