Tractor Repair: 656 International harvester, ballast resistor, spark plug wire

Question
Hi I am having problems with my 656 serial # 10114 I left it at my cottage and the river rose in spring briefly flooding it. I drained it immediately and changed all fluids, had carburetor rebuilt and put new points condenser plugs coil cap and wires now when I try to start it it is firing through the carb i didnt want to take any serious steps until i ruled out all small things. My ballast resistor is getting very hot as well. any help would be great I dont know if i have the resistor on the right side of the coil or not I have it between coil and key switch and + side of coil going to key - side to distributor tipple checked firing order on plug wires dont know what else to do thank you Ken Keenan  

Answer
Hello,

  If the plug wire firing order is correct, then the only way it can fire through the carburetor is if you have an intake valve staying open.  Remove the valve cover and check the push rods, rocker arms and valves.  The way the resistor is wired sounds like it is correct.  It is normal for them to get hot.  I would suggest rechecking the firing order first in the following manner.  Remove the number 1 spark plug and turn the engine by hand in the normal direction of rotation while holding your finger in the spark plug hole.  Notice which way the rotor in the distributor turns while turning the engine.  Turn the engine until you feel compression with your finger, then continue to turn it until the number 1 piston is near the top.  Now where the rotor is pointing, that is where you put the number 1 spark plug wire on the distributor cap as a starting point.  The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4, so whichever direction the rotor turns, put the number 5 wire in the next hole, then number 3, etc. until all the wires are plugged in.  Make sure the distributor cap is fitting correctly, as it only fits one way.  Checking the firing order this way will guarantee that it is correct.