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Is it possible/practical to convert front mount to side mount distributor

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Andrew

03-17-2002 21:02:39




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Need help with an 8n, converted to 12v, front mount distributor with points and condenser. The tractor ran fine for a year. One day it decided to not start, figured the points and condenser was bad and the cap was cracked on #2, figured great time to upgrade to the electronic ignition from Genesee Products, and replace everything with new. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, resistor, and coil all replaced. Took the parts and had turned and fitted and then phased according to directions, double and triple checked markings before gluing. Thought everything was peachy, I could not be more wrong. After gluing down the magnet I could not get the phasing to blink at all, placed a call to Genesee and currently waiting for reply. Being a custom install I may be stuck with a paperweight. Of course I did not have an extra distributor, why spend the money if it worked. Has anyone else experienced problems with the front mount kit?

Here is the dilemma, if I do need to replace the distributor pieces I was thinking of putting on a side mount distributor instead of the front mount. Has anyone else done this with good results? Or would it be "rigged" and still have problems. Looking through the manual it looks like the front plate is the only part that is different. Is there a gear built into the front plate pn 8N6019B that will catch the distributor or is running off of the camshaft/crankshaft gears?

For the time being I will stay with the front mount and hopefully can get everything working properly.

I enjoy reading the archives, but have not found this type of process done.

For now I am hunting down an extra original cam, pn 9N12187, time to hit the boneyards.

Thanks for you help.

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Duner Wi

03-18-2002 05:23:53




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 Re: Is it possible/practical to convert front mount to side mount distributor in reply to Andrew, 03-17-2002 21:02:39  
I have a 9N with a delco alt. on the left side of engine. I had to slide the oil filter rearward a bit . Build a side step in the oil fill pipe and spend lots of time making mounting bracket for alt. It all fits and looks good.



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JerryU

03-18-2002 04:27:17




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 Re: Is it possible/practical to convert front mount to side mount distributor in reply to Andrew, 03-17-2002 21:02:39  
I have a 9N and have had very few problems with the front mounted distibutor. I think possibly because, as Dell and others have pointed out, first the front axle pivot has to be tight or you will crack these puppies repeatedly.

Secondly, new wires, points, and condensor. For tune up kit go to New Holland or whoever they are now. There are a lot of reports of aftermarket points with soft rubbing blocks that wear almost instantly.

Third, if you have a 12 volt system (as mine is), leave in one resistor. Keeps points from burning.

Finally, if you are a tinkerer and you have a "working tractor" that is not politically correct like mine, I added an electronic system that uses the points to fire the circuit to fire the coil. These are marketed by Radio Shack on the web for about $20 and require a little modification to the distributer by running two wires out and removing the condensor. These systems were popular back in the '60's. The theory is you don't burn the points because they only see the low current of the electronic circuit.

Finally, I make sure the coil fits tight--some after market coils require a little filing here and there, and I put silicone grease on the gasket. Then spray the whole distibutor with an ignition sealer.

Any way, it works for me and as Claus says--"Your mileage may vary."

FWIW.

JU

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ZANE

03-18-2002 04:22:49




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 Re: Is it possible/practical to convert front mount to side mount distributor in reply to Andrew, 03-17-2002 21:02:39  
You can't very easily change a front mount to a side mount. Although the front of the engines are the same the sides of the engines are not the same and you are going to have a heck of a time trying to mount a generator on the left side of the earlier model engine because there is no place made to mount it. The later 8Ns have two studs placed on bosses cast into the block that the earlier blocks don't have. The oil filler tube is going to be in the way and the oil filter is too. They both are more forward on the earlier model blocks by several inches. Don't even try it!

If the points ignition was good enough for the first 60 years why change????? ?

I can fix the points ignition out in the back forty with my swiss army knife and my little pocket pliers but the electronic ignition can't be fixed when it fails.

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Mike

03-17-2002 21:49:45




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 Re: Is it possible/practical to convert front mount to side mount distributor in reply to Andrew, 03-17-2002 21:02:39  
Sure is Andy, just change the block and generator out for starters and from there it's easy.
Mike



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Mark Hendershot

03-17-2002 22:06:27




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 Re: Re: Is it possible/practical to convert front mount to side mount distributor in reply to Mike, 03-17-2002 21:49:45  
Hi Mike I see your still up!! Any coments on the air intake on the 9N above post? Mark H.



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Dell (WA)

03-17-2002 21:24:40




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 Re: Is it possible/practical to convert front mount to side mount distributor in reply to Andrew, 03-17-2002 21:02:39  
Andrew..... ...The biggest problem with even thinking about changing from a frontmount to sidemount ignition distributor system is..... frontmount blocks don't have the flywheel timing port like the sidemount block does. And while you can use a sidemount flywheel on a frontmount block, I don't think the original frontmount flywheel has any timing marks.

Bottom line, if'n ya wants a sidemount distributor, yerr gonnna haffta buy a whole engine..... ..Dell

Which meanwhile doesn't solve your current botched frontmount electronic ignition conversion. Sorry, I don't have a "fix" for you, yer on yer own there.

And the cracked #2 ignition terminal is caused by a worn front axle pin. Some report temporary relief by widening out the frontaxle a hole....

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