How do I upgrade to electronic ignition? 1959 Farmall 140

[bradleydavidgood]

Hi,

I've got a 1959 Farmall 140 and I want to upgrade to electronic ignition.

It currently has a 12V battery in good condition, what looks like the original coil and points system, old wires and Champion D21 plugs.

The coil and distributor are horizontal. The plug wires are straight.

I want to convert fully to electronic ignition: New coil, cap and rotor, wires, plugs.

I heard use copper wires and then heard don't use copper wires?

I need to know everything I need, where to buy it.

And if I'm going to need to set the timing or if, while installing I keep everything in line, that it will be fine.
If I need to set the timing, I need to know what kind of timing light to get and how to do that.

Below is a short video showing the tractor, followed by 2 other videos I found showing a little about the conversion but not everything.

Thanks for your help!


1 minute short

Electronic Ignition Install

https://www.external_link.tv/v/electronic-ignition-install-small/183631225/

 

[bradleydavidgood]

I don't know why this link isn't working. It works for me in a browser otherwise

https://www.external_link.tv/v/electronic-ignition-install-small/183631225/

 

[Mark Poss]

I have got a couple of electronic ignition kits from Brillmans. Came with instructions very easy to install.

 

[Jim.ME]

From the "external" in the link as posted it appears the site software detected a site/name/word in that url, that falls in the blocked list here and put "external" in place of what you tried to link rendering the link useless.

Check out the Pertronix website as one source. Find your tractor and what they recommend for it. There is info there on what they, the EI manufacturer, recommend you use with their system. The cap, rotor, and plugs are the same as you have now, they don't change for EI, other than just swapping for new if you want. You can download the installation instructions to review. Do the same for any site you are looking at purchasing from to see that their installation instructions are available.

The kit linked below may be the one for your tractor, you would need to confirm that. I linked it so you could download a copy of the installation instructions and see for yourself what they say. (Pertronix does say no solid core plug wires, RFI supression wires must be used.)

Pertronix Farmall 4 cylinder kit

 

[MeanGene1]

Follow the directions exactly, parts and procedure

 

[rustred]

My original 6 volt tractors start that east also.

 

[AlinMO]

Wow, Amazon has them cheap $44.
https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Ignition-Conversion-Pertronix-Compatible/dp/B0F89TKL6V

 

[Jim.ME]

Wow, Amazon has them cheap $44.
https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Ignition-Conversion-Pertronix-Compatible/dp/B0F89TKL6V

I question if it is really a Pertronix kit, or another knock off. There are slight differences if you compare pictures of the 1442 kit on the Pertronix site and that one.

 

[used red MN]

Wow, Amazon has them cheap $44.
https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Ignition-Conversion-Pertronix-Compatible/dp/B0F89TKL6V

I question if it is really a Pertronix kit, or another knock off. There are slight differences if you compare pictures of the 1442 kit on the Pertronix site and that one.

Bottom line will be if it provides as good of service as a real Petronix, which I have heard of them lasting 20 plus years. And it MAY NOT!

 

[560Dennis]

What your goal in doing this?
Tell us how will you measure the improvements ?

 

[RedMVa]

Bottom line will be if it provides as good of service as a real Petronix, which I have heard of them lasting 20 plus years. And it MAY NOT!

First set (Pertronix) I installed, in my own M pulling tractor hits 20 years this year. Have installed countless sets for myself and customers. Have never had a set go bad, had one bad coil out of the box and a couple Napa coils go bad but not one Pertronix unit

 

[used red MN]

No

First set (Pertronix) I installed, in my own M pulling tractor hits 20 years this year. Have installed countless sets for myself and customers. Have never had a set go bad, had one bad coil out of the box and a couple Napa coils go bad but not one Pertronix unit

I suppose you understood that I was not questioning the Pertronix units, rather those possible knock-off units sold at a lower price as Jim.ME pointed out.

 

[RedMVa]

No

I suppose you understood that I was not questioning the Pertronix units, rather those possible knock-off units sold at a lower price as Jim.ME pointed out.

Yes, and you apparently didn’t understand my comment was to your reference of Pertronix and lasting 20 or more years?
As for knockoffs, I’ve used a few, just put an HEI conversion on a ford 300 6cyl, works great, time will tell but for $69 for whole distributor I’ll take the chance and put it on my own stuff and try it out first.

 

[grandpa Love]

What your goal in doing this?
Tell us how will you measure the improvements ?

I would like to know also. . I've read up on the EI conversion and my understanding is that if your tractor isn't running great anyway the EI ain't some magic bullet that will fix all your issues. If your governor needs servicing,your valves need adjusting, your carb needs cleaning,your timing is off a bit, you have a bunch of crappy wiring ,a worn out starter, or your engine is tired the electronic ignition won't fix it......my '45 A ,6 volt, magneto,will fire up and run within a second or two, every time. It's tuned up correctly . No EI could improve that.

 

[RedMVa]

I would like to know also. . I've read up on the EI conversion and my understanding is that if your tractor isn't running great anyway the EI ain't some magic bullet that will fix all your issues. If your governor needs servicing,your valves need adjusting, your carb needs cleaning,your timing is off a bit, you have a bunch of crappy wiring ,a worn out starter, or your engine is tired the electronic ignition won't fix it......my '45 A ,6 volt, magneto,will fire up and run within a second or two, every time. It's tuned up correctly . No EI could improve that.

OP didn’t say anything was wrong with it. It’s called an upgrade.

 

[grandpa Love]

OP didn’t say anything was wrong with it. It’s called an upgrade.

 

[bradleydavidgood]

Thank you for all of the input!

For those who asked why I'm doing it here are the reasons:

1. All of my parts look original and beat. Wires, coil, distributer cap and rotor.
2. No points maintenance. And I hear it is hard to get good points.
3. The video above where the guy confirms that on his 140, it starts much better since he did it.

I'm going down the path of Pertronix and RFI supression wires as Pertronix recommends not to use solid core wires.

I think I need the conversion kit with coil.
Wires
Plugs
Cap and rotor

Their documentation says:
“Solid core wires have a copper or stainless steel conductor and generate excessive Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). This EMI can create confusion with electronics and ultimately damage them. With all PerTronix ignitions we recommend that a suppression style spark plug wire (also called carbon core) be used.”

I called Pertronix this morning and the tech was very helpful. He wants me to examine the distributor for a number to confirm what I have.

I will do that this evening.

Thanks!

 

[bradleydavidgood]

Documenting what I am ordering.

I called Pertronix and gave them my distributor number from the side of the distributor which is #353898R1. That is apparently the original.
And the tractor is 12V negative ground.

They gave me this kit and coil to order:

IHC 302xxx-534xxx Series 4 Cylinder Ignitor® Electronic Ignition Conversion - 12 Volt Negative Ground - PerTronix 1442

Electronic Ignition Conversion Kits to replace original mechanical points & troublesome factory ignition. Dependable, maintenance free, and easy to install. Never Replace Points Again. The Original Ignitor is ideal for restorations.

pertronixbrands.com

PerTronix 40611 Ignitor Epoxy Filled 40,000 Volt Ignition Coil with 3.0 Ohms Resistance in Black

Features & Benefits 40,000 volts. Available chrome plated or black for that "stock look". For use with inductive ignition systems. 1.5 or 3.0 Ohm primary resistance values available. Legal in all 50 states and Canada. (C.A.R.B. E.O. #D-57-21) The Flame Thrower canister coil is designed to mate...

pertronixbrands.com

$248.49


Then I called Steiner for the rest, which was cap, rotor, wires, and plugs:

https://www.external_link/ABC121-Distributor-Cap

https://www.external_link/IHS703-Rotor-Button

https://www.external_link/IHS4330-Spark-Plug-Wiring-Set-pre-assembled-with-90-degree-boots-4-cyl

https://www.external_link/ABC170-Spark-Plug-Autolite-

Steiner total $84.68

Total $333.17

Thanks for the help!

 

[used red MN]

Then I called Steiner for the rest,

Must have missed this!

 

[Fritz Maurer]

I tried Steiner for awhile, but I think ASAP has better stuff.... some of Steiner's gauges have original looking faces but have those stupid little plastic stubby needles that just look ridiculous.