Did MDs have an ignition switch?

sflem849 · Mar 29, 2011

Did MDs come from the factory with an ignition switch? If I wanted to add one could I just run a wire from the screw on the mag to a switch on the "dash"?
One time I had a spark plug explode and it would have been really cool to be able to shut it down instantly. Right now I just turn the gas off and let it run out of gas.

Rootsy · Mar 29, 2011

(quoted from post at 16:34:31 03/29/11) Did MDs come from the factory with an ignition switch? If I wanted to add one could I just run a wire from the screw on the mag to a switch on the "dash"?
One time I had a spark plug explode and it would have been really cool to be able to shut it down instantly. Right now I just turn the gas off and let it run out of gas.

Gas start diesels came with a mag and therefore a mag grounding switch. Looked just like the gas versions but has only one post to hook a wire to.

sflem849 · Mar 29, 2011

(quoted from post at 13:45:23 03/29/11)
Gas start diesels came with a mag and therefore a mag grounding switch. Looked just like the gas versions but has only one post to hook a wire to.

Sorry, that's what I meant. Mounted in the oval "dash" or in a hole on the thing that holds the hydraulic lever? (I can't rememer if my MD has that or only my H???)

On a side note. Which hole is the choke supposed to be routed through.

F-Dean · Mar 29, 2011

Yes, they had a "One-Prong" ignition switch.

Some people preferred to switch them back to gas when you shut them down for the night, especially in cold weather. In this case you would run it on gas for a little while and them kill the engine with the "Kill" switch

rustyfarmall · Mar 29, 2011

(quoted from post at 13:59:07 03/29/11)

(quoted from post at 13:45:23 03/29/11)
Gas start diesels came with a mag and therefore a mag grounding switch. Looked just like the gas versions but has only one post to hook a wire to.

Click to expand...

Sorry, that's what I meant. Mounted in the oval "dash" or in a hole on the thing that holds the hydraulic lever? (I can't rememer if my MD has that or only my H???)

On a side note. Which hole is the choke supposed to be routed through.

It depends entirely on the year of manufacture. There were several different modifications over the years. The choke rod on my 1940 H is located below the gas tank, ahead of the steering post and is difficult to reach. The choke rod on my 1950 H is located right next to the ignition switch and is much easier to reach.

sflem849 · Mar 29, 2011

It depends entirely on the year of manufacture. There were several different modifications over the years. The choke rod on my 1940 H is located below the gas tank, ahead of the steering post and is difficult to reach. The choke rod on my 1950 H is located right next to the ignition switch and is much easier to reach.

That's where mine is. It looks all bent up and forced in there so I wasn't sure if it was right. IIRC it is infront of the thing that holds the shutters and the ign switch on my H.

Kill switch...I forgot about that term. We usually refer to the thing in a boat that stops it when you fly out as a kill switch. Same thing on a mag tractor.

I usually shut mine off on gas. I think it starts better that way. Maybe I am crazy. I think I will wire up a kill switch on mine whether it is supposed to have one or not.

Bob M · Mar 29, 2011

The only MD I ever fooled with did not have an ignition switch at the operator's station. It did however have a switch on the intake manifold to ground the mag when the starting lever was in the run (diesel mode) position.

On this one you could shut the engine down quickly when it was running in gas mode by simply throwing the starting lever to "run" and leaving the diesel throttle handle in the "no fuel" position.

sflem849 · Mar 29, 2011

(quoted from post at 14:55:05 03/29/11) The only MD I ever fooled with did not have an ignition switch at the operator's station. It did however have a switch on the intake manifold to ground the mag when the starting lever was in the run (diesel mode) position.

On this one you could shut the engine down quickly when it was running in gas mode by simply throwing the starting lever to "run" and leaving the diesel throttle handle in the "no fuel" position.

That's how mine is.

M Diesel · Mar 29, 2011

(quoted from post at 14:55:05 03/29/11) The only MD I ever fooled with did not have an ignition switch at the operator's station. It did however have a switch on the intake manifold to ground the mag when the starting lever was in the run (diesel mode) position.

On this one you could shut the engine down quickly when it was running in gas mode by simply throwing the starting lever to "run" and leaving the diesel throttle handle in the "no fuel" position.

That's how I shut off all of my gas starts. They start easier if "killed" on gas because it leaves gas in the manifold. My dozer tractors are all distributor types so they have an ignition switch added. I've had some trouble with the manifold knife switches and don't always trust them. They work better as a ground source than a power switch.

Bob M · Mar 29, 2011

I usually shut mine off on gas. I think it starts better that way. Maybe I am crazy. I think I will wire up a kill switch on mine whether it is supposed to have one or not.

Good practice! If the engine's gonna sit more than a few days the gas left in the carb begins to go stale as the lighter fractions evaporate. This can make starting more difficult. Running the carb out on shutdown insures there will be fresh gas in the carb the next time you go to start. (Note this applies to gas engines as well!)

Adding a kill switch is not a bad idea. Be sure to keep the kill switch closed (mag grounded) when running in diesel mode. Doing so will extended the life of the breaker points inside the magneto.

sflem849 · Mar 29, 2011

...Adding a kill switch is not a bad idea. Be sure to keep the kill switch closed (mag grounded) when running in diesel mode. Doing so will extended the life of the breaker points inside the magneto.

The engineers at IH actually did this for me. There is a wire that runs from the mag to the intake manifold that grounds out the mag when running on diesel. I think this may be the knife switch???

Bob M · Mar 29, 2011

That's it!

Just make sure the manifold switch is indeed closed (grounded) when the starting lever is in the "diesel" position.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 30, 2011

It is very hard on your starting valves when you turn your engine off on gas. They are in open position and tend to warp when left open on hot engine. I have had to change valves that where badly warped.

sflem849 · Mar 30, 2011

(quoted from post at 07:37:43 03/30/11) It is very hard on your starting valves when you turn your engine off on gas. They are in open position and tend to warp when left open on hot engine. I have had to change valves that where badly warped.

The operators manual says to shut off on gas and then place decompression lever in diesel to prolong valve life.

Did MDs have an ignition switch?

sflem849

Well-known Member

Rootsy

Member

sflem849

Well-known Member

F-Dean

Well-known Member

rustyfarmall

Well-known Member

sflem849

Well-known Member

Bob M

Well-known Member

sflem849

Well-known Member

M Diesel

Member

Bob M

Well-known Member

sflem849

Well-known Member

Bob M

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

sflem849

Well-known Member

Similar threads