Anyone ever put a electronic ignition system in a magneto?

I am curious if anyone has ever put a PERTRONIX Ignition System in a WICO Model X magneto housing? I am not getting voltage out of my magneto and I need to get it going soon!

I havent looked but dont think theres any Pertronix kit for a Wico X magneto.. A regular elec ignition switch serves to act as the mechanical points to turn the coil current (which is furnished by the storage battery) On and Off but do it electronically with a transistor type device. BUT a Magneto doesnt use any external battery power instead generates its own. In addition the elec switch has to be made to mount where the points did so it can trigger the switch. Also the Pertronix uses battery voltage as its bias voltage source.

IT WOULD BE FAR EASIER AND SIMPLER AND CHEAPER TO CONVERT TO A DELCO BATTERY POWERED DISTRIBUTOR (fits in exactly where mag mounts on 2 banger Deeres) FOR WHICH THERE IS A READILY AVAILABLE PERTRONIX ELEC SWITCH CONVERSION KIT PLUSSSSSSSSSS THEN YOU GET THE ADVANTAGE OF VARIABLE RPM BASED SPARK TIMING ADVANCE

If you just have to have a Mag yours can be rebuilt or repaired for a better spark and they make high performance pulling mags which develop more spark energy then stock Wico Mags. BUTTTTT a decent Wico X Mag can function just fine, they did for yearssssssssss. Its only if you get super high compression you may need a high performance mag like some pullers use.

I suggest you 1) FIX THE MAG YOU HAVE 2) Buy a high performance Mag if theres some reason you think its needed (I doubt it really) 3) If you insist on an elec ignition (AND tractor has a battery) Id FIRST convert over to a Delco distributor then use a Pertronix kit.

John T

Polish your points with fine sandpaper, and replace the condenser for a starting point. Make sure the insultated wires aren't bare and grounding out somewhere and the spring on the point assembly isn't grounded also.If it has a kill wire going to the mag, unhook it also. Then check for spark. Can you hear a snapping noise when turning it over, if not suspect a broken impulse spring.

If you are wanting to use it without battery, I don't know but doubt it because the Pertronix uses DC voltage and a mag makes AC.

If you are wanting to use it with battery I still don't know but also doubt because of no way to mount pickup. But you can use a battery and coil and make the coil fire by using the points in the mag.

I think you can only get point life extenders for mags. The points still have to be used

Wico model XB is a distributor that looks like the Wico X model used on the A,B,G series JD tractors. It did have a habit of the pivot post for the points wearing down and the points not opening wide enough.

If one has enough money and/or time, nearly anything is possible but this is not practical.

Dean

Pertronix is a 12V electronic battery powered ignition system. A magneto makes it's own power and if you hook a battery source of voltage to it will fry the coil and could ruin the magnet. A magneto is not designed for battery voltage and doesn't need it for a source. No one makes a trigger device that will work right or last in a Wico or FM magneto now but it is possible. American Bosch and Fairbanks Morse once made industrial electronic mags for large industrial and oil field engines but they were very costly to buy new and maintain. We still run a few American Bosch ones and just the module box if you can even find it now runs over $400 and NO it won't work to convert and run on a Wico. The electronic mags were more built like a alternator generator using a transformer internal coil with a another external coil to fire the plug being triggered by the electronic module. The electronic mags still had a internal magnetic rotor require no external battery voltage. Wico later Prestolite never made a electronic mag that I know of. Altronic is another electronic magneto been made for years for industrial engines but you can't afford it for small time or hobby uses. The Wico XH magneto is still made new by Standard Magneto that bought it out 15 years ago or more from Prestolite and new parts and new mags are still made because it is a more affordable mag to fix than Bosch or FM today. Fix it or get a battery distributor if you want Pertronix but many have more problems with those than a mag too they don't work well with everything. Wico X points and condensers are available through auto supplies but most won't stock it have to order it.