Electronic Ignition Fard NAA

OrtisEvans · Aug 5, 2014

I'd like to improve my "gas mileage" on my Ford NAA (6V,+ground). Would electronic ignition help? If so, what brand is worth the money? There seem to be some out there that replace the points, but that's all. Do they just eliminate point replacement, or do they improve performance.

Best Regards to All
Ortis

Soundguy · Aug 5, 2014

points are a mechanical switch.. they open and close the primary circuit feeding the ignition coil..

EI units are a solid state switch.. they open and close the primary circuit feeding the ignition coil..

EI won't improve gas milage in any way you could notice without a piece of science equipment from the year 2525.

EI won't regrow your hair..

EI won't make your organ ( or piano ) any bigger.

etc.. etc.

There are a few things EI will help with. minor bushing wear. Or if you live in an environment that is very humid, and the points corode often.. EI takes that out of the equation.

EI is also good if your points are in a harder to get to place. like a 3 yl ford, or on a machine with a loader or soemthing.

EI are good if you just plain aren't handy with a small screwdriver and set of feeler gauges.. or if you have bad habits and can't wipe down your feeler gauge before checking the gap.. or if you don't plan on lubing the rubbing block so that your points last like they should last.

if you simply don't like the act of dinking with points.. there's another reason to go ei. IMHO.. the skill required to install ei is the same skill level needed to maintain points.. so if you can pull off an ei install.. you can maintain points.

They have their own set of rules though.. they are polarity sensitive.. hookup your battery backwards and turn the key on and poof faster than santa can shoot down a chimney.. you blew 90$...

If i was goin EI.. I'd reccomed going 12v neg ground first, via an alternator would be the cheapest and most efficient route. I'd also buy the later gen 2 EI that are smart enough to know to turn off if you forget and leave the key on after a stall. the gen 1 are 'dumb' and will fry with the key left on.. just like points will if they are closed. with that 12v setup.. loose any ignition resistors and use a native 12v coil.. i like the napa ic14sb.

good premium points can cost 12-18$.. if you lube the block correctly, and clean and gap them and have a working condensor and don't leave the key on often.. etc. you can get VERY VERY long life from points. . I have multiple sets that are past a decade and heading for 2. I have plenty of tractors running great looking VINTAGE points as evidenced by makers mark.. ones that havn't been made in 30ys.. and still going fine.. cleaned and lubed etc.

you want fuel milage? unload any liquid or cast ballast you have...

does ei work? sure they work fine when they work. my tractors with ei start just as good as the ones i have with points!

OrtisEvans · Aug 7, 2014

Thanks Soundguy-

The engine has slight miss, and I figured that spark could be part of that. I agree - points are great, easy to maintain, and rarely fail radically. Guess I need a diesel tractor like my wife uses. She can mow all day on 5 gallons of diesel. With my NAA, I mow maybe 6 acres on 10 gallons of gas. I have taken the fluid out of the tries and the brakes are not dragging.

You suggested switching to 12V negative. Are 12v ignition systems that much better?

Soundguy · Aug 7, 2014

6ac on 10g? wow.. i have 172's that run out bettr than that.. zenith carb?

12v ignition gives you more range of acceptable spark when the battery is a hair weak / dirty connections.

i have nothing specifically against ei except it's mostly a 100$ fix for a 20$ problem.

for a miss. check advance, and make sure rotor is tight on the dizzy shaft, and no bushing play. make sure valves all free and adjusted.

LD1 · Aug 7, 2014

In all fairness, he didnt say what the 6 acres were??

Overgrown for 5 years bushhog conditions? or finish mowing?

6 acres of nasty stuff can take a day to do.

Try to think in terms of gallons per hour? IF you are working the tractor hard (running a rotary cutter in 4' high stuff) 1.5+ gallons per hour is about what I would expect. So that 10 gallons would last ~6 +/- hours

Now if finish mowing, (light load) and doing that 6 acres in 2-3 hours, and you are going through 10 gallons, something is wrong. And it aint gonna be the ignition.