Cletrac IXK3, Won't start

[d.c.gregory]

I used a farmall h dist with mount to replace mag,
fit nicely with little mod to drive coupling.
found one on ebay cheap.
need to relocate coil to engine to clear carb.
Curt

[yorkyjer]

    Found a Rebuilt and tested WICO magneto on Ebay that will fit my Tractor.  My son and I discussed the item, and figured it best to cut my losses, and buy it.. As I said in another post, this Guy is parting out a couple Cletracs, and lives about 100 miles from me.. Hope its better than the Fairbanks-Morse that was on it..

[yorkyjer]

Received the WICO Magneto today.. I had to grind a wee bit off the bottom bolt tab in order to have it clear the frame so that I can pivot it in order to time it.. The tractor still wont start. I have spark to the plugs, and I am sure that I have the spark on no.1 when it is compressed.  I am inclined to believe that the Plugs aren't firing under compression, and also the Plug wires might be shorting out against other wires. I had 2 cylinders fire, then a backfire.  Any suggestions Guys, I really need your help on this. 

[Blake Malkamaki]

Is there spark at each plug? How do the plugs look? Those plugs are so huge, there is generally a lot of room to work with as far as cleaning them up. I like to take them out and hold them over a propane torch and get the electrodes just a dull red so it burns all the oil and carbon off. Then take a small finishing nail and flatten one end on a vise so that it has almost a knife edge on one side. Then, using the nail, you can get down inside the plug and clean out the dried old carbon. Set the gap and connect them to the ends of the wires without putting them back into the head. Crank it over and see if there is a spark at each plug.

Blake

[yorkyjer]

The plugs don't look good. and neither do the wires.  Your info is worth a lot, I can also check my fireing order by using your suggestion..Thanks..

  OK.. Got it running.  .....  With the help of my son, we got the pointer on the Magneto in a possition where we could see it through the little window on the Magneto.. the number 2 clynder was up. WE switched all the wires counter clockwise 1 place on the magneto cap.  The fireing order is 1243.... The plugs had already been removed and cleaned. and we removed the asbestus cover tube that the wires ran through..  Sweet running engine, good clutch and steering.. Problem with the radiator.. See other post. Thanks for all the help on this ..