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Magneto/distributor help needed

E

Evofit300

New User
I have no serial number and am believing it to be a 52. Genny (now alternator) is on the left (from drivers seat). But here is the deal. I dont know if it's a magneto or a "weird 4 nipple dizzy" (quoting Dell here).

Now the problem is this: The magneto/distributor is busted and I need to replace it. Planned on just buying a regular distributor and doing an electronic ignition. Ordered a side mount dist, doesn't match up. Looks like a front mount might bolt up. Anyone familiar with this at all?

If you happen to have part numbers, that would be awesome.

I have pictures but don't know how to post them on here.
 
mvphoto63419.jpg


mvphoto63420.jpg


mvphoto63421.jpg
 

must be a mag, it's not a front mount distributor.

but something doesn't add up. a 1952 8N would have come with a side mount distributor. the magnetos i thought were only on wartime 2Ns. of course, it could always be a frankentractor,
 
Looks like a Fairbanks Morse magneto as used on some 2Ns during the War that had no electrics.
Front mount distributor should bolt up of you remove magneto and adapter.
 
That is indeed a mag and it is on a front distributor engine.

Don't take my word for this because there folks here that own these units.....but I'm pretty sure you're not going to bolt a side distributor on to that. Best fix
the mag or replace the entire unit w/ a front distributor.
75 Tips
 
It was originally an industrial motor, used in a non-tractor application. Check the top of the bellhousing for a "Ford Industrial" tag, or 4 tiny holes where the
tag was once attached.

I've pulled a few from Dearborn balers from that era that had the same magneto ignition system- no battery, no generator, no additional wiring or electrical
components needed- just a hand crank, a mechanical oil gauge and a switch to ground the mag.

A standard front mounted 9N-8N distributor will bolt right on in place of this unit.

Then you can send me that nasty, old magneto and I'll dispose of it properly!
 
The Number 1 killer of magnetos is somebody hooking the switched ground wire (that white wire on your mag) to the "hot" side of your battery. That wire should be
routed through a switch that is "open" to run and "closed" (to ground) to stop.

Magnetos are self-contained, self-excited ignition systems that generate their own electricity and need no external power source. They only need a way to
interrupt the flow of energy by grounding the points to stop the engine.
 
I have one like that on a 52 8n. The engine was an industrial engine has a side dist block with front dist. front cover. Like the magneto, it has been 9 years without touching thee magneto. Mine is a WICO.
 
(quoted from post at 07:33:39 10/16/20) You say your magneto is "busted".

What has happened to it?
Click to expand...

I took it apart to check the points since its firing was sporadic and found the rotor part is spun (sloppy and loose) on the shaft its connected to.
 

The white wire runs to a momentary toggle to ground it out. It used to have a key ignition, but I got rid of the key when I replaced all the wiring.
 
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