CCW kec-440 John Deere 600 Electric start?

[daveroy]

Brand new to the forum! First post.

I tried doing a few searches first but didn't come up with anything useful... so

I have a '73 John Deere 600. I'm curious if anyone can tell me where I might try to source a NOS electric start kit for it?
Also if anyone has any great sources for other parts both engine and sled?

Dave

[harleysportster]

Dave,
Welcome aboard, I believe the electric start came factory on your 600 and has been stripped off. I could be wrong tho. The same start kit was used on the early 00 series and JDX6. The battery box mounted on the right side ahead of the engine which included the starter soleniod and rectifier and also a special wiring adapter which plugs in the connector near the recoil starter.
The rear suspension parts are unique to the 600. They do surface on Ebay now and then.
Link to aftermarket parts:
http://www.jdsleds.com/community/viewforum.php?f=16
Here is a link to salvage yards
http://www.jdsleds.com/community/viewto ... =17&t=7745

http://jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com. ... ,+Keylines
Look at the FAQ section for helpful info.

[JD600]

Pat and Dave,

The 600 was NOT factory with electric start. While it was stock with several options such as back rest, handle bar pad, heavy duty suspension, and the "High Torque" gearing, the electric start kit was an option. NOS kits do show up on ebay from time to time, but they are pricy. Ususally in the $200 range. In my opinion, your best bet is to try and find a parts sled that has it and strip it off. Thats what i did to get one on mine. Another thing i would say is a must is to change the crank seals.

All in all, i like the old mid mounts and think they are fun sleds to ride. Good luck with your sled and welcome to the site!

DE

[daveroy]

OK, different track (no pun intended).

Can anyone tell me if the JD 600 has the Prestolite stator with two coils? (read in one of the tech articles)
The previous owner described exactly the symptoms... runs fine but once warm wont restart if shut down.

[400brian]

A 73 600 should have a Nippondenso magneto. This is a points system, totally different from the Prestolite CDI.
You'll have a dual generating coil under the flywheel ( both sides in one unit ) and a 2 external coils on the fantower.

[JDT]

While the 600's were built with a standard magnito/points system it is possible to have another 440 engine under the hood that was installed later.
A dealer may have even done this if he could not have gotten the correct engine at the time.

I have seen two 600 with reed valve CCw's in them.

The correct engine was a KEC 440/5. What is in yours?

[daveroy]

The correct engine was a KEC 440/5. What is in yours?

The Plate on the flywheel cover says KEC 440/21...

So do I have the wrong engine?

If I have the Nippondenso magneto(John's comment above), does it have the same problem where the low speed coil doesn't work once warm? Making hot restarts VERY difficult?

[daveroy]

First guys I gotta say thanks for the info so far! I'm still a little confused on what I really have, but I'm getting closer to understanding the sled engine. (I mostly work on Bikes!)

I actually started taking things off (haven't gone too far yet though). I pulled the plastic cover off the coils, and the coils were just kinda sitting there... not bolted into the fan shrowd. The bolts are there, but the stems that they bolt into are wallared out and the bolts wont grab.

If this is the ground for the coils (being bolted to the fan cover) could this be the cause of my 'no hot starts'? I'm not sure If I should drill out hte coil brackets and go with slightly bigger bolts or if I just JBWeld some threaded rod and mount them that way? Any input?

[daveroy]

Also, JD600 above mentioned changing the crank seals...
How big a process is that? Is there a way to determine if its really needed or not?
Can anyone point me to the procedure? (If its not hard I may just go ahead and do it.)

[HoosierDeereMan]

With these older used machines anything is possible. The 440/21 is a reed valve engine. You need to look at the intake and see if it bolts to the upper part of the crankcase. If it does then you have a reed valve engine. If the intake bolts directly to the finned cylinders then you have a 440 or 440/5. I've seen them before where the fan towers have been swapped and it gets confusing trying to figure out what you really have.

Troy

[daveroy]

Troy,

I hope I'm looking at this right (I'll try to get a pic posted) But the intake bolts to each of the jugs about a 1/4"(?) above the crank case.
(does that make sense?)

[JDT]

The KEC 440/21 engine has the points/magnito system and does not fit into the "lows peed coil opens when warm problem".

The coils loose under the cover is a problem as they have to both be grounded through the blots to the engine to work correctly.
I good fix would be to use a set of helicoils. A 6mm set can be found or ordered at any Auto Parst store.

Crank seals is probably the most common problem with resurrecting vintage sleds.
Seals are cheap at $10.00 a pair. Installation is not difficult and as you are fimilar with old bikes the system is the same.

The reed valve 440 actually has a couple of more HP than the piston ported version of the CCW engine.
Even is you we going to show the sled it would be hard to tell that the engine was not correct.

The 440/21 was used in the 73 JDX8.

[JDT]

By the way, JB weld does not conduct electricity so it will not provide a good ground.

[daveroy]

By the way, JB weld does not conduct electricity so it will not provide a good bround.

Good to know!


So I guess, the intake is on the bottom of the 'jugs' so am I looking at read valve or piston port?
(Guess I could pull the intake to find out for sure...)

Can anyone tell me what I would expect to see if I pull the fan shrowd off that will tell me which engine I have?
Or some other foolproof way? Maybe I have a complete Frankenstein in 600 skin!?

[Matt]

Daveroy, here is a photo to help you out. This is a 600 engine, the KEC-440 piston port. Engines get swapped all the time, so it's not a surprise if it's been swapped.