???mag or distributor???

[leed]

Which cubs have magnetos and which ones have distributor ignition? Is it by model?

LeeD

[Lurker Carl]

Early Cubs had magnetos and battery distributors were optional, many mags were replaced with distributors over time. Some time in the 50's, no more mags.

[leed]

...so if i have a batter ignition, then i don't have a functional magneto???

[beaconlight]

Follow thes other threads they will show you pictures of magnitos and distributers. You can't have both on the same tractor at the same time. If the coil in the mag went bad and someone put on an externak coil it may seem to the uninitiated as though you have both but you still have a mag

http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewto ... ht=magnito

Bill

[Matt Kirsch]

Then you don't have a magneto, period.

The battery ignition would come off, and the magneto would go on in its place. That's how it works.

You can't have a battery ignition and a magneto installed on the engine at the same time.

[beaconlight]

Matt at least we both said the samething.

Bill

[Matt Kirsch]

At the same time, nonetheless

[leed]

Thanks for the link to the pictures, Bill, they were a great help. I have a distributor ignition. Is one better than the other? Do they work basically the same?

[Lurker Carl]

Both get 'r done. Magnetos were developed back when an ignition source was needed that would not require an outside energy supply, since batteries and starter motors and other such electrical devices were optional or non-existant. As electrical devices became commonplace and eventually standard equipment, magnetos were no longer needed since everything came with a battery.

[Bigdog]

Leed, they both serve the same function. The magneto generates it's spark from a magnet and will provide spark without a battery or charging system. The distributor ignition relies on a battery and charging system to provide energy for making a spark. Both systems work well.

[WKPoor]

I've often wondered if mags were common in the early days because many or most tractors were hand cranked and the mag impulse might make hand cranking easier to start. Just a thought.

[beaconlight]

I know what you mean. 1 picture is worth a thousand words.
Mags generally make a hotter spark at starting. The impulse clicking is a spring actuated speed increase. The faster you move the higher the voltage. The higher the voltage the hotter the spark.

Bill

[Bigdog]

I've often wondered if mags were common in the early days because many or most tractors were hand cranked and the mag impulse might make hand cranking easier to start. Just a thought.

The mags were used because there was no electrical system on the crank start engines. There was no starter therefore there was no need for a battery or charging system as long as you had an ignition system that provided it's own energy. When electric starters became popular, the switch to the much simpler distributor ignition system was made because the energy source (battery) was there.

[Rudi]

Guys:

At the risk of sounding much akin to a dolt, I guess I will fess up. Up until this thread I never really understood, and I guess I really hadn't cared about the definition of Battery Ignition.

Yeah, the Battery Ignition Packages for Tractors Manual is on the server, but mostly all I usually have time for is to scan/format/upload and notify that a new manual is there. I seldom get a chance to really look at them.

Yesterday I took the time

I thought in my naivete, that the Battery Ignition Package was basically the battery and cables... which is why I was curious as to the debates occassionally found on the forum about the package. Well I now understand that the Battery Ignition Package would exclude the magneto and would basically be a push button start.

So, thanks guys for piqueing my curiosity enough to go read the manual I learned something new

[beaconlight]

Sounds like the shoe maker with holes in his shoes.

Bill