Swapping distributer for mag

I got my new H4 mag for my '44 H today. (Thanks Nebraska Kirk! It looks terrific!)

I'm going to take off my distributer and sell it. Are there any tips on what I should do when I take the distributer off? It's going to be a while till I put the mag on, since I'm going to paint the tractor.

Thanks for any tips!

If your not going to put it in right away don't take it off plan and simple unless you want to be here in a month or 2 complaining that you have it all out of time. Leave it like it is. Paint it and then when done switch it not before or you will be asking a lot more questions and saying you know I should have listened. Once pulled it is way to easy to turn the engine and then it will be out of time so you then have the fun of trying to get it in time

Well, I wanted to sell the distributer for funds... but I'll take your advice and leave it alone until afterwards.

Thanks

Well you can also put the mag on and do it that way and be done with it early instead of later. Either way your better off having something there and set up correct then to pull things off and have thing sitting so as to forget and do something stupid and move the engine in some way and then have the fun of figuring it out. Just sort of to help you relate to it. Back when I was in the navy there was a on my division that spent 4 or 5 hours trouble shooting the safety on/off switch. Simple problem and dumb on his part because he forgot it was there and it was set up if you opened the door on the equipment it would flip the safety switch off

Mike, just a couple of quick comments. First thing you will need to remember is that a Mag is not as forgiving with timing as a distributor. You can pretty much time a distributor 360 degrees. A mag has to be dead on with very little room for error. I know, been there, done that (see previous post on Farmall A mag timing about 8 10 weeks ago).

I would agree with Old mostly. Get it timed, setup and running with the distributor, then swap it out. However, I will say that if you are sure the timing is absolutely correct, then go ahead and swap it out now.

I happen to prefer magnetos to distributors, but that is a personal preference.......not everyone will agree with me.

as aways, IMHO and good luck. Feel free to ping me if you run into trouble.

I agree with Old and Tom.
Have something in place when painting.
I prefer a magneto system also. When troubleshooting spark issues everything is in one package. I believe one on one the mag system is more reliable.
There are lots of timing posts in the archives.
Dell

When you decide to install the mag you need to see where the rotor is pointing on your distributor before you remove it, THEN Don't move the engine. Once you have the distributor removed turn the rotor on the mag to the same position as it was on the distributor and install it. Make sure you install the plug wires on the cap in the correct firing order:
2-1
4-3 as the rotor rotates CW. Hal
PS: You need to install a switch for grounding out the mag to stop the engine. Disconnect the wire from your ignition switch as you don't need battery voltage for the mag.

if you have a manual, I would follow it and retime it anyway. mags are timed alittle different, and who knows if it is timed correctly now. just because it runs doesn't mean its right. if you pull it out now it will be easier to get paint behind it. the instructions in the manual won't change between now and when you get it painted. just my two cents

Mike,
One of best things I've ever done to get more power was to get rid of the mags in favor of the distributer. If possible, hang on to the distributer for a season to see which you like better.
Charles

DONT DO IT MIKE!!!!!! its dangerous...it could cause an earthquake...mudslide....typhoons...tidal waves...tornadoes...cylclones......rabies.....post nsal drip....athletes foot......you'll shoot yer eye out!!!!!!! electrons will puddle up on the floor below the tractor!!!!!!
sorry mike, couldnt resist,, hope you and your family have a happy valentines day!!!! glenn

(quoted from post at 16:08:30 02/14/10) DONT DO IT MIKE!!!!!! its dangerous...it could cause an earthquake...mudslide....typhoons...tidal waves...tornadoes...cylclones......rabies.....post nsal drip....athletes foot......you'll shoot yer eye out!!!!!!! electrons will puddle up on the floor below the tractor!!!!!!
sorry mike, couldnt resist,, hope you and your family have a happy valentines day!!!! glenn

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Now we know the true cause of all those mudslides. Mike is working on his tractor again!!

Glennster.........you forgot dirty diapers.........like what I did when I bench tested my H4 mag and didn't pay attention to what I was holding on to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before you remove the dist turn the engine over so the rotor is just past firing then instakk the mag with the rotor pointing same position,You dont want the piston on TDC or you will have trouble getting the drive enguaged. I always pull the mag or dist that way as its easier to reinstall. Your mag will be trouble free no problem with points burning ect. I have mags that havent been touched for yrs and they start great.

You do know how to find top dead center on compression stroke? If not we can hold your hand and walk you through it. Yeah, I'd sell the dist. You should get at least $75 for it. Especially since it's off a running tractor. I generally clean them up and get $150 or so with new points, cap etc. In other words about the same as a refurbished mag. I wouldn't worry about being unhappy with the mag. Kirks will give you a good hot spark and run a long time with little or no problems.

Hi Gene,
I too have had several mags that had given no problems for years, but the mag can't adjust your timing when you get into a heavy load, you end up motoring out. On the upside, you don't need a battery with the mag.
Charles

I agree with Old, Do not take the distributor off until the tractor is painted! Then follow mag timing procedures to install it. (lots of good mag info in the archives.
Remember to replace the ignition button with a mag kill switch. The ignition button is identical in looks, but is neither right, nor wired correctly.
A Mag kill switch is used to ground the mag terminal, stopping electrons to the points. It has only one terminal, and uses the body of the switch to ground that terminal when the button is pushed in. With the button out, the switch is open, and the mag fires.
An ignition switch is hooked to the battery, getting voltage. This will ruin a mag if voltage is applied to the kill terminal.
Even if the wire that was going to the amp meter for ignition volts was changed to a ground wire, the switch would be on when it was in, and off when pulled out. Thus confusing everyone. Jim

I don't understand what would be so hard about taking the distributor off to paint the tractor and then later installing a mag. I always take the distributor off, to paint. It is going to be hard to get a good covering of paint behind it if you don't. The mag is very easy to time anyway. Just have the engine close to TDC #1 on the compression stroke, preferably about 10 degrees before, Have the rotary button on the magneto just after #2 position, (before #1). Install the magneto but do not tighten it completely yet, snug it down to where you can still turn it, but not loose. Rotate the engine towards TDC on the #1 cylinder until it is at TDC ( you can find this a few ways, one is with a screw drive or something long that will fit in the spark plug hole, turn clockwise until the pistons stops and start back down, keep it at it's highest point). Once the #1 cylinder is at TDC, rotate the mag, top side toward you (away from the tractor) until the snap is felt and stop right there. Tighten your mag down and you are good to go.


Oh and to make sure that you are on TDC #1 Compression stroke you can either, pull the valve cover and make sure both valves are closed on that cylinder or remove the spark plug and hold your finger over the hole, if you feel pressure as it is being rotated, then you are on the compression stroke (DO NOT USE AN ELECTRIC STARTER WHILE DOING THIS).

(quoted from post at 21:10:09 02/13/10) I got my new H4 mag for my '44 H today. (Thanks Nebraska Kirk! It looks terrific!)

I'm going to take off my distributer and sell it. Are there any tips on what I should do when I take the distributer off? It's going to be a while till I put the mag on, since I'm going to paint the tractor.

Thanks for any tips!

Click to expand...

Mike, I would not worry too much about what all the guys say about not taking the distributor off without putting the mag on right away. Take the distributor off and sell it. Put some duct tape over where the dist. was when you paint. Timing the mag to the engine is easy and straight forward, don't worry about moving the engine, turn the engine over as much as you like. When you are ready to install the mag, if you have questions or don't understand the timing procedure, I will be glad to help. You have my email, feel free to pick my brain! Even be glad to walk you through the procedure over the phone. That mag should last you a LONG time, I put pretty much new everything in it.

I don't see why he shouldn't pull the Dist and install the MAg.. When he's ready to paint the engine, what's it take 5 minutes to pull the mag?

Gordo

Since it's not going anywhere. I suppose I could find TDC and then pull the distributer. Right now it's the only way to kick start some funds for primer.

Guess you miss the point. If he pulls the distributor but does not install the mag he stand a good chance of turning the engine over at some point in time and that will in turn make it harder to get back in time. Mike has been messing with this tractor for a long time so he does let it sit a lot because of being in the navy so in the long run he is better off to leave it as in because it might be days weeks or months before he put the mag on and who know what can happen in that time and what he could forget