I am a first-time buyer on this 1946 model a tractor. I installed a 12 V battery just so I could start it up. it's a negative ground system. It's a magneto system. This tractor hasn't run for a couple years. I put a12 V battery on it just to see if I could start it up. It turns over the starter no problem, but I don't get a spark. By doing this do you think possibly that I burned out the mag although on other forums they said that you don't have to change the magneto system. I want to switch to a 12v system.
- Thread starter rwinnie
- Start date
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
If there is a wire attached to the mag, it's only purpose is to ground the points when you are ready to shut it down. If you connected that wire to battery voltage, it's fried.
greenmech
Well-known Member
- Location
- Lakeville MN
Are you sure it is a magneto? If it has battery voltage to it, may be a distributer. If so 12 volts may have burned the coil. Ron Mn
tractorguy2
Well-known Member
I thought all Deeres were positive ground?
Post a pic of your magneto. If it is a magneto. It should not be connected to battery voltage.
Wilco made a distributor that looked a lot like a magneto.
Post a pic of your magneto. If it is a magneto. It should not be connected to battery voltage.
Wilco made a distributor that looked a lot like a magneto.
You guys don't know how much I appreciate this. THis mag has 1042 on it so I think it is a mag. There are no wires that go to it.
No distributor or coil. I tHink 1042 is a mag. I will remove it and clean the points. I ordered new plugs and cannot wait to hear that chug chug that is the JD firing. I'm like a little boy in a candy factory. Can't wait to taste that candy, (hear that first firing).
No distributor or coil. I tHink 1042 is a mag. I will remove it and clean the points. I ordered new plugs and cannot wait to hear that chug chug that is the JD firing. I'm like a little boy in a candy factory. Can't wait to taste that candy, (hear that first firing).
So then fill in the blanks. Is the charging system a generator or an alternator?? If it has an alternator on it then you stand a very good chance you let the smoke out of itthe momnet you hooked it up + ground and that is why you got sparks and it only takes a split second to fry an alternator by hooking it up backwards
I have you guys to thank. Put in new plugs. Still no spark. Cleaned the points, still no spark. I decided to try a courser paper to clean and I got a spark. There is no gen. Or alternator.
Fired it up blew smoke and rust all over the place. Pulled it out of the barn before the exhaust got to me. It sounds great. Now just needs fine tuning. Thanks to all of you. Without you I really didn't know how to do this but I am learning. Much appreciation!
All A JD's until early 47 were 6 volt positive ground and angle iron frame. In March of 47 JD introduced the A with pressed steel frame and 12 volt positive ground. If your tractor is negative ground it's been updated, starter doesn't care if positive or negative ground works either way.
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