Question for John T

John...are all 6 volt condensers the same functionally? I am having problems getting good condensers for pony engine distributors.

Yes they are pretty much the same as long as the MFD rating is the same

I have had best luck with Blue Streak points & condensers. I have never took the time to measure the capacitance of a engine condenser, so I dont know if they are all the same.

Old...what is a MFD rating????

It is the rating of it's size

Hey there smoke, when I farmed with and bought/sold JD 70 and 720s with Ponys in the seventies where were you when I needed you ??? I couldn't count how may I bought at auctions and it was RARE one had a working Pony and those that did smoked something awful. Many farmers didnt let them warm up enough then shut them down immediately and never changed oil grrrrrrrrrrrr

Anyway, a condensor is rated in Farads (Microfarads for smaller ones) which is a measure of its capacitance and is matched in accordance with the inductance of the ignition coil (regardless if 6 or 12 volt) for best performance. While the functionality is basically the same and many garden variety condensors used with 6 volt can coils are similar rated, the coils in those Ponys MAY DIFFER from standard can coils ??? so its best to use a condensor with the proper rating for JD pony motors BUT I DONT HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME or know if they differ????? I have Duane Larsons publications I will look later because using the correct MFD rated condenser is best. One of the condensors functions is to extend the life of the points and if too small the points burn quickly but if too large it may not fire at all.

HOWEVER I know a few Mag rebuilders who tell me they likewise have a hard time buying condensors having the correct MFD rating and when they buy a lot of 100 maybe 50 to 60 at best test correct grrrrrrrr SO YOURE NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM but it takes a true capacitor tester to measure capacitance which most dont have. Often an old one is best and lasts forever versus new ones lol

I guess my advice would be to FIRST use a condenser correctly rated for those JD Pony coils (I cant say how much if any they differ from regular can coils?? But will try and find out the MFD) maybe try Brillman if you havent already.

Best I have to offer, best wishes take care now

John T

My vague memory has somewhere seen a capacitance rating of .23 microfarads for a distributor ignition system. I have no idea if that is a standard or close to a standard value.

While pondering this I looked in my John Deere Service Manual SM-2029 and found a condensor (capacitance) specifications table on page 90-5-5. Maybe that can be of some help? That's where I previously saw the .23 ufd value.

None of this may apply to the pony starting motors. SIGH!

X2 on the Blue Streak. Never used a condenser but that's all I'll use for points.

UPDATE I searched some of my data from what I got from my late friend Duane Larson as well as John Deere Service Manul SM 2029 but could NOT find the Microfard capacity for the condensor used on those V4 gasoline Pony Starter Motor WICO Distributors....Here is what I did find you probably already have the specs for

The 4 cylinder DISTRIBUTOR (NOT a Magneto) is a WICO Model B-4 (B-4027)
The John Deere Part Number is AR1370R

NOTE the Condensor Specifications found on Page 90-5-5 of SM- 2029 for WICO MAGNETOS Models K 6977, X1413, X2595, X5614 are 0.16 to 0.20 Microfards BUT THOSE ARE WICO MAGNETOS NOTTTTTTT THE WICO B-4 PONY DISTRIBUTOR.

NOTE the Condensor Specifications for the WICO X6916 is 0.30 to 0.34 MFD and the WICO X9263 is 0.03 to 0.034 BUT AGAIN THOSE ARE WICO MAGNETOS NOTTTTTTT THE WICO B-4 PONY DISTRIBUTOR

I wouldn't doubt if you ask a parts person for the Microfarad rating of a condensor you wanted to buy you would get a blank stare lol SURE other than the exact condensor most any in the general range WOULD WORK but if I had my druthers Id use whatever value the WICO B-4 pony distributor came originally equipped with but that's just me. If you buy from like Deere or maybe Brillman you may have a better chance of getting the exact correct condensor BUT AGAIN MANY MAY NOT TEST WHAT THEY ARE LABELED FOR ???

You may be stuck with using whatever Deere or Brillman sells you and sure they will work and they may or may NOT even test out and if I had to venture a PURE GUESS Id say one in the 0.20 to 0.34 Microfarad range will function I would NOT but those sold at like TSC or Rural King....I doubt they even stock any labeled for the B-4 WICO pony motor distributor

So sorry I couldnt answer your question but hey I tried and gave it my best shot. If my friend Duane Larson was here I bet together (especially him) we could find the answer. I MISS HIM years ago he and I gave some Tech Seminars and Workshops together at Two Cylinder Expos

John T

John is there any specs for the wico distributor used on the late B's.

(quoted from post at 12:20:12 05/29/22) John is there any specs for the wico distributor used on the late B's.

Click to expand...

WICO "XB" distributor capacitor value = .30-.34 mfd.

Sources:

https://oldcroak.com/product_images/uploaded_images/wico-cond-info-skinny.png


https://oldcroak.com/wico-battery-distributor-ignition/

Best I recall the WICO XB was used on some Two Cylinder Model B's and others (I never liked them had a lot
of trouble) however, the distributor used on the V4 Pony Engine to start the Two Cylinder Deere Diesels was
a WICO B-4. Still that 0.030 is within my BEST GUESS. I'm still looking for B-4 data and will post it if and
when I ever find it lol

NICE set of specs, thanks for posting, I will add that to my collection

Best wishes take care have a Happy Memorial Day

John T

I never liked those lol if you look above Wore Out was kind enough to post some XB specs yayyyyy

John T

Here's the condensor Steiner shows for the WICO B-4 Pony Engine Distributor, its a JDS126 , try it maybe ???

https://www.link_disallowed/JDS126-Condenser

John T
JD B 4 Condensor

Heres the condensor Brillman sells for the WICO B-4 looks like what Steiner sells

https://brillman.com/product/wico-b4027-distributor-condenser/

John T
Brillmans B 4 Condensor

John Tthanks for all of your research. I ordered the Wico X9263 condensers from McDonald Carb & Ignition, but have not received them yet. Other suppliers said they have them , but when they checked their physical inventories it is zero. I also ordered Standard Motor Products condenser S4-173 which is for 6 volt systems and has the similar mounting tab on the side like X9263. No one advertises what the microfarads are for either. I will use the empirical method of trying the SMP condensers on a pony engine I have on my test stand. Seems like the 12 volt condensers I use on my 70 gassers have the same unreliability factor. I am all too familiar with the symptoms on bad condensers .

You're welcome thanks for the feedback, let us know how it turns out..

Happy Memorial Day to you and all here

John T