Ford 2N possibly burning coils up

[Mark over in Iowa]

I have a 1942 Ford 2N. It has a 12 volt conversion with a 12 volt coil and one OEM resister in it. I have went through my third coil. The tractor will initially run for about 1/2 hours. Then it quits and does not want to run again. After it rests for about a day or so, sometime it will restart and run for 20 to 30 minutes again. When you restart it, it will idle ok in neutral but as soon as you put it in gear and bring off the clutch, it bogs out and dies. Any ideas????? ( I have left the swtitc on a few times but can not conclude if this is connected to when the coils have burned up.) Mark
 

[Plane Bart]

Check the switch or better yet bypass it with a jumper wire and see if you get spark if so replace the switch
 

[Den N Ms]

Is the OEM resistor wired up correctly?Coil should get power through the OEM resister.
 

[BillM (OH)]

Sound like typical coil failure symptoms. Runs for a good while and then shorts out & restarts after cool down. Ignition switch failure usually quits in a shorter time. Leaving switch on will fry the coil sooner or later - might want to change points also, as it doesn't help them any either.
 

[Dell (WA)]

Mark.........do NOT ever by-pass the "infamous ballast resistor", otherwize yer squarecan ignition coil internal insulative tar will MELT and short out some turns and cause weak sparkies. It takes about 1-hr for the insulative tar to melt, and about 4-hrs for it to re-solidify. Does that sound familiar???

( I have left the swtitc on a few times but can not conclude if this is connected to when the coils have burned up.) ........umm? You do know ONLY the key operated ignition switch powers the ignition coil, don't you??? Leaving the ignition switch ON, will definitely MELT yer squarecan insulative tar and cause weak sparkies.

Many shade tree mechanics actually miss-wire the 3-terminal board under the amp-meter that the ballast resistor is mounted on and un-intentionally OVER VOLT the squarecan coil, melting its insulative tar.

Also check yer 4-nipple wiring; 1,2,4,3 CCW. Many shadetree mechanics gitt sparkies 4&3 swapped. The N-Engine is SOOooo GOOoood it will start and run on just 2-sparkies and won't have enuff hair on its chest to pull the top off'n a soda can. Just as you complain. .......Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister
 

[Mark over in Iowa]

I have not bypassed the resistor, it is wired correctly. The 1243 is also hooked up properly.

How would I know if the ammeter or 3 board is improperly wired which would overpower the coil?

I have also ordered another 12 volt coil, it"ll be here in a few days.
 

[JMOR]

[R Geiger]