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How to Start a John Deere Model 40

The John Deere Model 40 tractor, unlike some other Deere tractors of the same era, has a gasoline engine. This makes starting a Model 40 relatively simple. While the Model R, released four years after the Model 40 in 1953, had a complicated two-engine starting mechanism, the Model 40 has a simple gasoline ignition system.

Instructions

- 1
  Fill the gas tank. When starting a Model 40 that has been sitting a long time, a full tank of gas can compensate for a weak battery or fuel pump and help you tell if the ignition system is working correctly. If you suspect the fuel in the tank has been there more than two years, drain the tank and fill up with fresh gas.
- 2
  Hit the starter. If the engine fires but does not start, adjust the throttle or pump the gas pedal.
- 3
  Diagnose the ignition system if the engine does not fire. The most likely culprit is the battery, but other parts -- spark plugs, the starter itself, a rotor -- may need to be replaced. The ignition system on the Model 40 is easily accessible and replacement parts are widely available.

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