Your Magneto Experiences.....

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Guys,
My 49 Farmall Super A has been starting a little hard lately. My gut feeling said that it was some kind of problem with the mag. I kind of thought that the gap on the points might have closed a bit, so this mornin I opened it up to have a look. The guys on here, TBN, that have old IH tractors, are familiar with gaining access to the points. Pretty simple, pull the cap and rotor off and then remove three screws to gain access to the points. I checked the point gap, supposed to be .013, mine were just a tad under that but not bad. I figured while I had it apart, I mine as well take a bit of emery to the points. Ive never been one to buy something new unless I really need it ! If the points spring isnt broke, and the points arent heavily pitted no sence wasting my money ! I also emeried the rotor contacts and the end of the rotor also. There was just a bit of corosion in there but not bad. No sooner than I buttoned it up and hit the starter rod and the ole girl fired right off !

I thought some of the other old tractor fans, BobG, FWJ ...Soundguy etc could share their experiences on here so that we may all learn from others experiences ! Thanks !

 

[Soundguy]

While it works.. emory paper or boards are super harsh on a points surface.. they leave shards that gouge the metal on a microscopic level, further reducing contact area, and making micro high current spots that actually encourage future burning. that said.. yeah.. I've done it before. when i do.. i use 1000 or 2000 paper. don't take much.. and I only do it for the most coroded points. i then pull clean white typing paper or brown paper bag thru them..or maybee with a drop of rubbing alcohol on them.

that's actually my prefered method to clean points.. stiff coarse paper.. like grocery bag, 20# typing paper.. construction paper.. etc. lets you see what you pull off.. and is an abrasive paper when it gets right down to it... if you've ever seen the surface of aper under an electron microscope it looks like a ridges rough surface strewn with fibers... cleans points good.

my 2nd favorite points cleaner, after coarse paper is a proper fine toothed ignition hone. in plain terms.. it's a file.. but it is exceedingly fine. trick is to slide it inbetween the contacts perfectly square and only a time or two.. you really want to leav ethe surface metal ( tungsten or other ) intact and not get into the base metal.. once you get the contact metal wore thru.. the base metal erodes pretty quick... that said.. i usualy get 4+ years out of points starting by paper cleaning.. then perhaps a honeing after a few.. and then after a few more.. the sand paper.. generally after 1-2 sandings and a few years.. it needs points.. I think I've been able to get 8yrs on my longest run set of points so far..

for mags, try to get everything perfect... fouled plugs are troublesome for mags,, kep the plugs cleaned or new ( I like the sandblast cleaners.. just remember to get the abrasive media completely of fthe plg with air... then a shot of carb cleaner.. then a soft cloth.. )



soundguy

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Chris,
Thanks for your input ! Yes it was very fine emery, and yes brown paper bag material does work well !

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Scott, Yeah, those hard starting 113 and 123 cubic inch engines are really a pain...why, just a couple of days ago I hit the starter on my Farmall 230 and it almost turned over a half a turn before it sprang to life...and then to totally ruin my day, I hit the key start on my Farmall 140 ('74) and it took a complete rotation before it was running...I guess its about time for a couple of complete rebuilds.....(grin). For info purposes, the points gap on the coil units is about .023 in...by the way, there used to be a guy on the Red Power mag that went by the name of "Magman" that would rebuild mags to new specs...don't know if he's still around or not though....run the Pi$$ out of that SA! Remember its only got about another 50 years or so of life left...Regards, BobG in VA

 

[scott_vt]

Scott,

....run the Pi$$ out of that SA! Remember its only got about another 50 years or so of life left...Regards, BobG in VA

Good Evenin Bob,
Good to hear you on old buddy ! Your right only 50 years left, but thats if I was runnin her hard everyday !

Should be good for another 100 the way i run her !

 

[wolc123]

Hey SG, I am wondering why you dont get a little more life out of your points. I put a cheap set from Central Tractor (bought out now by TSC) back in 1985 when I bought my 1951 8n with 1200 hours on it. Now, with 1500 additional hours, much doing some hard work, it still does not miss a beat on them 24 year old points. I still run all the original, factory 6-volt equipment. Maybe points just dont hold up as well on 12-volt conversions?

 

[Soundguy]

Perhaps. Higher primary current.. etc.

I do have some sets that have made it 10ys with just cleanings.. but over half of mine make it 3-5ys.

my naa has a set in it that is 8ys right now...

soundguy

 

[Wayne County Hose]

When I rebuilt the mag on my A-C WD I found this place, 1-800 MAG-NETO. I told the guy my tractor and he told me the Wico mag in it and described it to a Tee and ran off a parts list to rebuild it off the top of his head. Needless to say I gave him my CC info and said to just ship it.
Andy

 

[Mighty Dodge]

If I let my Farmall Cub sit for a few months the points get a little cruddy. It doesn't take much to clean them up. Usually just pull a piece of paper through them. A dollar bill woks nice.

M.D.

 

[Lazy]

If I let my Farmall Cub sit for a few months the points get a little cruddy. It doesn't take much to clean them up. Usually just pull a piece of paper through them. A dollar bill woks nice.

M.D.

Hi
Thats about all a dollar bill is good for these days. A five is the smallest bill I have in my wallet, with the way cost of things are going up next year a 10 might be the smallest or only plastic no cash. Life is great if you don't weaken. Some years ago I seem to remember a tool coming with a new set of points that looked like a very small finger nail file fo dressing the points. I think I might even have one in my collection of junk, I will try to locate it and post a pic. Soundguy has the best proceedure, but a new set every couple of years is hard to beat.