Magneto or distributor for a WD?

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   I have a 1950 WD that Grandpa bought new in the spring of 51. He actually bought two of them, this one was Dad's, at age 11. When they quit farming in 65 or 66, my other Grandpa bought and used it for years as his only tractor on his eighty acre farm. Sometime in there it may have been overhauled, because I seem to remember Dad saying it had a 45 engine or crank in it; the block is a WD, and I have not checked the stroke. 

Fast forward a few decades and he went into a nursing home and the tractor sat (in total about 16 years). During that time, some helpful thief made off with the generator and the dash. 

Some time in the late 90's, while I was stationed on a ship in Japan, they sold his farm and Mom asked if I wanted the tractor. 

Once I retired, the manifold was rotted out among other things. I bought a semi-running WD for parts, since it was a less expensive way of getting most of what I needed to get it going again. 

Oh yeah, to bring this around to my question, the Mag was dead when I started working on it; no spark, but the impulse coupling does work. I used the distributor from the parts tractor to get it running, FIRE from the rotted out manifold was quite impressive by the way.

Originality is shot, I have converted it to 12 volts by using a Nippon-Denso alternator from a Datsun. Wired up just like a three wire GM alt, and it works with the who knows how old wide belt. 

This thing burns oil like its free, and it doesn't make sense to overhaul it since I run it about 10 hours a year. 

Would it run any better if I had the mag rebuilt? It starts easily with the distributor, I even hand cranked the parts tractor a few times. 

Thanks for the advice,

Robert

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Orange Tractors Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: Butler, MO Points: 172	Post Options Post Reply Quote Orange Tractors Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Magneto or distributor for a WD? Posted: 06 May 2016 at 11:30pm
	I have a 1950 WD that Grandpa bought new in the spring of 51. He actually bought two of them, this one was Dad's, at age 11. When they quit farming in 65 or 66, my other Grandpa bought and used it for years as his only tractor on his eighty acre farm. Sometime in there it may have been overhauled, because I seem to remember Dad saying it had a 45 engine or crank in it; the block is a WD, and I have not checked the stroke. Fast forward a few decades and he went into a nursing home and the tractor sat (in total about 16 years). During that time, some helpful thief made off with the generator and the dash. Some time in the late 90's, while I was stationed on a ship in Japan, they sold his farm and Mom asked if I wanted the tractor. Once I retired, the manifold was rotted out among other things. I bought a semi-running WD for parts, since it was a less expensive way of getting most of what I needed to get it going again. Oh yeah, to bring this around to my question, the Mag was dead when I started working on it; no spark, but the impulse coupling does work. I used the distributor from the parts tractor to get it running, FIRE from the rotted out manifold was quite impressive by the way. Originality is shot, I have converted it to 12 volts by using a Nippon-Denso alternator from a Datsun. Wired up just like a three wire GM alt, and it works with the who knows how old wide belt. This thing burns oil like its free, and it doesn't make sense to overhaul it since I run it about 10 hours a year. Would it run any better if I had the mag rebuilt? It starts easily with the distributor, I even hand cranked the parts tractor a few times. Thanks for the advice, Robert

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jaybmiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Greensville,Ont Points: 24658	Post Options Post Reply Quote jaybmiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2016 at 6:07am
	It 'shouldn't' run any better with a MAG vs DIST, though this might become a 'Ford vs Chevy' thing ! You might want to replace the plugs with a 'better' type,guys here know what works best depending on how the tractor is used. Frankly, if you're happy the way it's running..SELL the MAG and use the coins to fix up the WD. reminds me I got a MAG on a LeRoy block in the shop I have to find a 'good home' for,one day... Also be super,super careful about hand cranking ANY engine. I won't do it, too easy to be called 'Lefty' and I seem to damage myself easier these days. Jay
	3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water

B26240 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Location: mn Points: 3865	Post Options Post Reply Quote B26240 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2016 at 6:25am
	Orange; You are very lucky to have a family tractor and it sounds like you have a complete history on the WD. Glad to hear you run the old girl a little each year. As time goes by you may get more sentimental about that piece of your past. That said I would suggest keeping the mag on a shelf just in case you might want to get it fixed and put back on at some point. Other than that for a working tractor that has been converted to 12 volt I would use the dist. as it at the least is easier to maintain. Mark

Gerald J. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Hamilton Co, IA Points: 5636	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gerald J. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2016 at 7:49am
	I think the only timing change in the magneto is from the impulse starter that retards the ignition for safety while hand cranking while giving the fast part turn spin on the magneto armature to get a strong starting spark. So the running timing can't be optimized for more than one operating speed. The distributor with centrifugal advance varies the timing more linear with engine speed so the timing is more optimum for engine performance and economy over a wider range of engine speeds. Automotive engines also have a vacuum advance for part throttle operation to give more advance under medium speed and lightly loaded operation for better performance and economy. Very few tractors have ever had vacuum advance. The magneto is more historic, but you have modified the tractor with the alternator and 12 volts so the correct police won't notice the distributor vs magneto and I think the distributor will give you better service than the magneto and you can replace the distributor and coil for less than the price of a good magneto rebuild. Gerald J.

SteveM C/IL Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Shelbyville IL Points: 8613	Post Options Post Reply Quote SteveM C/IL Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2016 at 9:26am
	Only upshot if only 10 hrs yr the mag would not need a battery....one less thing to maintain

DSeries4 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Points: 7497	Post Options Post Reply Quote DSeries4 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2016 at 10:04am
	Since it is a family tractor, I would do as much as possible to bring it back to original condition (take pride in it), but that is just me. With it burning that much oil, I would do a rebuild on the engine - kits are pretty cheap and easy to get for that engine. The family tractor should be saved and not left hanging by a thread in my opinion. I have both of my grandfather's tractors - the D14 is an excellent original and I finished restoring the 175 last year (it needed it).
	'49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '63 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080

HD6GTOM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Location: MADISON CO IA Points: 6627	Post Options Post Reply Quote HD6GTOM Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2016 at 6:25pm
	Leave the distributator, far less problems. Have you seen the cost of a cap for a mag? Just plain stupid.

Orange Tractors Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: Butler, MO Points: 172	Post Options Post Reply Quote Orange Tractors Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2016 at 8:27pm
	Well it sounds like the consensus is to keep the distributor installed. I think I will leave the mag on the shelf, just in case I do get a wild hair someday (and a bunch of disposable income). I remember Grandpa getting the mag rebuilt once about 1979 by the mechanics at Dad's work for a fifth of whiskey, somehow I don't think it will be that cheap now. I really hate leaving the tractor in such poor shape; but I am slowly getting the last of my bills paid off. Once I have no more debt, the WD will be one of the first beneficiaries. I do not hand crank this tractor, it has a shop built loader on it so there isn't any access. The only reason I cranked the parts tractor is the starter bendix was bad on it. If the daughter was home I had her pull me with my pickup to start it. Thanks for the advice, Robert