'72 Ford 2000 Gets PerTronix Electronic Ignition

The focal point of the video is the conversion of a 1972 Ford 2000 tractor to electronic ignition from standard points and condensor. There is not a lot of super up-close video, but there is continual description of the work that is being done. When I first brought this tractor home, it had been sitting close to 20 years under a lean-to. Never having rolled a wheel for so long caused it to be literally sunken to the rims in the soft ground under the gravel. The first thing to do was to get it running and that I did more than three years prior to this recording. After cleaning the tank and fuel delivery system including the Holly carburetor and spark plugs it started and ran satisfactorily. That is it did until the outdoor temp would get below 40*F !! There wasn't a thing to do to get this thing to start cold. It had fuel, spark and compression and the points and timing were set to factory specs....it would NOT start. Not even with ether...which I use only as a last resort. Not a lick. So I didn't want a 'fair weather runner', I wanted a tractor to use all year round. So I installed all NEW Ford supplied points, condensor, plugs, wires...the whole works. Same thing. But above 40*F it purred like a kitten !
Stumped ...?? Yes, I was !! Well, I know the guru's that have the know-know would tell me I had something wrong but I don't have a clue as to what it was. Suffice it to say that was the point at which I decided to install the Pertronix Igniter system on the warm blooded blue belly @$##@!! Ford. The thought being the hotter spark developed by the combination of the Electronic Igniter and the 55,000 volt coil would be enough to jolt this ol' gal to life all year round....and especially in cold weather because that's when we need to be cutting wood and moving it to the woodshed for storage.
Now, let it be noted that not a single adjustment was made to the timing of the engine during the installation or thereafter of the PerTronix system...and so far, this thing has never failed to start in the coldest temperatures we have had since the conversion....5* F (-15C) above zero. The single item of service that was done AFTER the installation of the electronics was complete was another deep servicing of the Holly carb.
Some time later, of course this is the tractor that went through the 12v generator to alternator conversion, total rewiring and a new home made dashpod equipped with standard automotive gauges. After that we put new skins and rims on the old gal. Most of that is in this playlist right here: • Ford 2000 Alternator G...
This tractor comes with a phenomenal story concerning the original owner, one that a few paragraphs in print nor a few minutes on camera can do justice. But in honor of that previous owner and the unbelieveable hardships overcome early in his life, I've pledged to keep and maintain this machine, then pass it on down to the next generation in my family keeping his memory alive. #electronic, #ford, #tractor, #antiquetractor,

[@JuggaloCujo]

I love your videos. You are the Bob Ross of tractors. Thank you! I will be ordering this setup for my 1965 Ford 3500 3cyl gas tractor. Wish me luck.

[@tractorman4461]

So far this set up has not failed to fire up the 2000. Before with ALL new ignition components from the local Ford tractor dealer it refused to start when the outdoor temps got into the 30's. Now it fires quickly and easily all the way into single digits. However....you MUST maintain a good fully charged battery.

[@Mike-rf3kl]

Thank you for answering my questions.

[@tractorman4461]

Excellent !! I certainly hope it helps with your problem. No one anywhere near deals in Lucas electrics, so I gut every single Ford that comes through here.

[@JustCaidsDayFarm]

That looks like a nice little upgrade. It's got to be so cool hearing those old tractors fire up after working on them. Nice work!

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, there's nothing better than to bring one back from the dark side after a long rest. This one has turned into a great little tractor for my son.

[@alancummings5008]

Put a pertronics ignition in my D17 Allis. Was burning up points almost as soon as I installed them. Now the tractor starts and runs like a dream.

[@tractorman4461]

I'm sold Alan. I've installed several and even my '67 Mustang with a transplanted 302 has PerTronix in it. The big thing is to keep the battery at full charge....low voltage and they won't fire too good.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good Evening Sir, I read all your Text Sir and I like very much your last sences ( then pass it on down to the next generation in my family keeping his memory alive ). You are an OUTSTANDING electrician Sir : ) Can't wait to see if it start in Cold Temperature Sir Cheers !!!

[@tractorman4461]

My son uses it every week or so hauling wood and its starting perfectly well all the way down to -15C so far !! It's become the perfect utility tractor Dave. Just wait though, until you hear the history behind the original owner.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

@@tractorman4461 Thank You Sir for the Celsius conversion and -15c that is starting to be a little cold !!! i'm on Stdby to hear the story of your friend Sir Cheers !!!

[@FromSteelToWood]

That is nice hearing that machine starting so quickly! It makes a huge difference being electronic. Thanks for sharing!

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, and now that's its been through some good cold weather, all the way down to 5*F (-15C), it fires off within three to 5 revolutions Joe !! Good to see you my friend. I mean to get by your place for a visit but I just haven't done it for a while. I gotta stop in again and see what cool projects you got cooking !!

[@DIYMyWay]

Hi Wendell! Great job on installing the new ignition system! I’m impressed that it started immediately. That’s a fine upgrade for the old Ford 2000!

[@tractorman4461]

The big issue with the first start was getting the fuel pump to prime. I'd not turned the petcock far enough pass fuel for the first wasted attempt. But at least the oil pump started lubricating the internal components. It's a new petcock and it seals very tightly. So the first attempt to start doesn't count. When I finally got gas in the bowl, it popped off with little to no effort. When I saw the camera flashing 'goodbye' as I turned to it for a thumbs up, I thought for sure I'd missed the key moment when it fired.

[@DeBon_]

Always a great video😊

[@tractorman4461]

Thank you for the kind words....we fired it up again this morning at 24*F. Surprisingly it took a few seconds to fire off...but that's probably because I wanted it to start quick for the video in progress...(-;

[@___PK__]

This is the petronix install you mentioned a while back! The traditional points I used are still going strong but I will come to this again when I put that thing in. Didn't know a different coil was called for. Thanks

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, its recommended to change the coil to the flamethrower like this one. I'm sure they have a few varieties to choose from. Also the wires...can't use the new carbon wires. Point are great, most of my still run them, but this upgrade changed the way this tractor starts in the cold weather !! Well worth it.

[@tomfillmore9710]

Good job buddy that should make the ford start a lot easier hopefully very smart guy for sure take care and have a great night

[@tractorman4461]

Hot dang, it sure has made it the good reliable tractor my son needs ! It's starting perfectly well so far all the way down to -15C so far. Thanks Tom for stopping in and try to stay warm today up there in the cold weather.

[@HODGEPODGEDODGEGARAGE]

*Flash back* Wendell! 😁👍 Great job with the explanation my friend. Take care 🔧🔩

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha....This 2000 has been turned into a super good reliable tractor for my son who lives a mile down the road. It's starting fine through all the cold weather too. THAT was the goal with the PerTronix. Thanks for stopping in for a visit Zane.

[@jeffmc7946]

Looks like you are a runner now!

[@tractorman4461]

Never misses a lick and fires the way it should all the way down to 5*F so far !! I sure am happy with the change in attitude on the old Ford Jeff. (-; My son uses it on his property.

[@akquilter3519]

You are just a magical mechanic!!

[@tractorman4461]

You are much too kind with the choice of words to use for a shade tree mechanic....but I do appreciate you taking the time to watch the repairs !!

[@cynturner906]

Great video as always. Can’t wait to see it running outside getting some work done. Thanks

[@tractorman4461]

My son's been hauling wood with it for some time now. We've put a good set of rims and skins on the rear and it's a fine smooth runner now. Starts good in severe cold too.

[@timothykoller5210]

Thanks for the video really enjoy the tractor repair videos.

[@tractorman4461]

I planned on doing a lot more tractor work this winter Timothy...but there's been too many other projects to take care of.

[@timothykoller5210]

@@tractorman4461 I can understand that but do enjoy any of your videos, how do you like the pertronix ignition?

[@tractorman4461]

@@timothykoller5210 Absolutely love it Timothy!! Fired the little Ford up just this morning at 6:45 and 25*F !! It did take a few seconds turning over though. I'm sure though its because the fuel pump loses it prime over a few days.

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

I should install one of those kits on my old 8N.

[@tractorman4461]

If it becomes a bit troublesome, I'd do it in a heartbeat Matt. You have to order them for 3, 4, 6 or 8 cylinder and for positive or negative ground specifically.

[@brycewiborg8095]

Nice. I don't remember hearing Ford gasoline tractors were cold blooded. Thank you Wendell.

[@tractorman4461]

I don't know what I could possibly have missed with the actual Ford ignition components to not have gotten it to fire up in cold weather. But it sure does an awesome job now Bryce. All the way down to 5*F so far. I am not a fan of the fuel delivery system at all though. Its extremely difficult to work on any of the components.

[@Pennies_on_the_dollar]

So I have been scratching my head, watched twice and went back through several spots to see what I missed 🤔 I can't for the life of me figure this out. Is this an old video you reposted? I thought the 2000 was your son's and all these repairs were long since complete 🤦🤔 I tell ya, Iau be losing my mind 😆🤣🤣 But regardless, this was an epic video my friend!! Boy those starters sound identical to the diesel ones!! Ole Thomas and Betts, boy I sold many a crimper and everything else through Graybar for years!! Memories!! Man I apologize sir, but I had to miss something somewhere on this one🤦🤦🤦 Thank you sir for bringing us along, looking fwd to seeing what's next!! My apologies for being late again 😁😁😁👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@tractorman4461]

Well Nelson...the blame falls on me my friend. This is one of many videos that got pushed to the side and not edited during the time the 2000 was getting a mechanical make over. The electronic conversion and Holley servicing vids have been in the line waiting their turn. Just trying to play catch up on some of the older unedited vid now because I'm on a head scratcher of a project that requires a bit more thought so there's not much recording going on until I get that project out of the way. I hate having to think hard anymore....its almost like WORK ......The dreaded 4 letter word to a retired guy!! So this is not a re-post its all original, just freshly edited lit the upcoming two on an 800 Ford and the Holley servicing on this 2000. So yes, the 2000 is on its second year at the son's house running perfectly...as a matter of fact we fired it up this morning at 6:45 and 24, 25*F. But that's on another video coming soon. LOL...confusing, yes I know. But that's the state I live in !! Thanks for watching and never apologize for being late.

[@Pennies_on_the_dollar]

@@tractorman4461 Oh my, thank you so much for telling me that!! I thought for sure I was losing my mind 🤦🤣🤣🤣🤣 Makes perfect sense now!!! Well, a real head scratcher🤔🤔🤔 Boy that brings up the curiosity level😉😉 Thank you very much sir for all the great videos!! Looking fwd to seeing that cold early morning start!! 😁😁👍👍

[@tractorman4461]

@@Pennies_on_the_dollar Yessir, I thought briefly to do just a ten second addendum but put it on the front of the video to deter confusion....but you know what they say about old age: memory is the first to go !! I forgot about doing it as soon as I thought of it...... LOL (-;

[@Pennies_on_the_dollar]

@@tractorman4461 Boy I know that feeling!! No worries at all, thank you Mr Wendell!! 😁😁

[@jankotze1959]

Very nice and informative video Wendell, I gown up with Ford tractors, so when you deal with one I am on the edge of my chair lol

[@tractorman4461]

This is the electronic conversion I did on the 2000 before the generator to alternator/dash pod and total rewire series of videos. This one and a carb servicing was never edited/uploaded. Thanks Jan for stopping in my friend.

[@circuitbreaker9001]

Make sure you do the water pump first. On my previous tractor I was blowing snow and I heard the water pump bearing go. I thought I could finish the driveway. Only had 2 minutes to go. Well guess what. The fan blade went into the rad. Here all the rad shops had went out of business rebuilding rads. Had to find a guy who was in the business and he had a small shed that he still would do rads. The new replacement one had a grease fitting on it which the original one did not. Nice job on the ignition system. Another thought is you could have put a in line heater in the rad hose. They really heat up the water and circulates which would warm up the ford

[@tractorman4461]

I had thought of the hose mounted heater. That probably would have taken care of the problem. I immediately ordered a new water pump because I've had two others fail and create catastrophic damage. Don't want to see THAT again !! (-; We also had three independent radiator shops....all shut down due to regulation compliance. I've got a playlist with all the things I've done to get this back in good service condition CB, if you are interested. There's a total rewire and all new standard gauges upgrade and gen to alternator conversion here too: kzbin.info/aero/PLk72G9DTzZ1ud7EttOd9HeA6diEdU2tU9 Thanks for the story about your breakdown...its painful, but if ya got tractors and equipment, its gonna happen...

[@regsparkes6507]

Yes I do wonder why the folks who design things don't always ( it seems ) think of easy servicing of essential wearing items. It's good thing that Ford used blue colour for this one, as if I owned it, it would match the color of the air around it, trying to get that distributor done! Now we have to wait for inclement weather to see just how good that Pertronix upgrade performs.

[@tractorman4461]

There's simply no reason for the carb/sediment bowl/distributor to be installed so tightly. It's the worst 'old' tractor I think I've ever had to work on, I believe. Had it not been such a heartfelt gift from one of my best friends I think I would've sold it 'as is' like I did the two 4000 Fords with the identical setup. All three cylinder gassers with the Holly carb. I've sent this one to my son's house about a mile away so he's got a good reliable tractor to use hauling wood. So Reg, I can report it has been firing in all weather so far, at this time all the way down to -15C (5F). So I think the operation was a success. After I did the conversion to PerTronix, this is the one that went through the generator to alternator and total wiring change including the new dash pod with standard gauges....then the new rear wheels and the plowing job. LOL...this one was a NOS video from the 'unedited' list, as will the Holly carb servicing coming up soon.

[@regsparkes6507]

@@tractorman4461 Good job then by the sounds of this. Something like the old axe a friend of mine had, " She's some axe, I replaced the head twice and the handle three times, yessir she's some axe! " Hahaha.

[@bluegrallis]

I'm stuck back with the loss of spark below 40 degrees F! There must be a weak component, coil, or condenser maybe? I went to Standard Blue Streak ignition parts and added a 40,000 volt Pertronix coil to my 6 volt pos ground 1935 Allis WC and it starts 100% better than it used to. I used to think, "if it ain't broke don't 'fix it', but with the cost of quality ignition parts now days, the $100 for an electronic conversion isn't that much more.

[@tractorman4461]

I agree with the cheap parts now a days Charles. Not reliable at all in many cases. I must have been talking a bit too fast while describing the issue at low temps below 40*.... I still had spark, fuel and compression but there was nothing I could do to get it to fire up. It made no sense. I had fire but it looked very weak at the plugs and I just figured maybe the fuel was drowning out the weak spark. Maybe a hotter coil would have made the difference, but I was so irritated at it that I went all in with the electronic route. This tractor had sat for nearly two decades before I got it. I'm with you on the theory of fixing something that ain't broke !!

[@tonyjones9715]

Another Great video Thanks

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks Tony. I appreciate you stopping in and watching my friend.

[@Wheelloader__]

Nice video tractor man. The old ford is good for another 100000

[@tractorman4461]

Hot doggies, I sure HOPE so. But I can report so far so good and its starts instantly in cold weather so far.

[@ke6bnl]

here great things about Per Tron Ix BUT I put it in my wifes 68 Mustang and my old 64 Econoline and both times I was stuck on the side of the road and put the points back in. I might be the exception. and thing may be different 20 year from then. I never did change out the coil and don't recall that being an option.

[@tractorman4461]

I have a 67 Mustang with a transplanted 302 that fires perfectly with the PerTronix...well until I pulled the engine/trans for a major sheet metal over haul on floor pans, shock towers...etc. PerTronix now 'recommends' their flamethrower coils and their sets of plug wires to go along with the igniter. But, like you, I've saved all the factory supplied Ford standard ignition parts in case I DO experience an issue in the future with the module. I think there's bound to have been improvements made in the modules from years ago when they entered the picture....but that's just a guess. Thanks Ed for chiming in with your experiences with them.

[@316jd140]

So this is like Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story". I do like the old Ford tractors. The 2000 I think is a descendant to the 600 series, along with the 800, replaced the NAA (Jubilee). In Europe, the 2000 was called the Dextra, while the 3000 was called the Super Dextra (I believe).

[@tractorman4461]

I really don't know the Ford progression. But that's as good enough description for me, and all Ford-facts that to date was unknown to this poor boy. Thanks Terry and btw, I MAY be in the market for a fair running M or even a known good runner that's been sitting for a while. I think I'd swap the motors out of the M grader-tractor instead of another rebuild job. I just don't have the time for another one so soon.

[@316jd140]

@@tractorman4461 JP Tractor Salvage looks like has a M for parts.

[@tractorman4461]

@@316jd140 Thanks for the input. I was gonna give them a call to see if they did and kinda price it out. Then compare it to a whole tractor that might come along.

[@leonardryan8723]

Good tractor man 44 on Ford . Guy at my home town got the same tractor. There were good running tractor for sure . My J-5 track machine got 252 flat head industrial engine with point , rotor button and resistance. There run like pussy cat colder the weather better there start . I could change over your way but not yet . I grew up from a kid working on the old stuff like yourself. You know we got gas and spark got to go . Plus timing is on . Probably get water pump rebuild for 1/4 off the price it’s own a bearing and clean up . 😊

[@tractorman4461]

Oh heck, I'd never recommend a good runner on points and condensor to be changed over either Leonard. But when or IF they become troublesome, I'd do it in a heartbeat !! I found a reasonable water pump and changed it out already now. So all is good with the tractor so far. You know, talking about the cold, I have an Allis that's a magneto tractor with electric start. That thing starts and runs soooo much better in cold weather than it does in hot weather !! Almost never misses a lick in the winter but in the summer its kind of troublesome and runs a bit rough. Go figure....

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

You know I was on the phone the other day with Cheech or maybe it was Chong. Can't tell them apart on the phone. Anyway he was saying that he was missing his headband! So I guess I know whose house you've been visiting 😁.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Seriously the old Ford tractor I put on my short video a little bit ago. Well I need to convert it because it has no magneto and it is cracked. I'm sure it was like that when I bought it a few years ago. We drove up and down in the snowstorm and played around with it and parked it and I even park it down hill. Next morning or two days later went out there spun as pretty as you could want it to. It would not hit a lick. I've looked at some of the kids online you got any suggestions? I called her Ford but I'm not even absolutely sure that's what it is but it looks like afford to in and that's where it was sold to me as

[@tractorman4461]

The telltale 2n signs are the three speed tranny and huge center hubs on the front end and odd rear rims...can't explain them adequately, but they don't look like a standard 8n or newer Ford rear rim, and also the magneto. They cheapened up manufacture of the N series tractors to conserve for the war effort. No lights, very little wiring made them cheaper by a few bucks. If it were an early Ferguson the grill slots would kinda be angled like the breast plates the Hollywood Indians wore in the 60's productions. At least that's what they reminded me of anyway.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

@@tractorman4461 I'll have to look at my tractor. That local expert told me what he thought it was he was certain it was not one of them it was the other. That was while we were sitting in the barbershop and I don't remember it's been a couple of years. I have a newer one. It's definitely Ford. Somebody swiped the high-low off the side of it. Somebody told me that it just doesn't unbolt from the outside but I could have sworn it was on the other tractor when I bought it and picked it up. So I put some gorilla tape to cover the hole.

[@baroja5303]

tengo un 6610 gasoil del 1985 y arranca ala perfeccion y cuando no hay bateria tiron con el coche y arranca en 2 mts al no disponer bomba degasoil electrica sepuede hacer eso

[@tractorman4461]

Esa es una de las ventajas de los viejos motores diesel. Es un buen tractor el que tienes, amigo mío.

[@Mike-rf3kl]

You have to do other things other than what you show in this video to make this work. What do you mean different wiring

[@tractorman4461]

Petronix Electronic ignitions require the correct suppression plug wires not the standard core ones from Ford. I have a whole series of what I did to this tractor including gutting ALL wiring and upgrading from the Lucas system to a more conventional system with over the counter parts. Here's the whole thing: kzbin.info/aero/PLk72G9DTzZ1ud7EttOd9HeA6diEdU2tU9 It includes making a new dash pod and eliminating the old electric gauges as well.