1926 T ignition question

B

billybronco1

Well-known member
When someone replaces the original ignition system with a coil and I assume some sort of distributor does the magneto no longer need to be operational? How common is this change? I'm kinda a purest but I assume this is more dependable, please educate me - thanks
 
When the coils and commutator are replaced with a distributor, the magneto is no longer used. The magneto produces alternating current. The changeover is quite common. Many make the change due to a faulty magneto, many change due to dependability. The purists will dispute the change. The original system works fine but in my view is not as dependable.
 
Okay so its kinda like replacing the generator on a Model A with an alternator not a big deal but better. Does it take away from the value of the car? I suppose that depends who is looking.
 
If I was making the change I would keep all the parts removed because someone buying your car in the future may wish to experience the nuance of the original system that works very well and is dependable.
 
I am still trying to find out how dependable the magneto and coils are in our Model T,
It has the original magneto and the coils have been changed and adjusted and the timer
has been changed a couple of times over the last 66yrs. this car has been in our family.
So far no breakdowns from the ignition.
 
You will not be using the magneto. Best way is to just remove the mag wire from the mag terminal on the hogs Head. You will be running with switch on Bat position all the time. Although I like to keep my T's all correct, I run distributors on all and have also run an E Timer on one. All the cars ran better, smoother and I no longer have to play with spark levers, just one less thing to do while driving in traffic.
 
The Ford magneto ignition can be made very dependable with a little care. I have cars with standard mag ignition and one car with a distributor. Both types work equally well. The first few years I had a lot of trouble with coils etc. Keeping connections clean and tight and learning how to adjust the coils made a real difference. After 40 years I see no advantage of one over the other.
 
The one advantage of the original system is its WOW factor when lifting the hood. If one coil fails you still can get home but with a distributor ignition you will be stopped on the side of the road.
 
Agree with all the observations, there is something inherently cool with running the original system, it just requires a little maintenance to keep it happy. I have kept my 27 original, and enjoy knowing that I'm running a car the same way it was run 89 years ago...
 
Which is more dependable hinges on which system you understand best. The dist system really doesn't have less parts. It just replaces the wood coils & timer with gears, points, condenser, ect . They both work well and there's no advantage in performance or power in either system. It seems, today at least, that a bad mag is a reason to convert. Maybe it was years back too. Whatever the reason dist systems are pretty common on T's but it ain't cheap today
and I'd sure save the stuff I removed.
 
Some distributor systems can even be made to work with a Model T coil and the magneto.
If your magneto is good (see down in my posting if it's not) you could send your coils to one of the fine repair guys that do them for rebuild.
Yes a number of cars were updated back in the day because it was modern. Later when the number of people that knew how to repair the coils dwindled and you could no longer take them to your Ford dealer, more people changed over.
While there were/are a couple of time 'em and leave 'em distributors most out there you still have to adjust the spark. Guess they are as dependable as any other distributor on any other car that was made over the years.
If your magneto is weak you can still run coils. 6 volts is ok, reaching the upper RPM is maybe slower because of ramp up time, 12 volts take care of that (coils don't care 6 or 12 volts). A set of coils, Fun Project replacement coil box kit and timer will maybe set you back about the same as a new distributor.
I like my coils but sure will not knock someone for running distributor. If that's what it take to get a car on the road not sitting in the shed, go for it. My joy is driving and tinkering but mostly driving my T.
 
J Franklin said:
The one advantage of the original system is its WOW factor when lifting the hood. If one coil fails you still can get home but with a distributor ignition you will be stopped on the side of the road.
Click to expand...

Most of us have heard this but I've yet to see someone in this position!

I have both systems running.
 
It's all about knowing the system. Which ever you use. You carry spares for both and if you have the right stuff you get going again. You can be just as stuck with one as the other. If you can't help yourself you're done either way.
 
You get no free starts with dist. ignition and they impress people with new cars with the push button start.
 
I love this; friend of mine in line getting a inspection sticker so I turn around to chew
the fat. We both have identical 1923 tourings. So he's boasting about his new
distrubutor system (its first run) his turn for the sticker. All that money spent &
no start, I can't help him so as leaving they were pushing the thing inside by hand.
Me I just turn my key and it starts by itself 9 out of 10 times. There ya go first time
and call the ramp truck. Its like just taking the Model T out of it.
 
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