electronic ignition conversion

fredgraves

New User
I have a 1952 Super M. I use it around my acreage, but I have continuous starting problems because I don't use alot. I would like to get rid of points and condenser. Do the electronic conversion kits improve starting? Can an idiot (not exceptionally mechanical, but not afraid--I) install it? Can young, pretty good mechanic install it? Do you work for YT or are you reliably independent? Please help!
 
if you have the wherewithall to clean and set points, and are reasonably carefull with following wire color, location and polarity, then yeah.. the average guy can drop in a pertronix unit...
 
Fred,

I am not affiliated with YT.

There are several pertronix units, you must know which distributor you have, whether it is 6V /12V and positive / negative ground.

There are a ton of good people on this site to help.

I would check out the parts section here.
 
I put one on my 1955 300 and it helped starting a lot!! I don't use it much over the winter and so every spring I had to clean the points to get it to run. Now it fires and runs before it has gone over 2 times!! It is not hard to put in but you have to know how to take the points and condenser out. Then mount the trigger in place of them. DO FOLLOW the instructions on wiring because it is different than the way the points are wired into the coil. I soldered all the wire connections too. The only problem you have to be careful of is NEVER leave the ignition switch in the on position when the tractor is not running or you will buy ANOTHER trigger. That's what the Pertronix tech told me.
 
GraveFred, Pertronix EI kits are basically a solid-state replacement for breaker points.

Install one, and your tractor will not start, run, or have more power than it would with a properly installed, quality set of breaker points.

But you don't have to gap them, or replace them over time.

All sorts of old mechanics wives tales/myths abound because EI and fuel injection have made our modern vehicles so much better.

But, if you simply install an overpriced EI kit, the only "benny" you are going to get is (HOPEFULLY) long-lasting "points".
 
The system you have will start and run but it needs to be in shape. Does the engine have good compression. You need a good battery and cables 1ga and starter refreshed then wires and plugs Now it will turn over great so that then leaves the carb. Electronic set up cannot make a poor engine that needs vital stuff repaired start so do the basics and it will start like new again.
 

They are pretty easy to install. I upgraded my 3 old tractors several years ago and haven't had to mess with points or condensers since. I'm glad I put them in.
 
I"m sure there is someone around you that will rebuild a distributor. You could always send it off to get it done. Just a thought. I ordered a rebuilt distributor with Petronix and I like it very much.
 
Thank you for your responses. I guess I can try it. I get tired of cleaning points to get it started, so despite suggestions that good maintenance of points & condenser would be as good as electronic here I go. Thanks again.
 
(quoted from post at 20:17:17 07/27/14) Thank you for your responses. I guess I can try it. I get tired of cleaning points to get it started, so despite suggestions that good maintenance of points & condenser would be as good as electronic here I go. Thanks again.

Go for it. It's pretty easy, at least to me it was. I put mine on a Ford 8N and plan on doing the other one plus the Farmall M this year. All have been converted to 12 Volt.

No, I don't work for YT.

Rick
 
I put one on my 1966 140 in 2006. It DOES start better--in that it just keeps starting as if you had just put new points in--for years. I snowplow with mine, and I always had to change cap and rotor at least once during the winter to get her going. Now I honestly don't know how many seasons I have on the cap and rotor on there. Just do it. I got mine on this site.
 

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