electronic ign.on ih mag.

joenetx · Feb 6, 2014

Has anyone tried to put an electronic ign. kit on a ih mag. I"ve hooked a mag to a 12v coil. It worked.

Nebraska Kirk · Feb 6, 2014

I don't know how well that would work, if at all. In my opinion it would be a waste of time to do it. I am not a fan of the electronic ignition in the first place, but if you want electronic ignition, you are better off using it in conjunction with a distributor since it has variable spark advance versus the magneto's fixed spark advance.

Janicholson · Feb 6, 2014

Good answer. Jim

John T · Feb 7, 2014

When you use an external coil and a battery to power it on a magneto (instead of the mags own internally generated energy), you're simply using the mags points as the coil current switch, so in theory you could use instead a solid state switching device. HOWEVER the typical coil distributor ignitions use a magnet placed on the distributor shaft and a pickup which tells the elec switch when to trigger so that may or may not be a mounting/installation problem (depends on the mag).

That being said, if I wanted to change from a magneto to a battery powered ignition, Id FIRST go ahead and switch to a regular IHC distributor. Then if you want to replace the points with an elec switch it may be easier PLUS as reported below, you will have an RPM based spark advance curve versus the mag which has only two timings, start and run.

John T

mkirsch · Feb 7, 2014

I could see doing this if you wanted the look of a magneto and the convenience of an electronic ignition.

It may be the only choice in the future if magneto parts become scarce.

joenetx · Feb 7, 2014

Another question. Old autos use vacuum for variable spark advance. What gives an IH distributor variable spark?

Janicholson · Feb 7, 2014

With the distributor ignition, there is a set of weights and springs that (like a governor) advances the spark as RPM increase. The distributor shaft is 2 piece. The drive end is turned by the shaft in the drive housing, and remains timed to the engine through the cam drive gearing. The distributor cam and rotor shaft are fitted over this shaft and rotated with the above mechanism of weights and springs to do the advance. In a mag (found on a Letter series from the factory) the initial timing is TDC, happening when the impulse coupling trips at starting or hand cranking speeds. At Idle or above the advance is full advance at all times. This leads to moderately rough running at idle speeds from excess advance, but the tractors were designed to be wide open 90% of their lives. Jim

jasinpa · Feb 7, 2014

unless you got a pulling engine & need a distributor , in my opinion a mag works better for everyday use , i have tryed distributors on many of my tractors and have found a mag. starts easy, dont have point problems ,and no worn out bushing & shaft to deal with ,and no need for that battery, when it is dead just give it a half a turn & its running hooking a external coil will work in place of the internal one but now you need the battery, a differant kill switch & some added wires , the IH mags are so widely used parts are easily advalible & will be for years , more companys are now making replacement parts then ever & cost comparison there about the same as distributors , problem is most just dont understand how a mag works & how to repair them , if yours needs a coil there around $60 check out McDonald carb online , they got all youll ever need

joenetx · Feb 7, 2014

Thanks guys for all the good info. I'll stay with the mag.

electronic ign.on ih mag.

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Nebraska Kirk

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