My front mount '49 8N is sitting in my front yard after failing to start yesterday evening and again this morning. I'll pull the distributer again this afternoon to check the points.
I've struggled for a while to have this thing reliable start. One problem is that it doesn't get used too much. Maybe once a month on average. 2nd problem is that I live on the gulf coast with plenty of humidity, so corrosion becomes a problem (not so close that I'm talking salt spray). Sometimes it'll startup immediately, like yesterday morning to my surprise. Usually, it will take several cranking rounds (~5 seconds each) before it fires off and runs well. Once running, it'll usually start easily shortly after if shut off. Thing is, I never can guess whether it will, or will just not start, like yesterday/today. It's got fuel. It will sputter but never start.
Is this the type of situation where electronic ignition would be well-suited?
I'm no old-timer with plenty of experience with points, although I follow directions pretty well, and have adjusted/cleaned the points a number of times. What I want now is to minimize my chances of failure to start.
I converted it to 12V a couple of years ago. All wiring had been checked/replaced at that time. The starter is strong, fuel not that old and is coming out of the drain plug fine, and battery is not too old. Plugs were replaced a few years ago. Wires checked out at that time. Addressing possible corrosion issues at the points, I bought a distributer gasket kit and tried to seal it up as well as I could, but the fit wasn't that great, so don't know how successuful I was.
Again, runs strong once started and doesn't quit until I shut it off, so I don't see that the advice to fix all of the other problems before converting to IE would apply here. I'd love to have a final solution and have a reliable tractor given my location and challenges.
p.s.
I've seen the debate in general and am not looking to start that again here - https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1119452.
Just trying to find a solution for my circumstances.
This post was edited by timsch on 12/10/2023 at 07:19 am.
I've struggled for a while to have this thing reliable start. One problem is that it doesn't get used too much. Maybe once a month on average. 2nd problem is that I live on the gulf coast with plenty of humidity, so corrosion becomes a problem (not so close that I'm talking salt spray). Sometimes it'll startup immediately, like yesterday morning to my surprise. Usually, it will take several cranking rounds (~5 seconds each) before it fires off and runs well. Once running, it'll usually start easily shortly after if shut off. Thing is, I never can guess whether it will, or will just not start, like yesterday/today. It's got fuel. It will sputter but never start.
Is this the type of situation where electronic ignition would be well-suited?
I'm no old-timer with plenty of experience with points, although I follow directions pretty well, and have adjusted/cleaned the points a number of times. What I want now is to minimize my chances of failure to start.
I converted it to 12V a couple of years ago. All wiring had been checked/replaced at that time. The starter is strong, fuel not that old and is coming out of the drain plug fine, and battery is not too old. Plugs were replaced a few years ago. Wires checked out at that time. Addressing possible corrosion issues at the points, I bought a distributer gasket kit and tried to seal it up as well as I could, but the fit wasn't that great, so don't know how successuful I was.
Again, runs strong once started and doesn't quit until I shut it off, so I don't see that the advice to fix all of the other problems before converting to IE would apply here. I'd love to have a final solution and have a reliable tractor given my location and challenges.
p.s.
I've seen the debate in general and am not looking to start that again here - https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1119452.
Just trying to find a solution for my circumstances.
This post was edited by timsch on 12/10/2023 at 07:19 am.