spark plug wire locations on a 3 cylinder gas engine

klondiker · Post by **klondiker** » Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:01 pm

My brother has a l969 John Deere model 350 crawler with a 3 cylinder gas engine. One night while he had some covers removed while doing some servicing to the caburetor, his cattle got into the corral and removed all the spark plug wires from the plugs and the distributor cap. Only two spark plug wires and the coil wire can be found and they could fit in various positions. We are having trouble finding the timing mark location, rotor rotation direction, firing order, or location on the cap for the wires. We have gone to the library and accessed all the libraries in Alberta and it seems no one has a service manual or information. We would greatly appreciate any assistance or information anyone could provide. Thank you.

gregjo1948 · Post by **gregjo1948** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 7:52 am

Pull out the #1 plug and bar the engine until you get tdc after coming past compression stroke. Remove distriutor cap and see which wire socket the rotor is at. By rolling the engine you can see which way the rotor turns. You can tell if you're turning it the right way by looking at your fan or alternator pulley. I'm not sure if your fan is a sucker or blower so, you might want to go by the alternator. Now that you have the rotor rotation, the next plug wire is probably #3 plug, then #2. Good luck and cows make good burgers.

gregjo1948

klondiker · Post by **klondiker** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:37 am

Thanks gregjo1948. I tried your suggestions but the engine still will not start and just backfires. I found the numbers 1-2-3 stamped on the exhaust manifold and wonder if this could be the firing order. I cannot find a timing mark on the crankshaft pulley and wonder if it is on the flywheel under a cover or something. I a going back in a few days and try again, and you are right. Those cows make dandy burgers and I have eaten my share over the years!!

gregjo1948 · Post by **gregjo1948** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:04 pm

I think your #1 cylinder is the front one. Get that one tdc ready for the power stroke. Set your rotor aimed at that wire. You only have two other wires to plug in. Try switching those wires until it fires correctly. I wouldn't worry about the timing mark until it's time to fine tune it. gregjo1948

jtrichard · Post by **jtrichard** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:09 pm

the firing order is 1-2-3 one is front by fan if you have NOT turned the distributor then just pull the cap crank and see which it turns put the cap back on put the wires on in the firing order 123 if it don't start then move them one click and try again and if not just one more time should do it good luck

klondiker · Post by **klondiker** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:22 pm

Many thanks to gregjo1948, and jtrichard for their suggestions in getting those spark plugs firing in their right order. It started up after the second try and now runs beautifully. So I guess the cows will have to wait a while longer before their turn comes for the meat grinder.

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