I just recently converted my 1950 Farmall H to 12 volt. I followed the instructions to the letter as per the Fitzgerald/Steiner conversion video and instructions. I also installed an electronic ignition (pertronix), as well as a starter solenoid and push button. My tractor will not turn over after this conversion! The starter winds up and everything sounds like a normal start, but it will not fire for me. What could this possibly be??? I've checked and re-checked all my connections 3-4 times and nothing is loose or disconnected. I'm getting pretty nervous/stressed out because I am trying to get it ready for my girlfriends son, he has a 9th birthday party coming up on the 26th and he was supposed to be surprised with the tractor....PLEASE HELP!
- Thread starter Mwgerst
- Start date
teddy52food
Well-known Member
Do you have spark at the plugs?
tractorguy2
Well-known Member
The starter is not cranking?
Have any kind of a test light or meter to see if
current is getting to the starter?
Have any kind of a test light or meter to see if
current is getting to the starter?
tractorguy2
Well-known Member
Do you have two problems. the starter and the spark?
Did you change to a 12v coil?
Did you change to a 12v coil?
I switched to a 12 volt internally resisted coil, tomorrow morning I will be testing to see where the problem lies. The starter turns and sounds good, it just seems like there isn't any spark, although anything at this point is speculation. If I do have spark when I go ahead and test it, where else could there be a problem?
On the chance you have the same problem, this is what happened to a cousin who installed a Pertronix electronic ignition system on his M.
He and I checked his wiring and all seemed correct.
The Pertronix electronic module did not seem to be switching the the - coil terminal to ground. A 12V test light applied to the - coil terminal should flash every time the Pertronix module switches that terminal to ground then open circuit to make the coil fire.
This one showed a contant ground as the test light connected to the -terminal(with the black module wire connected.) remained off, even though there was voltage to the coil+ terminal.
I suspected it had to be either a bad module or a short in the black wire. I examined the wiring , finally got to looking inside the distributor. GOT IT!! Cousin had trapped the black wire under one of the module mounting screws. We got the wire out from under that screw, repaired the insulation and on the next try, had good spark.
He and I checked his wiring and all seemed correct.
The Pertronix electronic module did not seem to be switching the the - coil terminal to ground. A 12V test light applied to the - coil terminal should flash every time the Pertronix module switches that terminal to ground then open circuit to make the coil fire.
This one showed a contant ground as the test light connected to the -terminal(with the black module wire connected.) remained off, even though there was voltage to the coil+ terminal.
I suspected it had to be either a bad module or a short in the black wire. I examined the wiring , finally got to looking inside the distributor. GOT IT!! Cousin had trapped the black wire under one of the module mounting screws. We got the wire out from under that screw, repaired the insulation and on the next try, had good spark.
You cant be much of a dummy if you did a fairly complicated 12V and electronic ignition conversion, only missed a bad ign switch. Good job
And thank you, thank you, so much for giving feedback as to what the problem and fix finally was.
That way we all learn.
It disappoints me a little when others ask and a bunch of folks spend their time trying to help, then get 0 feedback from from the original poster.
And thank you, thank you, so much for giving feedback as to what the problem and fix finally was.
That way we all learn.
It disappoints me a little when others ask and a bunch of folks spend their time trying to help, then get 0 feedback from from the original poster.
Farmallhal
Well-known Member
Amen Jon, Hal.
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