solid state ignition unit for 6v ford 8N

[chrisjensen1]

I"ve used the l2 volt conversion kits for 6volt systems when everything is changed. Do the 6volt electronic ignition units work good when you leave the rest of the system 6 volts? generator,coil, regulator Thinking about making this change on the 6volt electrical system on a 1952 ford 8N which has a side mounted distributor

 

[Dell (WA)]

Chris.......unlike the 4-terminal frontmount ignition system, the 5-terminal sidemount will work with a 6-volt EI ...BUT... you MUST have a good 6-volt battery. Why? 'cuz the 6-volt EI's quit working at about 5.8-volts. And yer starter motor will DRAG yer battery volts down just when you need it the most. Its the LAW, electo-chemical battery law. ......Dell

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 02:21:02 02/03/10) Chris.......unlike the 4-terminal frontmount ignition system, the 5-terminal sidemount will work with a 6-volt EI ...BUT... you MUST have a good 6-volt battery. Why? 'cuz the 6-volt EI's quit working at about 5.8-volts. And yer starter motor will DRAG yer battery volts down just when you need it the most. Its the LAW, electo-chemical battery law. ......Dell

don't suppose you would like to add more detail on why 6 ok for side mt & not OK for front mount, would you? I wouldn't expect the starter to drag battery voltage down more on a front than a side.

 

[Ken(Ark)]

(quoted from post at 23:09:25 02/02/10) Do the 6volt electronic ignition units work good when you leave the rest of the system 6 volts? generator,coil, regulator .............. which has a side mounted distributor

I have never used a 6v EI so I cant give you first hand knowledge .

That being said , from reading past users and replies I can tell you that they (6v EI's) work good IF IF IF everything else is in good working order .

If everything is in good working order the points work perfect too . So if the only reason you want the EI is because you personally like them then they should work fine . If you N is running rough then most likely the EI will not help make it run better .

 

[Kevin Singleton]

It's true: The EI doesn't like extreme cold. I couldn't get my '52 8N 6V side-mount EI to start, the other day.

It was -1F, and it just wouldn't catch. It did hit hard enough to knock the Bendix back, but not enough to keep it running. I gave up after a couple of tries. Too cold to be tractoring, anyway.

The battery was on it when I bought it, last spring, so I don't know how old it is, or how it's been treated. I didn't put a meter on it to see what the battery voltage was.

Kicked right off, a couple days later, at 15 degrees, though.
My 8N

 

[Dell (WA)]

JMOR......its the ol'conundrum; 6v squarecan frontmount coil with mandatory "infamous ballast resistor" vs the 6v roundcan sidemount coil and NO resistor. .......Dell

 

[chrisjensen1]

Kevin,
Thank you for the reply. Great looking 8N you have.

Chris
You might be interested in my website which is not complete as yet. There is a picture of the 1952 8N I just bought. The person who had took good care of it and kept it inside covered from the weather.
http://www.rockisland.com/~ejensen

 

[chrisjensen1]

Ken,

Thank ye for the reply. Tractors I have in my collection of tractors are stored on an island in the San
Juan Islands. They are in garages but I have found that point systems seem to oxidize when the tractors sit idle for long periods of time. The sea is close and it is a very huumid area. I just bought the 8n which is a 1952. Changed the points, condenser, and plugs and it runs great now

Chris

 

[chrisjensen1]

Dell,

I changed an 8N front mount distributor system for a friend's 8n into a total 12 volt system and it worked great. Used a 12 volt internal resistor coil. Left the original points condenser in place but changed the coil to 12 volts.Bypassed the original resistor system.
I would think an electronic ignition for the 6volt front mount would work fine but I would bypass the originial resistor system.

Changed a friends Golden Jubilee to 6volt electronic ignition and left everything else 6 volt. It worked great.

 

[chrisjensen1]

Dell,

Your ideas about the EI needing full 6 volts is probably the key here. I noticed that all of my other tractors worked much better when I changed them to 12 volts. I added EI to all the units later after they had already been changed to 12 volts. It seems that my 8N starts much better on 6 volts than the International tractors that I have that were originally 6volts.

 

[Dell (WA)]

Chris.......ah yes, the SALTY sea air will CORRODE yer 8N's ignition points and make fer HARD STARTING. This would be a "good" reason to change to solid state electronic ignition as transistors don't corrode.

My Rocky Ridge Sheep Station, 15 awesome acres of starvation grass, is at the foot of 14k Mt Rainier on the border of Ft Lewis. I have an eazy starting 6-volt 52-8N which I use for pasture maintenance with brushhog. I raise sheep to train my Australian Shepherd dogs for herding competition against Border Collies. ......Dell, head shepherd

 

[chrisjensen1]

Dell,

You have a very interesting job and a great place to live. A little background to the 8N I just bought. I"ve been interested in this particular 8N for years. I knew the history of the tractor from the early 1950"s. Didn"t get interested in the tractor until my wife and I have been collecting tractors for 30 years. The originial owner passed away and his wife sold me the tractor.
The 8N is my favorite tractors. Easy to get on and off , starts, good, and I think it has position control on the hydraulics. You mentioned using a bush hog with yours: I have two bush hogs both 4 foot. Will the 8n run a 5 foot?

Chris

 

[russ wa]

Dell, I have a Geo Metro that doesn't like to start in the winter. I also noticed that just the moment when the starter is released and the engine is still spinning it fires.

So, my habit is to let here spin briefly then release the starter. Fires up good.

In conformance with them thar laws.

 

[Dell (WA)]

Chris.......yes, absolutely, recommend 5-ft brushoggs as they fit behind the rear wheels and leave no tracks. ALWAYS use an ORC (Over Running Coupler) on yer PTO otherwize when you clomp yer clodhoppers on the clutch pedal, the centrifugal force will continue to PUSH yer tractor into the corner of the barn, litepole, fencepost creekbank, irrigation canal, wifes car (don't ask) $60, cheap. comes in early 1-1/8 or later 1-3/8 6-spine fitment. .......Dell, yer self-appointed ORC SAFETY PREACHER