John deere 55 combine, 217 engine, starting procedure

akadeutsch · 2025-11-19T12:34:20.000Z

Hello all. Long time reader, never needed to post. I'm the new owner of John Deere 55EB. It's in great shape. It's got the inline 6, 217 engine. With a 2 row corn head and the 12 or 13' bean head as well. Both look to be easily restorable... yeah right. Approaching the machine the guy selling it told a story. "Dad used it until it was parked in the barn for 10 years, could be 20. Then 2 years ago, could be 5, we dragged it outside to make room in the barn. We dragged it because we couldn't get it running." I asked, did anyone ever try to get it going? "Not that I remember" he said So I went to work. 12 volt system negative ground. That's easy. I added a 945cca deep cycle. I checked the oil, and replaced the fuel pump. I cleaned the carburetor, and primed the fuel to the carb from an small gas tank i brought with me. And it cranked. I thought this was going to be a fruitful day. But a week later and I still don't have spark... I've replaced the coil, the cap and rotor, the wires, I gapped the points after I replaced them. I did not gap the condenser. But I did replace it and test the new one with my multi meter. Voltage rose when I looked for resistance and discharged slowly when I switched to voltage. With that I figured the ignition system was good. Because I replaced everything besides the plugs. But still no spark... So, I stared looking into the ignition key switch system and here's where I'm getting stuck. The machine came with original manuals. Great condition too. The starting procedure calls for the use of a starter button. The key is only to be used to turn on accessories, if my understanding is correct... But the starter button was used to crank the engine. This makes sense because I can't find a starter relay anywhere on the machine. And i can't imagine an ignition key that can handle the high current necessary for the starter circuit. But here's the thing, if you turn the key far enough the machine cranks. Not sure it came that way? Not sure if it was retro fitted? I only know that if I turn this key the engine will spin in the right direction. And also that the starter button is broken. Is this why Dad parked the machine? I don't know. But the button shows open in each position and closed in each position, regardless of the operation of the button. It needs to be replaced. This left me with questions Was the key replaced?... it looks original Why does the machine crank with the key if Im supposed to use the button? What happens if the kids were trying to move the machine but didn't know they were supposed to use the button to start it? If the kids kept trying to use the key to start it what component would fail? Not having answers to those questions lead me here. But I wasn't done. I thought to myself, I said, "self, you don't need the key to turn on the accessories. You can just run 12volts to that coil and then crank the engine by whatever means available. That should make this old deere fire smoke. So I ran 12 hot volts to direct to the coil. But no dice. I've been losing sleep. Losing friends. The Napa guy quit answering my calls. Im Pulling out the few hairs i have left and still I'm out of ideas. So please help! Pease ask questions. I'll run around and take some pictures today. I may throw new plugs at it just to say I did it Also it's worth mentioning the points already looked brand new when I went to change them. As did the condenser. The dizzy cap was the wrong model and I don't think it was contacting the rotor. But the owner said everything is original and it all worked when it was parked 10 years ago... could be 20.

akadeutschJunior MemberNov 25, 2025#22

The tires look okay. We made it the 8 miles to my farm okay. lll plan to use it. Mom called in 19 and said she planned to sell the farm. 100 acres in Southern MN on the north edge of an expanding community. She's 73. I had been out west for 20 years. But I decided to move back to Southern Minnesota and develope a plan to save it. It had been industrial farmed for the past 20 years. First I cut out 8 acres to build a Mt bike Park to support the bike shop i opened after attending a school called UBI (THE BEST school in the USA if you want to run a bike shop) The bike shop is doing great. The New Prague area Mt bike Park Association is in charge of constructing and maintaining of the park. And my shop is busy. It appears to be working! But I've still got about 50 acres that I've been leasing to a mega farmer. Also, mom never sold the old Ford 8n jubilee, or the old John Deere B and also seed/fertilizer spreader. Both of the tractors were restored and run well. But if i plan to till the I'll still need to find a small 2 bottom plow for the B, and a small cultivator. The 55 came with a bean head, a planter, and a G wagon. Not sure what I'll plant yet. After cleaning it up a bit I threw the big leaver and everything appears to work.

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