points and condensers

I seem to be replacing points and condensers after only 20 to 50 hours. Did we not use to run for several years of heavy use before this was necessary ??
Are today s points and condensers of lower quality??
Is it time to switch to electronics ??

Yes, junk. When you do find a condenser that works, don't change it. Even Blue Streak isn't what it used to be, but better than most others. I've had a set of blue streak in my 3600 Ford for about 8 years now. Gets used quite a bit clearing 2 different properties and snow. But sits a lot too, some outside and some in.

Most if not all the points and condensers now are made outside the U.S. and the quality is far below what we used to get. That is mearly my personal opinion and not gospel.

Yes.

When I was a teenager, points, condenser, rotor, cap, plugs and wires was part of an annual tune up before winter.

The points in my Farmall mag haven't been touched since I bought it about 15 years ago.

Many have said there points don't last very long, don't make them like they used to. May be true. I bought a Jubilee that was converted to 12v. Those points lasted 10 years.

I would recommend you measure the primary current. Jubilee's primary is 4 Amps, which is what it was back when I was a teenager.
Excessive currency will shorten points life.
George

If your condenser is open or not connected properly points will burn faster. Many times condenser short then you have no fire, if it opens you still have fire but loose the arc suppression for the points. You may not notice this until your points are burnt to the point you have no fire.

The man who runs the well known and respected magneto shop (Mark's Magneto, eastern CT) in my area told me he uses original points in the mags he rebuilds if they look anywhere near useable because they are better than the new ones he gets.

If you're getting 20 hours, that's 19.5 hours more than I got from my last set. And they were from CNH. I went over to the Dark Side and installed Pertronix three years ago. Zero regrets about that; my tractor now starts instantly in any weather.

I will second Pertronix!

Al, to your excellent question "Are today s points and condensers of lower quality??"

In my "opinion" as a past used tractor dealer, past farmer and electrical engineer, the answer is YESSSSSSSSSS

If you look for example at the points sold at Big Rural Box Store versus say NAPA the difference just by looking is MAJOR

A mag rebuilder friend told me nearly 50% of new out of the box condensors he buys are either out of spec (Microfarad rating) or some even open or shorted

An incorrect rated condensor can cause premature points burning

The ones I bought at NAPA were much better then say TSC or Rural King or Central Tractor

John T One mans "opinion: others may agree or disagree God Bless the USA

Yes, the ignition components, and voltage regulators are of very poor quality.

But for even good points to last, everything must be right.

Point gap is critical! If the distributor is worn, any side play in the shaft, they will not stay set. Improperly set or the gap varying from the worn bushings, will dramatically shorten point life, and cause performance problems.

Also sometimes a worn engine, combined with a worn distributor will allow engine oil vapors to enter the cap area, coating the points with a micro mist of oil.

This is where electronic conversion kits work well. They don't care is the shaft has a little wear, or if it is oily inside. They do require the centrifugal advance to work though.

When installing the electronic kit, it is a good practice to remove the distributor, disassemble, inspect, and lube everything. All the kit does is eliminate the points, it does not solve any other preexisting ignition problems.

One other thing that is very critical, that it have the correct coil or coil/resistor combination. Many times the wrong coil gets installed. For a 12v system the coil needs to have about 3 ohms resistance across the primary terminals out of circuit. This can be accomplished with a true 12v coil or a 6v (1.5 ohm) plus a ballast resistor (1.5 ohm) which added together gives the desired 3 ohms.

Get it wrong, and the new electronic kit will burn up, or it will have weak spark and be hard to start and run poorly.

Never trust what coil they sell you over the counter. Many times the counter person is clueless, or the coil has been reboxed incorrectly. Always double check buy the part number on the coil itself or check it with an ohm meter.

High performance, high voltage coils are of no use for a low RPM tractor engine. It will work, but a waste of money.

(quoted from post at 06:20:56 02/21/21) Most if not all the points and condensers now are made outside the U.S. and the quality is far below what we used to get. That is mearly my personal opinion and not gospel.

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of course you are correct

Everything is of lower quality these days. Dad used to say not worth bringing home...

In my Farmall M after several sets of points breaking the spring I installed a Pertronix. I now have some 5? years on it and still running perfect.

I installed it in my JD 620 too. I was hoping for a little hotter spark. It always starts been a hard starter. Didn't seem to help but it still runs good too. When I need to change the points in the SuperM it'll get Pertronix. I'm sold on it.

Points and condensers have been obsolete for about 45 years now. Demand for replacement parts has dropped to where few manufacturers can afford to still manufacture and stock them.

Poor quality cheap parts. Maybe your coil is too hot and burning up parts?

(quoted from post at 11:12:18 02/21/21) In my Farmall M after several sets of points breaking the spring I installed a Pertronix. I now have some 5? years on it and still running perfect.

I installed it in my JD 620 too. I was hoping for a little hotter spark. It always starts been a hard starter. Didn't seem to help but it still runs good too. When I need to change the points in the SuperM it'll get Pertronix. I'm sold on it.

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n keeping with the major "news" media and giving mostly 'opinion', kinda like these forums lately, I feel free to offer my opinion. When you used to run all day every day for years on a set of points, now you run a few hours a year & tractor sits most of the time s lowly but surely oxidizing points & that coupled with perhaps poor quality of today's products is why the big difference. Infrequent use is a huge factor.

As stated below, the quality is very poor.Napa does have better quality but even their points are a far cry from the oem of the 1940's and 50's

One of my mentors told me that if you had a perfect matched set of points and condenser they would never wear out

I dont think I would go as far as NEVER but the better matched the longer point life. If the condensor is too large she may not fire at all,,,,,,,,,if too little or none or open she can still fire but points will burn rapidly......

John T

I cannot remember the last time I put new points in any of my tractors and so far when I need them to run they do. I'll bet most are over 10 years old if not older

(quoted from post at 14:17:46 02/21/21) I dont think I would go as far as NEVER but the better matched the longer point life. If the condensor is too large she may not fire at all,,,,,,,,,if too little or none or open she can still fire but points will burn rapidly......

John T

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ohn, my experience has been just the opposite. No condenser=no run and 55 microFarad=runs ok.

condenser removed from distributor so I could connect/disconnect it to circuit:

I've never had too many trouble with points,but condensers are another story. Doesn't matter where you get them. Went with Petronix on half of my tractors and have not looked back. I find it interesting that people will agree that the electrical parts are junk,but freak out when people switch to EI

(quoted from post at 14:44:59 02/21/21) condenser removed from distributor so I could connect/disconnect it to circuit:

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outube video. the other post wasn't worth anything without sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaeluHYv6dU