The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Afternoon All,

I've recently inherited a 1944 Model N, during handover I was told that the it's got a reconned magneto on it however I was also told it's never run quite right with that Maggie on it. I've had her running and it's ran for about 10mins then cut out. After alot of turning she fired again, ran for a min and cut out. Same again Ran for 30 seconds and cut out. Few questions

Could the reconned magneto condenser have failed?
I've had a look about and can anyone point me in the right direction of a RF4 Megneto Condenser?
Is the Lucas RF4 the correct Megneto for it?
Any other ideas on what could be causing her to run/not run/cut out etc, I've had no backfires just trouble running.

I'm still leaving about her so any additional info would be great.

Thanks,
John

When it 'runs then cuts out', have you checked for a spark immediately it stops?
The reason I ask is it sounds like it could be a fuel starvation/carburation fault rather than electrical.

I agree it sounds like fuel. The RF4 is what was used on the E27N from 1947 till the end, subsequently the Lucas SR4 was used for service. N magnetos were very varied, but the Lucas GJ4 would have been the common one in the late period, also used on the early E27N. Cox and Turner are a good source for earlier Fordson parts, they'll hopefully know where to get anything they don't have available themselves. I would check fuel flows well and make sure it's good petrol for now, don't try TVO or paraffin unless the engine is hot and will work hard enough to stay hot. Probably worth changing oils too. Make sure there are no leaks in the manifold and that all the plugs are clean and correctly set (0.030"). If it still doesn't run you'll need to dismantle the vapourizer. A pic of that would be good too, for many N's were fitted with the improved E27N vapourizer (E27N-9424B), with a Zenith carb instead of the earlier arrangement going back to the last Kingston vapourizer used on the F.
Sandy

That's great thanks for the info.

Yeah I did drop some new fuel in it but it was only normal petrol, not Vmax or anything. It does have a Zenith carb but I did notice around the carb and exhaust gasket when I've got the choke on to draw some fuel through there seems to be a leak or "hiss" of fuel when I pull the handle. There's plenty of fuel to carb when I open the drain tap, fair runs out.
As i said I have had it running yeah I will check the spark if it does that again etc, I'll see if I can get some pics and videos.

Thanks again