H ignition and 12 volt conversion

Son is having trouble with his H farmall. We keep
tracing the problem back to ignition. Moisture in
the distributor to charging with a 12 volt charger
and frying the condensor and maybe the coil. If we
convert to an alternator charging system and an
electronic ignition set I keep thinking we can
eliminate most of our problems. Question is, is it
best to go to a 12 volt ignition set with a negative
ground or what is your experience? I see there is
negative ground and positive ground available.

An electronic ignition (eliminates and replaces points and condensor) is NOT any magic elixir or cure all for many ignition problems such as the distributor cap or rotor or bad plug wires or bad plugs or worn distributor bushings etc which may be even worse with an elec ignition if you run at higher voltages.........If the distributor has good bushings and you install a new set of points and condensor and have a good cap (no hairline cracks or carbon traces) and good plug wires n plugs plus a good coil you may be fine. However most people report improved starts and idle with an elec ignition BUT YOU STILL NEED A GOOD CAP AND ROTOR AND GOOD WIRES AND PLUGS.

If you are going to convert to elec ignition Id go with negative ground and if you swap to an alternator most also require Neg ground.
.
If you change grounds the ammeter leads need swapped and the coil is also polarity sensitive regardless if you use elec or points ignition.

If you do convert to elec ignition Id match up a high energy (12 volt if youre going to 12 volts DUH) coil with it to get the most bang for the buck the elec switch has to offer and use good quality plug wires.

A good H should start n run fine with an original 6 volt system at Pos ground if originality is any concern for you

John T

Is there a ballast resistor installed before the coil? Or is it an internally ballasted coil? You said alternator conversion, most alternators are negative ground, so thats how it would have to be grounded. You can get postive ground alts, but they're expensive for what you're doing. Personally, I'd stay with points and determine how it's getting wet. Shawn

You may be missing a gasket. I am a 12 volt / electronic ignition advocate, for the right reasons.

-Horsepoor

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