Converting B From Magneto To Distributor
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=208528
Printed Date: 17 Oct 2025 at 6:45pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Converting B From Magneto To Distributor
Posted By: rustyorange45
Subject: Converting B From Magneto To Distributor
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 3:43am
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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 ------------- 1953 WD45 WF/Model 90 Loader, Oxnard Rear Blade, 80R Mower, Model 209 Disc, WD Rear Mounted Scoop, Model 184 & 160 Rotary Mowers, 1952 CA NF/L306CA mower, 1953 CA WF/Model 8 Loader. |
Replies:
Posted By: Kip-Utah
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 5:37am
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Yes the battery ignition (distributor) on a CA is an easy swap to your B to replace a magneto. My question to you is why? Unless your magneto is not working, I would keep it because you don’t even need a battery to crank start or pull start your tractor with the current setup. A battery ignition requires a good battery to run at all. Unless your intent is to replace the points & condenser with an electronic ignition module, there is NO advantage to the battery ignition over a magneto ignition. ------------- HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!! |
Posted By: PaulB
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 7:00am
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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. How about swapping a distributer from one of your CA into the engine, get it running then saw the engine into one of the CAs. A CA is much more versatile than a B. You'll have a 4 speed transmission, Live PTO & Hydraulics, pin hitch or snap coupler and more. Don't get me wrong, a B is a good tractor for what it is, but a CA is much more. ------------- If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere. Real pullers don't have speed limits. If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 8:38am
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a little more detain... You dont just pull the mag off and stick the distributor on..... The DRIVE from the front gears to the distributor are different and need to be changed out.. Not hard, but a little more work.. You can buy a distributor that just plugs into the magneto drive lugs, but that is probably not on the CA. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 8:58am
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My Dad raised mules so I grew up with mules; he used to say "When you got a good mule, you've really got sumthin', but when you got a bad mule, well, you got sumthin' there too!" Same thing applies to magnetos
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Posted By: rustyorange45
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 9:20am
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I was thinking for the money, if the magneto was bad or weak since I already had the parts CA I could swap the distributor into the B. I have a Wood's L59 mower I could put on the B and give to my boy so he would have a good mowing tractor to use. I have three CA's here at home. One narrow front with a Wood's L306, one wide front with a loader, and one wide front I just purchased that I put a three point on so I could use my RM306 on. I agree the CA is a great little tractor but the B can be bought cheaply. ------------- 1953 WD45 WF/Model 90 Loader, Oxnard Rear Blade, 80R Mower, Model 209 Disc, WD Rear Mounted Scoop, Model 184 & 160 Rotary Mowers, 1952 CA NF/L306CA mower, 1953 CA WF/Model 8 Loader. |
Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 3:21pm
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Yup. Your lowest cost option is to swap the the parts and be done with it. Magnetos are great when they work, but they cost more to fix (at least for those of us who don't own a magnet charger). Your mileage may vary
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Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 3:55pm
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i have "rebuilt" several mags over the last 20 years.. New point, condenser, coil, cleaning.....Still had problems with one after several years.. Bought a REBUILD from a vendon on this site... all the above PLUS recharge the magnet and new throw out springs for the impulse... WOW !!! What a difference !!... YEs, a GOOD REBUILDER is worth the money.. but not cheap.. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: rustyorange45
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2025 at 7:47pm
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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. ------------- 1953 WD45 WF/Model 90 Loader, Oxnard Rear Blade, 80R Mower, Model 209 Disc, WD Rear Mounted Scoop, Model 184 & 160 Rotary Mowers, 1952 CA NF/L306CA mower, 1953 CA WF/Model 8 Loader. |
Posted By: HoughMade
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 9:45am
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I have a B with a magneto ('51 w/ original generator, starter and headlights). A couple of years after I got it running after sitting still in my Dad's barn for a few years, the spark started getting weak. I researched some "farmer tech" (doing what you need to to get it going) where you essentially run coil power through the original magneto, but in the end I got a rebuilt magneto from a guy in Illinois and it has worked spectacularly ever since. ------------- 1951 B |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 9:49am
| 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. |
Posted By: Jay Tee
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 7:58pm
| My B came with a magneto that had been farm-brewed into a distributor with an external coil. I bought a used magneto from someone on this forum and it works a treat. I may rebuild the original one back into a magneto - there are a few specialized tools I'd need to build/find in order to do that right though. |
Posted By: CA13414
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 8:10pm
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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 https://www.bb-customcircuits.com/category/1511-distributor-units-drive-assemblies-conv" rel="nofollow - B&B Custom Circuits . After the switch it has been 100% reliable. It has been spectacular and reliable. Was also about the same price. ------------- Helping the aged survive and thrive! 1953 CA |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 8:37pm
| Steve (or someone that knows a lot more about magnetos than I do), but I thought i remember seeing that the Fairbanks-Morse FMJ seldom needed remagnetizing. |
Posted By: rustyorange45
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 9:23pm
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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. ------------- 1953 WD45 WF/Model 90 Loader, Oxnard Rear Blade, 80R Mower, Model 209 Disc, WD Rear Mounted Scoop, Model 184 & 160 Rotary Mowers, 1952 CA NF/L306CA mower, 1953 CA WF/Model 8 Loader. |
Posted By: rustyorange45
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 9:32pm
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The B has the cast front wheel centers. Can anyone give me an idea what year it is from that clue? It does have an electric starter and somewhere in it's life has been converted to 12 volt because it has a Delco alternator. ------------- 1953 WD45 WF/Model 90 Loader, Oxnard Rear Blade, 80R Mower, Model 209 Disc, WD Rear Mounted Scoop, Model 184 & 160 Rotary Mowers, 1952 CA NF/L306CA mower, 1953 CA WF/Model 8 Loader. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2025 at 10:05pm
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.. You need the serial number on the trans case, and the engine number on the left side by the flywheel housing to give you any idea of the year.. VERY EARLY engine numbers were on the top rear of the bloock behind the #4 cylinder.
------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |