Seeking advise about generators on Farmall Cub

HI, am not a mechanic and need advice, thank you in advance for your advice.
I have a 1950 Farmall Cub that does not have electric to spark plugs. It has a generator with a voltage regulator attached and is a 6 volt system.
I wanted to use a generator (not alternator) from a totally dissembled 1953 cub to test if it was the problem. Not sure if the '53 cub is a 6 volt system vs a 12 volt system. If it looked the same I would simple remove and replace with like kind item, but it doesn't .
Items that are different.
1. voltage regulator of 53 is detached from generator and has two sets of point in it, where the 50 only has 1 set of points and is attached to the generator.
2. the center wire of the distributor cap goes what looks like a coil verses the magneto, which I thought only occurred with 12 volt systems.
They are so old there is no writing of any kind on the generator or voltage regulator. as the 53 is totally dissembled I do know what wires connected where.
I would post pictures but have not figured out how to do it yet

A dead generator doesn't have any affect on getting spark to your plugs. Does your tractor have a magneto or a battery ignition? Assuming you have a good battery with either the first place I would look is at the points. Has the tractor run recently? Tractors that sit can have the points get a film on them that would let them work properly. They could be just worn out or pitted badly. My 47 Cub has a magneto but I don't know what year that would have changed. I think you need to give us a little more info as to what you have before we can give you much help.

As long as you have a well charged battery you do not need generator or regulator for the ignition to create spark.

Your 50 cub has a generator with only a cutout in the regulator box. It connects battery when output of generator is high enough to charge battery and cuts out and disconnects battery when generator is below charge level.

Generator charge level is controlled by a switch and resistor which is usually part of the light switch assembly.

Your 53 has a box with cut out that works same as above. the other side is the regulator and does automatically what the manual switch does on the 50

Magneto normally has coil attached as part of the total mag assembly. Distributor has external coil. Distributor requires battery to work, magneto does not.

If the generator/regulator off the 53 are working you could probably use it on the 50 and eliminate the cutout.

Difficulty in finding a working dependable regulator for a generator is one of the reasons for considering a change to alternator.

A coil is also part of the ignition system of a 6 volt electrical system. Prior to the early 1950s most all automotive and tractors were 6 volt and used a Kettering ignition system, which refers to the name of the person who invented the points and coil system. Do you have an automotive test light? If not you should pick one up. If you do have a points and coil ignition here is a fairly easy test. There is a wire coming out of the distributor connecting to the coil. It connects to the ..contact points.. in the distributor. That wire should have voltage when the points are open and no voltage when they are closed. So if all is well as you crank the engine with the starter or by hand with the ignition on a test light connected to that wire should flash on and off. If you get to that point it is likely about an 80 percent chance or higher that your ignition will start the tractor. At that point check your spark at your plugs.
Here is a short explanation on picture posting. Pictures are added through the ..Choose files.. button in the ..Advanced Posting.. area at the bottom of a New Post or a reply window, see picture. Just pasting the photo as a file in the text area will not work.

Think of it this way:

In a battery ignition system, spark is powered by the battery, and the generator charges the battery.

Battery ignition systems can be 6V or 12V. I'll leave it at that because it is a bit more complicated.

Long story short you don't need the generator to create spark, regardless of magneto or battery ignition. So that will simplify your troubleshooting.

Sorry for delayed response. Thank you for your information.

Thank you for the information and help on posting pictures, it it truly appreciated. Sorry for the delayed response.

Thank you for your comments, they are helpful and appreciated. Sorry for delayed response.

Thank you, I will check out the points on the magneto. I am not a mechanic so struggling a bit. I really appreciate your help. Sorry for delayed response.

(quoted from post at 04:26:23 03/15/23) Thank you, I will check out the points on the magneto. I am not a mechanic so struggling a bit. I really appreciate your help. Sorry for delayed response.

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Below is a link to helpful info for working on your J4 magneto.

https://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www...l Equipment/GSS-1012 Electrical Equipment.htm

https://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Blue%20Ribbon%20Service%20Manuals/GSS-1012%20Electrical%20Equipment/GSS-1012%20Electrical%20Equipment.htm

Charlie M said:

A dead generator doesn't have any affect on getting spark to your plugs. Does your tractor have a magneto or a battery ignition? Assuming you have a good battery with either the first place I would look is at the points. Has the tractor run recently? Tractors that sit can have the points get a film on them that would let them work properly. They could be just worn out or pitted badly. My 47 Cub has a magneto but I don't know what year that would have changed. I think you need to give us a little more info as to what you have before we can give you much help.

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47 Cubs came with mags the dists from factory didnt appear till later