Magneto vs Distributor

Anonymous-0 · Aug 12, 2009

I am looking at a 1954 Farmall Super A that has a magneto. I didn't realize there were any magnetos on tractors that late. What are the disadvantages or problems of having a magneto? Can the tractor be converted to a distributor with not too much cost? Also, can I still buy the metal hyraulic lines that run from the pump back along the right side of the engine?

rustyfarmall · Aug 12, 2009

Magnetos were available through 1958 but were the exception rather than the rule. Don't know about those steel lines. Might still be available from Case-IH.

ScottyHOMeY · Aug 12, 2009

Magnetos are actually pretty reliable. There's a reason piston aircraft use them, though admittedly they do double up on them and everyting else in the egnition.

The H4 on the SuperA was a time tested and reliable mag, as well.

Only drawback I can think of is that on those rare occasions that somethng does go wrong there are things to a mag that not just everybody can fix, where a battery ignition distributor is pretty much a mechanical affair.

The big advantage to a mag is that you're not hostage to any of the things that can go wrong with a battery ignition (generator, cutout/VR, bad battery, a short anywhere, leaving the lights on . . . coil -- a mag has a coil, but it's not prone to the same kind of failure as the oil-filled cylidrical coils on the battery igntions). A magneto ignition won't die for any of those things going wrong and if you've got a hand crank you can start it and run it all day.

A little more difficult sometimes to fix, but less likely to fail and/or strand you is my view of a mag.

Andy Martin · Aug 12, 2009

The primary disadvantage with a magneto is that they do not have an advance varies with speed so performance is not quite as good as with a distributor. You can swap for a distributor and a coil easily, assuming you have a battery on the tractor.

The advantages of a magneto is that you don't need a battery, and they typically take less maintenance than a distributor will. On an A they give very good performance and you will probably not want to change after you've used it for a little while.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 12, 2009

If the mag is working well there's no way I'd convert to a distributer. A mag has a HOT, consistant spark at all rpm's. There's a reason the serious dragsters run mags. Only reason I'd remove the mag is if it's broke down and you're unable to get parts for it.

Glenn F.

gene bender · Aug 13, 2009

Mags were available for quite a few yrs after the late 40s. Just like other post says leave it alone. It wouldnt hurt to remove and clean the impulse as the manual suggests. The tubes can be fount at salvage yds and lots of time on e-bay.

Magneto vs Distributor

Anonymous-0

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rustyfarmall

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ScottyHOMeY

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Andy Martin

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Anonymous-0

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gene bender

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