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Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
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- 10+ Years
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:43 am
- Zip Code: 77355
- eBay ID: czechiii
- Tractors Owned: 48 Cub SN 54XXX (Captain Crunch)
47 Farmall A (Patches) - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Magnolia, Texas
Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
I have a 1948 Cub and it has a magneto. I have been having issues with it being hard to start lately and I think it is due to the coil in the magneto. This is the third coil I have gone through in 4 years. I have checked the spark and it is orange instead of the blue as mentioned in several posts. I have a distributor that I can put on in place of the mag. I am just not sure that it is the right thing to do.....if it were your cub what would you do? I am teetering back and forth here and don't know what I should do.
Charles Patek III
Some days - Chicken.......Some days - Feathers
Words to live by....
Some days - Chicken.......Some days - Feathers
Words to live by....
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- Team Cub Mentor
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
Replace the condenser in the magneto. Try that first.
Your decision. If it is a working tractor, I would either install an external coil on the magneto or fully convert to the distributor.
Your decision. If it is a working tractor, I would either install an external coil on the magneto or fully convert to the distributor.
I have an excuse. CRS.
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- 10+ Years
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
Inside most of the wico, fairbanks morse, Edison mags I worked on there is a low speed trip lever that winds up the mag to give it a snap forward which gives it a hotter spark for starting. These levers can get stuck sometimes or something is wrong with the spring windup. It's in the front section under the drive hub. Make sure the points are clean too. Be careful when you install the coil in a mag some had paper wraps to protect the windings.
I find that any engine with a mag seems more dependable when it's working correctly. Or maybe I'm old school but I love hearing the snap of the mag when it idles.
I find that any engine with a mag seems more dependable when it's working correctly. Or maybe I'm old school but I love hearing the snap of the mag when it idles.
I'm technically misunderstood at times i guess its been this way my whole life so why should it change now.
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- 10+ Years
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:43 am
- Zip Code: 77355
- eBay ID: czechiii
- Tractors Owned: 48 Cub SN 54XXX (Captain Crunch)
47 Farmall A (Patches) - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Magnolia, Texas
Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
Eugene and BigBill,
thanks for the quick reply. What I am looking for is if in your opinion there is any real advantage to replace the mag with the distributor...I liked the idea of the mag at first but am souring on it as I have more and more issues that "seem" to be mag related.
thanks for the quick reply. What I am looking for is if in your opinion there is any real advantage to replace the mag with the distributor...I liked the idea of the mag at first but am souring on it as I have more and more issues that "seem" to be mag related.
Charles Patek III
Some days - Chicken.......Some days - Feathers
Words to live by....
Some days - Chicken.......Some days - Feathers
Words to live by....
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- Cub Pro
- Posts: 4435
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- Location: FL, Crestview
Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
Whatever you decide to do, it is of course your decision! I like mags, and all of mine that originally had one still have one. I don't have any issues with them, and if I were in your shoes, I'd fix and keep the mag, but that's just me. As Eugene mentioned, yours is a working tractor. None of mine are, so that probably has a lot to do with my opinion.
The advantage that the distributor has over a mag is varying timing with advancing throttle settings. It will run better throughout the throttle range with a distributor, especially at idle.
Drawbacks with a distributor are you need a battery to operate it, and a mag has a hotter spark than a distributor the faster it turns.
As you mentioned in your first sentence, the impulse is only for starting, and should not "snap" once the tractor is idling.
The advantage that the distributor has over a mag is varying timing with advancing throttle settings. It will run better throughout the throttle range with a distributor, especially at idle.
Drawbacks with a distributor are you need a battery to operate it, and a mag has a hotter spark than a distributor the faster it turns.
BigBill wrote:... there is a low speed trip lever that winds up the mag to give it a snap forward which gives it a hotter spark for starting. ..... Or maybe I'm old school but I love hearing the snap of the mag when it idles.
As you mentioned in your first sentence, the impulse is only for starting, and should not "snap" once the tractor is idling.
Screwstick #3934
FCub - LoBoy - Numbered Series - Power Unit Databases
FCub - LoBoy - Numbered Series - Power Unit Databases
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- 10+ Years
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
On a very slow idle I could hear the mag snap on mag on the gravely but it could be the valves making noise too they were noted for that with the older L engines.
I'm technically misunderstood at times i guess its been this way my whole life so why should it change now.
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
BigBill wrote:On a very slow idle I could hear the mag snap on mag on the gravely but it could be the valves making noise too they were noted for that with the older L engines.
Several years ago I tried reducing the noise output from my generator. So I figured most of the sound was from the exhaust coming through the crummy little muffler. Wrong! After silencing the exhaust note, the generator sounded nearly as loud because of the valves clattering open and shut. The quietest old flathead engine I've ever heard running was 1940 Cadillac V16. That engine was virtually silent - the spinning fan was the only indicator of the engine running.
"Chance favors the prepared mind."
- Louis Pasteur
"In character, in manners, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Louis Pasteur
"In character, in manners, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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- Tractors Owned: 47, 48, 49 cub plus Wagner loader & other attachments. 41 Farmall H.
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
I have run into the problem with mag coils not lasting well, and since I have 3 cubs all with magnetos it is pretty noticeable. The 2 that are kept inside the insulated shed give very little trouble, but the one with the loader that sets under the lean to due to space limitations is frequently hard to start, and seems to need a coil every 2 or 3 years. there used to be a big difference in the quality of Ih coils versus the aftermarket coils. The IH coils were higher but would last longer but were also much higher, which is the reason most of the old working tractors were converted to distributors. I do not know if there is still a difference or not, since I have been buying aftermarket ones.
If you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem!!!
you are part of the problem!!!
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
I have 3 working tractors, all on mags. One was rebuilt in 2007, one in 2008, and the last one was probably 2009. None of the three has given any further trouble, nor gone through a coil since then, knock on wood. All three see something around 100 hours of use per year. I don't know if it is coil quality, how it's kept, or how it's used. Now that I bragged on mine, watch them all go out next week while I'm trying to mow!
Rick Spivey
'52 Cub ("Great Personality") 148xxx
'48 Cub with FH ("Gunny Cub") 38xxx
'57 Lambretta (a slow work in progress)
'74 Triumph TR6 (Mama's toy)
'52 Cub ("Great Personality") 148xxx
'48 Cub with FH ("Gunny Cub") 38xxx
'57 Lambretta (a slow work in progress)
'74 Triumph TR6 (Mama's toy)
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- Team Cub Mentor
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
One advantage to the distributor is that parts are available at your nearest auto parts store. Even on Sunday until 2 PM. I keep an spare points and condenser. Should the coil fail, I can always take one off my other tractors.
I have an excuse. CRS.
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
Charles:
That is pretty much me too, except that none of mine are restored and they all have to work. The mags have not really been an issue for me at all and so far I have only had to replace one coil as my brother-in-law George had put an external one on. My Cubs sit inside now but used to be outside. I had some issues but none with the coil going south. Points were more of an issue and moisture.
If it was my Cub the mag would stay simply because that is how the Cub came. Now, since I just bought a Lo-Boy with a battery ignition, I guess I am going to leave it that way cause that is how it came from the factory Yeah, I know ...
And of course .. TIJIMHO.
RaymondDurban wrote:Whatever you decide to do, it is of course your decision! I like mags, and all of mine that originally had one still have one. I don't have any issues with them, and if I were in your shoes, I'd fix and keep the mag, but that's just me.
That is pretty much me too, except that none of mine are restored and they all have to work. The mags have not really been an issue for me at all and so far I have only had to replace one coil as my brother-in-law George had put an external one on. My Cubs sit inside now but used to be outside. I had some issues but none with the coil going south. Points were more of an issue and moisture.
If it was my Cub the mag would stay simply because that is how the Cub came. Now, since I just bought a Lo-Boy with a battery ignition, I guess I am going to leave it that way cause that is how it came from the factory Yeah, I know ...
And of course .. TIJIMHO.
Confusion breeds Discussion which breeds Knowledge which breeds Confidence which breeds Friendship
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- Cub Pro
- Posts: 23701
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:09 pm
- Zip Code: 63664
- Tractors Owned: 47, 48, 49 cub plus Wagner loader & other attachments. 41 Farmall H.
- Location: Mo, Potosi
Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
Points, condenser and dist. cap are the same for the distributors, and J4 mags. Different condenser for H4 mags though. Neighbor had points go bad in his IH 440. he was going to make a trip to town to get some. I just went to the shed and grabbed my spares for the cub and told him to get me a set of replacements. i do not know how long IH used the same points and condensers, but it was a long time.Eugene wrote:One advantage to the distributor is that parts are available at your nearest auto parts store. Even on Sunday until 2 PM. I keep an spare points and condenser. Should the coil fail, I can always take one off my other tractors.
If you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem!!!
you are part of the problem!!!
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- Cub Pro
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
Most of the Mag related issues come from folks that do not know how to work on them. That being said I have only one cub with a mag on it and it is for sale But I am not a mag guy. all the rest are 12 volt with Distributors. Parts cost is a huge factor with a mag Rotor and coil, and the lack of knowledgeable people to work on them. Rick will fix you up I am sure. But the parts are much higher. If you have to get someone else to repair the mag going with a distributor may be your best way.
Boss
Boss
IN GOD WE TRUST
All others pay cash
Boss Hog
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely byJohn Emerich Edward Dalberg
All others pay cash
Boss Hog
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely byJohn Emerich Edward Dalberg
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- 10+ Years
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Re: Mag or not to Mag ...that is the question
You already know my reply !----battery ignition is the only way to go ---and 12-volts!!!!!lol!! Thanks;sonny
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