Allis Chalmers C distributor and governor

A few years ago I purchased a 1942 Allis Chalmers C (serial C12887) from a relative after her father passed away. It had sat out for several years and someone stole parts off it (may there be a special place in ...well, you know...for them). The carburetor is missing, but I have found a replacement.

Also, I usually deal with Farmalls but it looks like (and I do have the parts manual and service manual) that someone stole everything from the governor on back. That is, the governor, distributor and coil.

It has a generator and a battery so I am assuming it did not have a magnetor (although I have one for it if anyone is interested). Is that correct?

Also, any ideas where to get a governor, distributor and coil for this tractor. I assume the coil is available from an AGRO dealer or a place like TSC, but the distributor and governor is more of a challenge. It is a project tractor that I want to get running again and then probably will sell. So, I am trying not to spend a lot of money on it (ya, good luck with that!). At one time it was a pretty decent tractor and I think it is a shame to junk it out.

Thanks in advance
 
The model C came from the factory with a magneto. Here it is easy to find replacements, since the WD45 and CA used distributors, and many earlier units have been converted. Salvage yards are a good source of parts here. Worthington Tractor is a good source- 1-888-845-8456....11 yards across the US. www.link_disallowed
 
I think I have read the serial number correctly (12887). It does have a generator and battery and battery box.

Do you think it would have come originally with a magneto and perhaps converted over to generator somewhere in its 72-year-history to a generator and different distributor?

Assuming that a magneto would not now work, I think I need the following:

226021 Distributor housing
225694 Ignition Coil
226009 Housing Assembly
225353 Distributor Gear Drive
225356 Governor oil tube Tee
226007 Oil tube
And all the gaskets, clips, etc. that go with these parts.

Thanks for the lead
 
A magneto would still work- the base it attaches to is the same as for a distributor. Just that a distributor starts better and is more reliable- that"s why mfgr"s changed from the magneto.
 
All Cs came from the factory with magnetos. Many were converted later to a distributor ignition. The governor drive gear, weights, and magneto impulse coupling are inside the front cover of the engine. The governor arm and shaft are in a housing on the front side of the front cover. Are these parts missing too?
 
Interesting. I do have a magneto I bought at a reasonable price at a tractor show a few years ago. It is a Fairbanks Morse X4B. It looks like it might fit. However, according to the parts manual, the magneto for the vintage of my tractor is a Fairbanks FMJ4B3.

At first I thought not when I tried to fit it on, but then from the parts book, it looka magneto clip is uses (207430) is used to fasting the top of the magneto to the housing.

Another model magnetos in the parts books is the FM T4B.

I don't know if 4B3, X4B and T4B are interchangeable.
 
A Fairbanks FMX4 will work, it's just a newer version. That's what CAs had for a magneto until AC switched to distributors.
 
I don't know if I have used by quota of dumb questions yet (working on it though), but would a tractor have both a generator and a magneto on it?
 
I checked and it looks like I do have the governor. Looks like there are two prongs on the magnetor that fit in to the governor assembly. What I do not have is the clip (207439) to hold the magneto on, but I assume that can be fabricated easily enough.

Back to one of my questions, since the tractor has a generator, battery, and starter on it, was it converted from a magneto at some time...or is all it compatible?? The Farmall A I have with a magneto does not have a battery, generator and starter. I just assumed one had a generator, or alternator, or a magneto but not any two of them...but what do I know. Thanks
 
Lots of tractors had electric start and lights, and still used a mag for ignition. The clip is just a 90* angled clamp. You could probably make one out of small angle iron.
 
based on the serial # it would have had a mag. as As stated all model C tractors came from the factory with a mag. Since you have one, use it. I would remove the front of the mag and clean the points. Many non working mag just need the points cleaned. Then to install it, you will need to time it to the engine. I use a plug wire and a spark plug with a spring clip attached and put the plug wire into hole # 1 upper left hand socket, then spin the mag and look for spark. LOL Bob
 
magneto is for ignition. Battery is for electric start and lights. One has nothing to do with the other.. IF you do have a battery, then installing a distributor and coil is an option. Nothing wrong with a mag for ignition... and battery for starter.
 
Steve, Thanks for the information. Never occurred to me that there would be two separate systems. I have a 1941 Farmall A that has a magneto, but no battery or generator. Then I have a 1946 International A with a starter and (put on by a previous owner) alternator but no magneto.

At one time I thought a magneto was an outdated tehcnology since they were on just the older tractors I have. However, I had an automobile engineer tell me that race cars use magnetos since the faster the run the hotter the spark. Don't know if they all use them. Also, I understand that some piston airplanes use magnetos separate from the battery system since, in theory, the engine would continue to run even if there battery failure. Still learning! Thanks
 

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