Author	[Modern View]
rodgernbama 10-27-2012 15:01:15 75.138.35.169 Report to Moderator	Followup from yesterday. I checked my spark(borrowed plug from push mower) and it was yellowish not blue as others said it should be. Took distributor out and inspected point gap. It had closed up some so I re-gaped to.015 and cleaned with dollar bill. Put distributor back in and it fired off so I got to finish bushogging. I've considered going with pointless ignition to cut down on problems. [Reply]   [No Email]
Ken(Ark) 10-28-2012 09:40:04 71.30.143.205 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I had a worn lobe so my option was a $90 EI or a $70 shaft plus a new set of points . Money is not the issue . A man can choose how he wants to spend his own money , makes me no difference .   [Reply]  [No Email]
ZANE 10-28-2012 07:01:55 98.83.100.116 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   Go with pointless ignition and when it fails you'll miss a week or so waiting for a replacement! Zane   [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 10-28-2012 08:03:42 174.20.247.126 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to ZANE, 10-28-2012 07:01:55   No Zane. You stash your old points and condenser under the hood and stick them back in if the EI fails. I did that for the first 5 years I had EI but it never failed. Finally used the spare points in another tractor. Sold the EI tractor this summer after 7 1/2 years of having EI in it. Never touched the distributer in that time.   [Reply]  [No Email]
oldtanker 10-28-2012 07:46:26 66.228.255.239 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to ZANE, 10-28-2012 07:01:55   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Zane you are telling me that if I have IE and I can order just about any part I want for over night delivery..............except IE??????? One of my sons works for a guy who has a JD 4020 gas. He was having problems with it and I went just the other day to Fargo and looked at it. Now he's been having starting problems and his mechanical advance needs work but it has an after market IE system in it. He's owned the tractor about 6 years and he didn't put it in. Rick   [Reply]  [No Email]
Hobo,NC 10-27-2012 19:31:45 98.17.83.23 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rd 2n in mo, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Good call.... It would not make me mad if I never seen a set of points the rest of my life...   [Reply]  [No Email]
Ken(Ark) 10-27-2012 17:56:02 71.30.143.205 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see EI is a luxury item . EI comes with a higher price tag and if it should fail then it is usually a total loss . EI is not a magic cure all but it is a nice luxury if that's what a man wants . It can cut down on maintenance since it does not need routine inspection , it may help smooth out a rough idle , is more forgiving on a loose shaft or worn lobes , and does not work out of adjustment . 30 years ago I smoked a Mallory Unilite while jump starting my pick up :( Make sure your battery and charging system is working properly . A bad alternator spike could be trouble . Personally I would recommend to buy and rebuild a used dizzy to keep on the shelf . Points or EI usually fail when you really need your tractor .   [Reply]  [No Email]
old 10-27-2012 18:11:10 4.245.12.21 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to Ken(Ark), 10-27-2012 17:56:02   I do it the easy way I keep a couple extra back up tractors that way if I need to get it done I have a back up for the one that is being a pain most of the time   [Reply]  [No Email]
old 10-27-2012 17:38:14 4.245.12.21 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   I have way to many tractor but I almost never have any problems with the points. Most of the ones I have sit for 6 months or more and when I go to fire them up they will fire up 95% of the time and if not simple cleaning of the points a 5 minute job fixes them. Some I have not tuned up in 5 plus years and other then having to put in a fresh battery they fire up just fine. It is not the point it is the simple little things that get over looked. Plus it things hit the fan as some think it is going to do I want things that might run LOL   [Reply]  [No Email]
oldtanker 10-27-2012 17:15:11 66.228.255.239 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I have 2 8N's. One that I went through the engine this spring was converted to IE in early Aug. So I startred with a engine rebuild, made new wiring harness, rebuilt carb, 12 volt conversion, new pulgs and wires. It start a little faster with the IE and I will not have to fuss with the dizzy. I'm leaving the other with poins for the time being. Rick   [Reply]  [No Email]
Richard G. 10-27-2012 16:55:26 98.84.71.215 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   I will never go with EI as a solar flare or Iranian nuclear attack WILL shut it down. Richard the practical   [Reply]  [No Email]
Bruce (VA) 10-27-2012 15:38:13 24.125.80.178 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   " I've considered going with pointless ignition to cut down on problems." I'd consider annual maintenance on the points before I'd consider EI. EI will not work well at all on 6v (it won't fire below 5.2v) so you would need to convert it to 12v. EI does not give you higher spark voltage, eliminate all maintenance on your ignition system or give enough of a horsepower boost to cause the tractor to do wheelies. It replaces the points. That’s it. It will not correct or overcome other problems in the ignition system. While it may give you more HP or improve fuel economy, both would be so insignificant as to be hardly noticeable on a 23 hp engine. If you can’t set points or don’t care to do it, or you don’t want to spend the 30 minutes or so a year to check the gap & lube the cam, then you will be happy w/ EI. And, the EI unit itself will be maintenance free. (but the rest of the ignition system won’t) You will spend probably $235 for an EI kit & 12v conversion. If you install them correctly you will have an easy starting tractor for a long time. And, the 12 volt conversion & EI will have just about nothing to do w/ the good performance. What will make the real difference is the new wiring, cables, clean grounds & new battery. The key advantage to EI is that you do not need to gap & lube the points every year & replace them every 4 or 5 years or. If you perform annual maintenance on the points & change them every 4 years or so using quality parts, you will see no difference whatsoever between a points ignition system & EI on an N. The key disadvantages to EI on an N are initial cost, nearly impossible for the average N owner to repair, will not work w/ low battery voltage, & easily damaged beyond repair by polarity reversal & other common mistakes. Bottom line……….this is the question you need to answer: “If tens of thousands of other N’s operate just fine on 6v and points, why can’t mine?” Your money, your tractor, your call........ 50 Tips   [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 10-28-2012 08:32:05 174.20.247.126 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to Bruce (VA), 10-27-2012 15:38:13   From the late 1970s onward Everything built had Electronic Ignition in it. Tractors, cars, pickups, snowmobiles, outboard motors, mototcycles, small engines, 4 wheelers, Everything! Reason? EI is more reliable, does not require maintenance, spark does not degrade due to wear on points, dwell is more accurate and so better fuel efficiancy, better allows for wear on the distributer, plus other reasons. 12V EI for a front mount is $96 from this site. Side mount kit is $77. Decent set of points and condenser is at least $30 now. Likely more. By your own estimate - 4-5 years on a set of points - the tractor I mentioned above would have needed 2.5 sets of points in the 7 1/2 years I ran it with EI. That is at least $75. Getting awfully close to the price of EI for a side mount aren't we? Plus never having to touch the points again? Priceless.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Dud Tx 10-28-2012 04:54:32 108.236.160.27 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to Bruce (VA), 10-27-2012 15:38:13   Bruce, with a regapped old plug. Do you connect plug to plug wire and then touch plug to block to check for spark and spark distance. Thanks wanting to make sure I understand.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Bruce (VA) 10-28-2012 06:15:57 24.125.80.178 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to Dud Tx, 10-28-2012 04:54:32   Open the gap on the plug. Attach the plug wire. Hold the plug firmly to the block or manifold. A plug checker is more accurate & easier to use for a number of reasons. But an old plug is cheaper! 50 Tips   [Reply]  [No Email]
soundguy 10-27-2012 15:37:25 107.41.14.131 Report to Moderator	Re: follow for Bruce (VA) and old in reply to rodgernbama, 10-27-2012 15:01:15   a little maintenance will cull the need for the ei.. ;)   [Reply]  [No Email]