Converting B From Magneto To Distributor

I found a deal on B but haven't been to look at it yet. The ad says it hasn't ran in two years. If the motor isn't locked up I will probably buy it. I don't know what year it is yet, but it has electric start and the wishbone front axle. My question is can it be converted to distributor ignition? I have two parts CA's so can I remove the magneto and install a distributor ignition from a CA? Thanks, Tim

Hasn't run in two years???  I'm sure there's a reason for that. If it isn't locked up, most likely the magneto is old and tired a a quality rebuild by a competent professional of the magneto will cost more than what you will probably pay for the B.

Cheap is where I'm at. I got the trailer ready to go today and charging the battery for the winch. I hope the B will make a nice mower for my boy and I don't have to do much to get it running. Sounds like the distributor swap is the way to go. Maybe a carburetor kit, clean the tank, new sediment bulb and NGK sparkplugs and it will start. This will be the first B I have ever owned. When I was younger there was a B that I should have bought and I have regretted not getting it. Going to makeup for it now. Thanks for the advice.

Do you know that the magneto is not working?  Maybe it is OK and might just need the points cleaned.  Many of my tractors have mags and I've found them to be very reliable.  Only ever had to have two rebuilt.

On our family CA we had a Mag. It really did work well until it would get hot. Then would start to miss fire. When it cooled down it would run well. Finally after new points, wires, plugs, rotor, capacitor, new coil and cap we determined, with the help of our online team/experts, that the mag magnets needed to be "re-magnetized." To get this refurbished was about $400, and that was after I had spent over $100 on the other parts.

Thus, despite my hesitation to change things on the family tractor, that my grandfather bought, I did change to a distributor.

Bought a electronic distributor from Steve at B&B Custom Circuits. After the switch it has been 100% reliable. It has been spectacular and reliable. Was also about the same price.

Edited by CA13414 - 9 hours 45 minutes ago at 7:19am

I don't even know what year the B is. Just saw two pictures in the ad. Paint looked decent and tires as well. I looks like it has set outside for awhile. It could be locked up. I guess I will find out next week. Not too far from home and the price was right. When I was in high school a classmate and I were baling hay together and a old man we baled for had a B he was wanting to sell for two hundred dollars. I was wanting it for a rake tractor but didn't have the money to spare. I think that is where I got the Allis bug from.

if your looking at a photo and the front wheels appear to be CAST.. you could be looking at wheel weights ?? ... If the wheels are really CAST, that should narrow it down to 1938 - 39 era ...... Being that these tractors are 70- 80 years old, a lot of them are a mix / match of years.... the alternator conversion tells you nothing..

Edited by steve(ill) - 18 hours 55 minutes ago at 10:09pm