9n Ford Part ID

[M n NC]

need ID on part that is behind dash about the size of a quarter with two terminals and a spring curled to each terminal in the shape of a C....there is a wire from the switch and another wire (not sure what) going to the terminals. tried to start tractor today to check fire and this part was HOT as a match...thanks for any and all comments.
see photo......

 

[Paul from MI]

Looks like a resistor to reduce voltage. Has this tractor been converted to 12V? Maybe to the ignition coil so the original 6V coil could be used on a 12V system.?

 

[M n NC]

thanks Paul for your reply.
yes, this tractor has been converted to 12 volts
this part was hot as a match when i tried to crank today....first time that's happened.
engine would not turn over...that's a first too

 

[Jg20601]

Reminds me of the rheostat part of a light switch, back when they were mounted in he dash with a push pull knob. On them it would reduce voltage from 12 volts to 1 volt. The knob shaft would turn a pointer that was hooked to the dash light bulbs allowing you to dim or brighten them.

Is the other half (the pointer) still attached to something in the dash? I used one once to reduce the voltage to 8 volts by wiring it into a circuit until the correct resistor came in.

Then again, we wont get into using a bread tie to get my plymouth home... the resistor blew and it beat walking home lol