I have an 1949 8N with a mag not a distributor. Is that rare and should I leave it alone or change it to a distributor? It is a 6 volt system and I planned to leave it that way. My only problem is I bought a new wiring harness for it and I am not sure how to hook up the mag with the new harness which is for a distributor. I tried to look up manuals but none show it with a mag. Any help would be great. Thanks
- Thread starter Trapper D
- Start date
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
It could be a industrial engine off a wood bros combine,etc. they used a mag.
Bruce (VA)
Well-known Member
Bruce (VA)
Well-known Member
Bruce (VA)
Well-known Member
expect that the wiring difference is that on a distributor engine, a wire runs from ign sw to coil, which will not be needed with your mag. You need the one wire from your mag to a kill switch, which would be grounded by the switch to stop engine. You will need to add that switch somewhere. You might be able to re-purpose the aforementioned wire in your harness to connect mag to kill switch.
It has no battery currently so I jump it to run. I just bought a battery today along with a new wiring harness. It is for a distributor so I was wondering how to use it with the mag or run a seperate kill switch for the mag. I was just gonna replace the old wire cause it looks all spliced up and rough. Not sure if it is charging or not.
I set up my 8n with a mag to be shut off with the key switch, but is backwards. When I turn the key off, switch open, mag will work as it should. turn the key to on and it will kill the mag and engine will die. I usually leave the key in the run position and when I get off I turn the fuel off and let the tractor run until it dies. Works good for me!
hope this makes some sense.
I like the magneto. always starts good and have had no problems with it in the 3 years or so that I have had it.
hope this makes some sense.
I like the magneto. always starts good and have had no problems with it in the 3 years or so that I have had it.
I'm inclined to agree with JMOR, the rest of the harness should work.
You can either wire a switch separately to ground the mag, or
maybe use the coil wire in the harness to make it look neater.
Key switch as said would work, but backwards.
Neat piece of equipment you have there.
I'd love to see more pictures of it when you have time!
You can either wire a switch separately to ground the mag, or
maybe use the coil wire in the harness to make it look neater.
Key switch as said would work, but backwards.
Neat piece of equipment you have there.
I'd love to see more pictures of it when you have time!
Charles Krammin
Member
On page 62, of the FO-4 manual, is a picture of the "Fairbanks-Morse mageneto" and it looks like your picture. Repairing and adjusting is discussed and shown.
The only thing different with a magento is that it supplies is own electrical power, and therefore ignor hooking up 6 volt battery thru the key and instead run a wire to the "grounding lug" on the magneto to a switch on the dash , and one lug to ground, therby allowing you to ground the magneto, from the seat position (this is how my DC Case magneto is hooked up).
The grounding lug on the magneto is a safety design, that if you hand crank, with the tractor in gear and it started, you had a way to "Kill-it".
Since their is no connection thru the shift lever lock-out and you may have a starter, you have to be very sure it is out of gear, or only start it sitting in the seat, with the clutch pushed down.
The above statements, are based on "common knowledge", and not based on "an actual Ford or Ford-Ferguson wiring diagram", with a magneto, and they may have a "safety kill switch hookup to the shift lever"
Charles Krammin SW MI
The only thing different with a magento is that it supplies is own electrical power, and therefore ignor hooking up 6 volt battery thru the key and instead run a wire to the "grounding lug" on the magneto to a switch on the dash , and one lug to ground, therby allowing you to ground the magneto, from the seat position (this is how my DC Case magneto is hooked up).
The grounding lug on the magneto is a safety design, that if you hand crank, with the tractor in gear and it started, you had a way to "Kill-it".
Since their is no connection thru the shift lever lock-out and you may have a starter, you have to be very sure it is out of gear, or only start it sitting in the seat, with the clutch pushed down.
The above statements, are based on "common knowledge", and not based on "an actual Ford or Ford-Ferguson wiring diagram", with a magneto, and they may have a "safety kill switch hookup to the shift lever"
Charles Krammin SW MI
So to make sure I have it right. I do not need a key at all. I simply must have the mag not grounded then push the starter button and it should start fine??? to shut it off I simply do like I have been and ground it out.Thanks to everyone for the advice. I believe I have a good grasp on what you are saying. I will try it tomorrow and let everyone know how it works.
Mine starts with the normal starter push button, so it is the same as my other side mount 8n. If you were using a hand crank like the war time model, then you better have it out of gear. When I first got mine running, I would kill it with the ground on the side of the mag. Then I ran the wire to the switch and then to ground. Then I learned to just turn the fuel off to shut her down. I used the wire in the harness that was meant to go to the dist to run to the switch.
I think any L head with a front mount dist will take a mag as long as you have mag gear drive attachments. Mags are wonderful I would leave it on. However the photo you have in my opinion is not the FM Mag that went on the Fords 2Ns. R Geigers has the correct one,I have on my 2Ns. I would keep it.It will fire your N up fast and can be crank started. You can still have a genny for battery and lights. The mags were used to save copper during the big one WWll. With a mag you can run a tractor without started,genny, or battery but it then becomes a crank start the mag produces elec. for the spark plugs,just like a lawn mower.
Mag has no on or off. It is always ready to provide elec to plugs all it needs is to be spun, turned. In one way it does have a off and that is a kill switch that is not a switch but a piece of metal that is attached on the mag and is pressed aginest the metal housing and makes the mag short itself out. If it does not have one you can kill the motor by putting the tractor in road gear throttle to idle and easy out on the clutch slowly and kill it. You can also just turn the fuel off. Don't be tempted to choke the engine to kill it as gas will lay in the cyl and can get to the sump.
en, I have seen that one before, but can't remember any details.(quoted from post at 12:40:19 12/06/13)
I have this on file, I have no idea where I got it from, anyone ever see one before?? Could it be a front mount fitted to a magneto??
By the way, Rgeiger's mag is driven by such an arrangement (I retract my earlier front timing cover remark).
There are some that are/were, & at photo angle I first thought his was, but found another angle of his & it is not a side mt timing cover.
NoNewParts
Member
like said, you can use a switch or key switch to ground the mag.
I use them, just have to remember that on is off
Better idea is a key switch or push-pull switch designed for mags.
Most of my antique Wheel Horse's have them and a couple of my mag tractors have them.
Turn the key on and the mag is 'live' turn key off and it grounds the mag.
Most of these mag key switches also have a start position which
I would not use on your tractor. use the push button safety switch you have.
The mag key switch is just handy, so you don't get things backwards if you have a lot of equipment.
"why won't this thing start?"
I use them, just have to remember that on is off
Better idea is a key switch or push-pull switch designed for mags.
Most of my antique Wheel Horse's have them and a couple of my mag tractors have them.
Turn the key on and the mag is 'live' turn key off and it grounds the mag.
Most of these mag key switches also have a start position which
I would not use on your tractor. use the push button safety switch you have.
The mag key switch is just handy, so you don't get things backwards if you have a lot of equipment.
"why won't this thing start?"
Just an update for everyone. Got the harness and kill switch for the mag all figured out and it runs fine. Thanks for all the advice and ideas. Now I just have to work on the carb... I disconected the gas line to change the oil filter and something most have broke loose and stuck it open. It is just dumping gas now. I guess if it is not one thing it is another. For those of you that wanted to see some more pics I will get some and post them maybe tomorrow. Thanks again.
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