Strange distributor

[Saviaclovsky]

Has anyone ever seen a distributor like this?? I found it while looking on Craigslist I have not seen it in person. I would like to find out more about it but I don't know where to start! Does anyone have any ideas??

[Slob]

Seen that mounting arrangement on several Continental and some Hercules Motors engines. They are hard on the bushings supporting the operating shaft as the entire rotating weight bears upon small support bearings/bushings.

[duaneb55]

IH (International Harvester) used that type arrangement on a number of their engines.

[mwshaw]

A lot of those engines dated back to when they had a magneto instead of a distributor. They updated to point/condenser and coil system and got rid of the impulse fairbanks/morse/ wilco magneto that actually would run without a battery. Some of those engines were hand started either with a crank or turning the side mounted flywheel to get the motor started not having a starter and battery/generator system.

[Gustav129]

IH (International Harvester) used that type arrangement on a number of their engines.

Must be an old tractor engine, because all of mine had them pointing up.

[Willie B]

It isn't a distributor, or at least it's magneto driven. A permanent magnet produces the voltage to spark. Function is much like battery ignition, but no battery is need to make it run. Most other manufacturers I don't know a lot about. IH used them on earlier letter series tractors. I have some with, some without. Magneto tractors seem to start more reliably in cold.

Willie

[Slob]

Must be an old tractor engine, because all of mine had them pointing up.

Red Diamond? What size? I have a 450 in my 65 IH crane truck.

[Gustav129]

The ones I had were a Blue Diamond 240. My 54 and 55 R-132's had them. I just grabbed a pic off Binder Planet to illistrate. I had a BG241 in my 66 1000A. Every other IH I've owned was 266, 304, or 345.

[whtbaron]

If that manifold in the OP says Red Seal, I think that would be a Continental industrial motor.

[Slob]

The ones I had were a Blue Diamond 240. My 54 and 55 R-132's had them. I just grabbed a pic off Binder Planet to illistrate. I had a BG241 in my 66 1000A. Every other IH I've owned was 266, 304, or 345.

I see. I had a blue diamond in my 56 S-160, and a 266V8 in an 66 R series pickup. Used to stomp on stock 350 Chevy's with that one. Had a scout w/304, and a Loadstar 1700 w/345 so vaguely familiar w/IH engines.....

[drujinin]

Not uncommon of an upgrade on engines that have good reputations and the manufacturer keeps them around forever. A magneto has advantage over a battery system in that a battery voltage is lowered from cold weather cranking. A magneto trips over at the same 6k to 8k volts every time!

[Sparkie]

Hey Slob, didn't IH make a RD501 as the biggest of that series? Seems like it came with 3+3 split exhaust. My wife's uncle had an old R190 winch truck that had the RD450


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[charlie53843]

my old farmalll cub had this style y-69 continental, thing away started never had any problem,,, also have Airco HORNET 300,with f-162 Continental it has Fairbanks mag instead of x4b16a mag it has x4b 16 v with" V" means inverted installed

[Slob]

Hey Slob, didn't IH make a RD501 as the biggest of that series? Seems like it came with 3+3 split exhaust. My wife's uncle had an old R190 winch truck that had the RD450


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Yes, they produced an RD-370, RD-406, RD-450, and RD-501 of the "Red Diamond" Sizes. A lot of the RD-501 engines had four barrel carburetors where the smaller variants had 856FFG Holley 2 barrel carbs. I have a RD-450 in my 65 R-190 crane truck which runs very well. Most of the RD-450, and RD-501 engine trucks had the split exhaust manifolds but some, (as mine) have the single 3.5" exhaust manifold.

[Sparkie]

The one I messed with had single exhaust and the huge 2 barrel Holly


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[Slob]

The one I messed with had single exhaust and the huge 2 barrel Holly


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Great engines and very powerful for their sizes. Mine still runs very well but parts are difficult to source new or rebuilt except through specialty suppliers.

The RD-450 would have a 885FFG Holley carburetor. Big sucker for sure.

[duaneb55]

Must be an old tractor engine, because all of mine had them pointing up.

The '55 IHC Farmall 100 I used to have has a distributor arrangement just like that shown in the OP's photo of the Lincoln. My grandfather's Cub did too.

[duaneb55]

It isn't a distributor, or at least it's magneto driven. A permanent magnet produces the voltage to spark. Function is much like battery ignition, but no battery is need to make it run. Most other manufacturers I don't know a lot about. IH used them on earlier letter series tractors. I have some with, some without. Magneto tractors seem to start more reliably in cold.

Willie

If you're referring to the engine in the OP's photo, it's definitely a battery powered points distributor and not a mag.

[Willie B]

If you're referring to the engine in the OP's photo, it's definitely a battery powered points distributor and not a mag.

You are correct, but you knew that. Looking at the wiring, it is obvious. I'm familiar with IH tractor, and power units from the forties, and fifties. I believe otherwise identical engines might have either battery powered, or magneto powered ignition. The near vertical units are driven from the oil pump. The horizontal shaft variety are driven from timing gears, or chain as the engine might have. I have a Farmall Cub '50? that has always been hard starting with battery ignition. It would only start by hand cranking. Compression was low, but I believe the electric starter consumed needed battery power leaving not enough to fire the plugs. A friend has an earlier one with magneto, better compression. It starts easily.

My engine is newly rebuilt, but hasn't been reunited with the tractor. Maybe this winter.

Thanks for the correction.

Willie