420 wirring

Hi all I have a 1957 JD 420 that I need help with. I'd like to do a basic wire fix/cob for the summer and then buy a complete harness this winter. My question is can I by pass the main switch for now and run a power wire to the coil then the distributor then to a toggle switch then to ground to turn the ignition on and off? Then a batter disconnect switch to cut all power? Im looking just to make it threw the summer (2 months) any help would be appreciated.

Im also using a 12v battery with positive ground

No. You could run the power wire through a fused switch and then to the coil and on to the dist. NOT to a ground. Or you could spend about two hours and 30 bucks to make a new harness. They are simple as can be.

thanks my mind was tiring to say that but putting it to the key board I feel short. I was thinking on getting a resto harness to get it back to the way the factory had it. So Id go from the battery to a fused switch to the + side of the coil to the distributor? does that sound correct? Thanks for your time.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]<font color="#6699ff">So Id go from the battery to a fused switch to the + side of the coil to the distributor? does that sound correct?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

No.

In your message below you state "[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]<font color="#6699ff">Im also using a 12v battery with positive ground[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

So you would go from the battery to a fused switch to the [b:654c4848f0]NEGATIVE[/b:654c4848f0] terminal on the coil.

The lead wire from the [b:654c4848f0]POSITIVE[/b:654c4848f0] terminal on the coil will go to the distributor.

Take a look at the [b:654c4848f0]Lamps and Wiring[/b:654c4848f0] diagram below.



Note that the battery is [b:654c4848f0]POSITIVE[/b:654c4848f0] ground.

Note the BLUE wire from the IGN terminal on the ignition switch to the [b:654c4848f0]NEGATIVE[/b:654c4848f0] terminal on the coil.

In your first, original message you state "[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]<font color="#6699ff">can I by pass the main switch for now and run a power wire to the coil[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>".

Yes.

Take a look at the illustration below.



Run "[i:654c4848f0]a power wire[/i:654c4848f0]" from the starter switch to a fused toggle switch and connect it to the [b:654c4848f0]NEGATIVE[/b:654c4848f0] terminal on the coil.

Hope this helps.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]<font color="#6699ff">Then a batter disconnect switch to cut all power?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

Yes, only if YOU think it is necessary.

"[b:654c4848f0]They are simple as can be.[/b:654c4848f0]"

Agree.

Oops - Not thinking clearly evidently. IF you have a 6v coil you will need to run the wire from the switch to an external ballast and then to the coil. If it's a 12v no external ballast required run the wire straight. 1.5 to 2 ohms across the two small coil posts for a 6v and 3.5 to 4 for the 12.

Thank you very much I understand now, thanks for the wiring diagram.