1944 MM ZTU is Home

Ken Christopherson

Well-known Member
Hello all!

Well, got the recent addition to the stable home - 1944 Minneapolis Moline ZTU. Tractor came from a collector who had passed away. Rumor has it that the tractor was rebuilt shortly before being parked, and has probably been parked for at least 10 years. Still holding antifreeze, oil is not milky, and is about 110% complete. Even still has the hand crank and battery box lid along with it. Here are a couple photos of the tractor, and I also took some video of it doing a walk-around. Currently have the carburetor soaking, and will be replacing the distributor with a magneto (I just like being able to run battery-less if needed). I am thinking that should be about all it takes to get her fired up. Tires are weather checked, but have good tread. Has many of the original cultivator brackets as well. Looking forward to getting this old girl up and running. Gauges even look pretty good, and may still work! Hope to have it fired before we move to our new place on March 30th... We will see what happens!
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Kens MM ZTU Walkaround
 
The cam gear and driveshaft are different between magneto and distributor on those engines. Leave it alone unless you plan to dig into the engine.
 
So, essentially I would have to change out the cam and magneto drive in order to run properly? If you don't mind my asking, what is the difference between the two? Degree of timing? If I remember correctly, ZTU mags are set up to run at 25 degrees, correct?
 
Ken: I'm not at home right now, so I can't give you dimensions and degrees, but the IH distributor designed to replace a magneto will work on your ZTU. This is the horizontal distributor used on something like the IH H's or M's. The small drive gear fits (or nearly fits) the vertical magneto drive flange on the Z engine, and gives the correct reduction for the distributor to fire at the right time. If I recall, I did a small amount of machining, but it could have been fitted with a file. I timed it to fire just ADC ( mine is a crank start 42 engine ), and again, going by memory, full advance (checked with a timing light) was nearly identical to the original FM 4BK magneto. One of these days I'll get around to rebuilding the mag, but in the meantime, the IH distributor works just fine. My little ZTU is a mixture of parts from 42 to 47,but has become my favourite lawn mowing and gardening tractor. unc
 
i agree , it deserves to be left as i came originally. 6 volt and generator , modifications devalue any tractor for the serious collector.including, a paint job.
 
Change it to a Mag if you want to. This crap people are telling you about "devaluing" is just that CRAP. That tractor came from the factory with either ignition option you wanted. You will have to change the gear on the front of the cam and the shaft driving the mag but with that milking stool engine it is very easy to change. I done it to a ZA I owned because I wanted to be able to crank it up without having to gather up a battery and all that mess.

by the way nice find and I'm glad you got it home.
 
I hope no one cones walking through my 6 tractors. None of them are exactly original, including my 41 center exhaust Case SC. I try to keep them as original as possible but have functionality that I keep in mind. 12 volt, alternator systems on most with magnetos on all. This tractor I'd like to put to mag so I don't have to run a battery. Don't mind crank starting a tractor. Hope no one takes offense to it. My tractors, my preference I guess.
 
Is it still necessary to change out the
gears even though the distributor it had was
the magneto-like Wico? According to my
magneto guy (Rudy Calin at rebuiltmags), he
will be able to get me correctly set up with
a good Fairbanks mag without having to
change out the gears. Just the correct
impulse coupling, and set it up to run at 25
degrees, I believe. Apparently the Wico
distributor was meant to run the same as a
magneto?
 
12 volts and an alternator... then a magneto. makes no sense to me , but thats me. a magneto is designed for slow crank starting on a tractor. either 6 volt or by hand crank. the impulse in the mag may not even engage with fast turning of 12 volts on a 6 volt starter. its the fire at the plugs that start these old engines not the cranking speed.
 
i did say serious collector, and they are pretty picky about everything including every nut and bolt. but any joe dont know the difference. but ya your tractor do as you please, as i just made a statement on a good original tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 23:15:16 02/18/18) Is it still necessary to change out the
gears even though the distributor it had was
the magneto-like Wico? According to my
magneto guy (Rudy Calin at rebuiltmags), he
will be able to get me correctly set up with
a good Fairbanks mag without having to
change out the gears. Just the correct
impulse coupling, and set it up to run at 25
degrees, I believe. Apparently the Wico
distributor was meant to run the same as a
magneto?
Don't quote me on this, but if it was a Wico distributor you might be OK. I replaced a Wico distributor on my R with a magneto and did not have to change anything. A Delco distributor is a different story.
 
I know it is most definitely a Wico distributor. I thought it was a mag when I first removed it, and then suspected something was up when
there was zero impulse mechanism function. Being a distributor explains that right off the bat!
 
It is definitely a good original tractor... And the only reason I have my other tractors at 12 volt/alternators with magnetos is simply because they already had magnetos on them, and most were functioning well, or needed very little attention (with the exception of my Farmall H and F20). I guess I just prefer magnetos at this point. IF the correct police come around and get upset about me having a magneto on the Moline... I will just point them in the direction of my 1942 John Deere Unstyled A slant dash... Ya. That should get them going!

I do appreciate any and all input, so I want to make sure I thank everyone! The MM is a new adventure for me in the tractor world. Been around mostly Case, IH, and JD with a little AC mixed in... If anything, I am the only guy in our 'group' here at home that has multiple brands.
 
I could be wrong,but I think all Z s had a mag. MM didn't use a Dist. on that engine till when the ZA s came out.
MMDEL
 
I am trying to do as much learning as I can about this old girl. Grandpa used to work for MM assembly in Hopkins for about 20-25 years up
until they were locked up. Wish he was still around to ask. I'm currently also trying to find an air cleaner to carburetor hose as well.
Might have to use the flexible radiator hose if I cannot find one.

Not too much available for these old MM's anymore, it seems.
 

The S-vendor carries some stuff. Also, if you don't already have a parts book, get one. If you have the numbers you might be surprised at what your Agco dealer can still get.
 
Think everyone here is a little correct in a way or spot on. Zt came with Fairbanks magneto and I'm sure the wico was an after market add on. To put it back to mag should be simple. Now the ZA engine was built for Delco distributor and would have needed a gear and drive change to magneto equip. I would keep the Wico but have had great luck with the Fairbanks as well. Nice MM by the way!
 
I have a 1947 Z with a Fairbanks distributor such as yours. I don't know if it were a later option
or not. I myself tend to like battery ignition but the post below are correct. The oil pump shaft turns twice
as fast on mag equip Moline tractors. I wonder if the mag equip MM had higher oil pressure. But you shouldn't have any problem
replacing a mag in place of your Fairbanks distributor. Although I see you have international tractors. Would a international
distributor work in place of your Fairbanks distributor? Let me know if you try it.
 
I was wrong when I said Fairbanks Morse, It's a WICO XB4000. If your mag looks like this I would consider taking it off your hands if you would like to dispose of it.
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I've actually already swapped it with my magneto guy. He should have me a good mag ready to go by the end of the week. I do have 3 international tractors (H, M, and F20), but all are magneto ignition. If I am correct, an IH distributor will work with some slight modifications.
 

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