Is Electronic Ignition Conversion a Good Idea?
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30233
Printed Date: 06 Mar 2025 at 8:11am
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Topic: Is Electronic Ignition Conversion a Good Idea?
Posted By: rhartwick
Subject: Is Electronic Ignition Conversion a Good Idea?
Date Posted: 04 May 2011 at 6:17pm
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Is converting my D17 IV (12V - positive ground) to electronic ignition a good idea? How do they handle the advance curve? Do they tend to be finicky in operation? Also, would I need a new coil, or would the stock 12V coil work ok - and what about ballast resistors? The old points/condensor system works ok, but this is one area (like oils) where it seems more modern technology actually is better. I was wondering what everyones' experience has been, and if there are certain brands that are trouble, etc. |
Replies:
Posted By: Gary in da UP
Date Posted: 04 May 2011 at 6:20pm
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I like these....
http://www.pertronix.com/ - http://www.pertronix.com/
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Posted By: darrel in ND
Date Posted: 04 May 2011 at 7:04pm
| I converted my series II D 17 and my 190 gas both to electronic and am liking it alot. Just a matter of time before I have all of my gas tractors converted to it. Darrel |
Posted By: GregLawlerMinn
Date Posted: 04 May 2011 at 7:49pm
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When it is time for points I convert. I like the Pertronix unit (it is available in 12V negative; or 12V positive grounding. Have both units and both kinds work fine. Can use your existing 12V coil (if it is internally resisted) with no difficulty. An external ballast resistor in-line will allow one to use the 6V coil with the 12V ignition (altho the reliability of the external resistor is not too good). Literature says one can open up the plug gap to 0.040-0.045 if change out the coil to a higher voltage one (I run my plugs at 0.035 with the stock coil. Engines seem to start and run better with the EI. ------------- What this country needs is more unemployed politicians-and lawyers. Currently have: 1 D14 and a D15S2. With new owners: 2Bs,9CAs,1WD,2 D12s,5D14s,3D15S2s, 2D17SIVs,D17D,1D19D;1 Unstyled WC |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 04 May 2011 at 9:14pm
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I have both my gas tractors converted to the Pertronix units. You have to follow the directions and make sure the primary coil resistance is correct. Seems like it's supposed to be 3-4 ohms. Too low and it will blow the brains out of the module. I got the matching Flamethrower coil to go with both of mine to ensure compatibility. ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 04 May 2011 at 9:19pm
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I've got a Petronix on my 17 IV and think it's great. ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 06 May 2011 at 3:32pm
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We carry the Pertronix kits in stock along with choice of coils. They work great! Steve@B&B |
Posted By: dave63
Date Posted: 06 May 2011 at 5:29pm
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Dad use to tie in and external coil to magnetos to replace the mag. coil. Would it work to install an external coil and electronic ignition to a mag. ? the Mag. would act as a distributer only. Has any body done this?------------- The universal answer to all questions is yes, how much do you want to spend? |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 06 May 2011 at 5:57pm
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I don't think the unit will fit inside the mag body. I've seen what you describe done. ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: mlpankey
Date Posted: 06 May 2011 at 8:47pm
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i think a 4 pin hei module could posibly be used to convert a mag to a hei ------------- people if they don't already know it you can't tell them. quote yogi berra |
Posted By: j.w.freck
Date Posted: 06 May 2011 at 9:10pm
| have every one of my 45,s converted to the petronix...love them,,got mine from jim at ok tractor in mounds okla... |
Posted By: WD45
Date Posted: 06 May 2011 at 9:23pm
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Changed to electronic on I-60 fork lift in 2005 after purchasing from Steve at the GOTO in Union Grove . ------------- Fred Dunlop, G,B,CA, WC,WF, 3 WD45`s,gas, diesel and LP,U,D10 series III, D12,D14,D15 SERIES II,D17 Series IV in Gas and Diesel ,D19 GAS and D21,170 185,210 ,220 an I-600 8070 fwd, 716H and 1920H |
Posted By: mlpankey
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 9:24am
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the ignitor 3 is basically the hei module and will work with 4 and 6 cylinder engines . the rev limiter function will not operate correctly if used on anything other than a v8 though. ------------- people if they don't already know it you can't tell them. quote yogi berra |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 9:32am
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OP mentioned the advance curve- When you install a Pertronix kit, the advance curve doesn't change- it's still using the mechanical advance located in the distributor base. All you're really doing is removing the points and condenser, and replacing them functionally with a solid-state magnetic trigger system. I have a Pertronix kit on my D17 Series 1, as well as on a 19' 1954 Century Resorter runabout. Love it. Up side- no points... no condenser, so no way they'll ever get 'marginal' or fail. Down side, is that they CAN fail, and when they do, you'll hafta replace the whole unit. Up-side is that if you have the original points and condenser, you can drop those back in and be operational... or if you have a spare unit, drop it in with no worries (timing won't be affected) and continue on. Down side, is that if they fail, they're another hundred bucks or so, and you can kill 'em by accidentally hooking 'em up backwards. |
Posted By: mlpankey
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 4:53pm
------------- people if they don't already know it you can't tell them. quote yogi berra |
DaveKamp wrote:Posted By: TedBuiskerN.IL.
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 5:04pm
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How well do the 6 volt Pos. ground units work? I've heard to avoid the 6 volt units. ------------- Most problems can be solved with the proper application of high explosives. |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 5:16pm
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This topic is like 'which is better Ford or Chevy' ! Both my D-14s and the Gleaner A are 50+ years old and have points. Cheap, reliable,easy to fix. Yes, electronic ignitions may work better(if setup correctly), but as others have said, when the magic smoke comes out it's $100 or more to fix.That's an expensive spare part to have on the shelf compared to $10 set of points.You best have a spare because the one in the tractor will fail ,late Saturday afternoon ,1/3 way through haying or some other time sensistive task. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Ryan Renko
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 7:10pm
| I kinda agree with jaybmiller. Our wd starts so fast you cant push the choke in fast enough!! She dont like much choke!! It runs better than a top on points and a condenser. Ryan |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 8:40pm
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The 6V Pertronix units work just as nice as the 12V version. Have a 6V
unit in my B for probably going on 9 years now. Never had a problem.
Starts right up everytime. There is a little delay on the 6V version
mainly because you need 4V at the module in order for it to fire. When
cranking the engine, most of the power in the 6V system is directed to
the starter motor. When you let go of the starter rod, that split
second sends 6V's to the module and lights the motor. Normal
characteristic on the 6V versions. Doesn't hurt a thing. One thing you do have to be aware of with any E.I., is if you're charging the Battery, either disconnect the Battery from the Tractor, or take it out of the Tractor BEFORE you hook your charger up. If the key switch is left on, hooking a charger to the Battery without disconnecting the Battery post(s) can spike the electronic Ignition's module. It will now be toast.... You just have to be careful around it and use common sence.... Steve@B&B |
Posted By: WD45
Date Posted: 07 May 2011 at 9:37pm
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I installed electroninc ignition in our WD45 gas - pos ground 6 volt and it did not start so switched back to regulat points and condensor. Purchased from Steve.
------------- Fred Dunlop, G,B,CA, WC,WF, 3 WD45`s,gas, diesel and LP,U,D10 series III, D12,D14,D15 SERIES II,D17 Series IV in Gas and Diesel ,D19 GAS and D21,170 185,210 ,220 an I-600 8070 fwd, 716H and 1920H |