Early farmall A electronic ignition upgrade?

g2reeves · Jul 15, 2013

All,
I've got an early model "A" that the magneto went out on. I'd like to put on the Pertronics system to increase the reliability of the system and avoid having to mess with points again. My question is this: does the system work on those tractors without an electrical system? This particular A is hand-crank only and has no electrical system. Thanks in advance for your replies!

Greg
Texas

Charlie M · Jul 15, 2013

You're going to have to have an electrical system to make electronic ignition work. I don't know if one fits into a mag but if so the mag would have to be set up as a distributor which still means an electrical system.

n9lhm · Jul 15, 2013

I tried using one of the little modules like you put on a single-cylinder small engine with an H-4 mag and it did not work. I don"t know why it wouldn"t, unless the operating impedance of the I-H mag coil is just so much lower than the typical lawn mower mag that there is not enough voltage generated to fire it (I do electronics for a living). If anyone knows of a solid state replacement that does work with an H-4 mag I"m sure lots of us would want to hear about it. I know there are new mags available with solid-state ignition (Standard Magneto, maybe? I know I saw them on the Net someplace, they look like a regular Wico unit) but I don"t know what they use for circuitry. Brian

kris Jensen · Jul 15, 2013

IH magnetos are generally very reliable. I have an early A with magneto and electrics I do like the battery for starting, but it also starts very easily with the crank. I would suggest that you rebuild your mag otherwise you would have to add electrics to your tractor, which would probably cost more than rebuilding your mag. Could be it just needs to be cleaned and a new condenser installed.
Good luck with your venture

old · Jul 15, 2013

Your going to need a battery and a way to keep it charged to do as your wanting to do. Then you also have to be sure you have it timed just right or it will be hard to start and could even kick back and get your arm

El Toro · Jul 15, 2013

You would be better off to fix the mag. NE Kirk repairs them. If the magnets are weak he can recharge them. If you decide to pull that mag you need to look to where your rotor is pointing.
Then make a sketch of where it's pointing, once the mag is off don't move the engine until you get the mag back. Point the rotor shown in your sketch and reinstall the mag. Your mag should be back in time. Hal
PS: My tractor wasn't used during the winter
and since it wasn't sheltered I pulled the mag and kept it a dry place.

gene bender · Jul 16, 2013

get the mag fixed. You cant have electronic ignition without a battery. Clean the points and with the cap off check to see if the rotor lines up with the tower when it fires. The rotor can be out of time a tooth or so makes starting bad. Just worked on one other day started hard so they went to alt and all that stuff when the rotor was off two teeth.

Early farmall A electronic ignition upgrade?

g2reeves

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Charlie M

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n9lhm

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kris Jensen

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old

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El Toro

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gene bender

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