Electric question on a Continental 23HP

[LA Ike]

hi guys. first timer here. need some help. I've got a jacobsen Turfcat ii gw224 23hp with a gas continental engine on it. I got the engine parts on a jacobsen site under the tractor look-up. the numbers on the engine are ( i believe) model r 08 spec 002001. two questions: can any one tell me where i might find a set of points and a condenser? i think they are NLA. Even a whole distributor set up? Can i set this engine up with electronic ignition? jacobsen showed a kit for the distributor P/N 503148 that contains points and condenser. but it is NLA? I want to get this thing running. My experience is on lawn tractors. briggs, kohler, kawasaki. I am not too familiar with 4 cyl. distributors. any help finding these parts is greatly appreciated LA IKE

[FarmallBob]

Ike - I presume your engine is a Continental flathead 4? If so that same engine or a close variant powers countless forklifts, Lincoln welders, some smaller Massey-Harris tractors, etc. of the era.

Likely your distributor is a Delco and uses the same cap, rotor, points, condenser, etc. used on many Massey, Oliver, Minneapolis-Moline, etc. tractors.

Suggest taking the old parts to the nearest forklift dealer, NAPA, Tisco, or similar and see if they can match 'em up.

Or for electronic ignition Genesee Products http://www.geneseeproducts.com/ offers electronic conversion kits and complete replacement electronic distributors for many Continental engines.

...FB

[Bud Tierney]

This Cont "R" series is apparently a fairly new Teledyne?? Cont series of small OHV 4's...the wisconsincontinental site lists two models, but not the 23HP, which apparently had a relatively short production life...
IKE: you mean you've checked your local parts stores and they show ign parts for yours NLA? Or they couldn't find a listing and assumed it was obsolete and therefore NLA? Or just the Jacobsen source said NLA?
Bob's advice still holds true: the chances are excellent the dist was also used on other eqpmt (Ag/Ind'l engine builders generally use off-the-shelf components to hold down prod costs). If it has a tag on it, a decent parts store should be able to tell what points etc you need, or, as Bob suggests, take the originals in and they should be able to match them.
There're ign outfits as sponsors here (click on sponsors at the top of the page) that deal in "obsolete" stuff..
Have you tried Googling Continental R Parts, or antique or vintage ignition parts to find dealers?? if one sounds viable, you can post a question for others experience with them.
Good luck.

[Bud Tierney]

Sorry, that Eisc/Cont site is continentalengines.com... midamericapower.com lists a batch of ign parts for the RO8

[LA Ike]

hey farmall. i want to thank you for taking the time to help me. These forums are a great way to learn and share knowledge. you have saved me much time. since i am a lawn tractor mechanic, you know one maybe two cylinder engines (briggs, kohler) I am not experienced with this machine. thanks again, IKE

[LA Ike]

hello Bud. just want to thank those who have helped me with my machine. you have pointed me in the right direction, along with farmallbob. i believe the engine is a renault, model #b1b247 according to the break down for the jacobsen tractor. Well Bud i will get to work on this thing. stay tuned as i may be back with more issues moving forward. thanks again. IKE

[Chet]

Originally Posted by LA Ike

hi guys. first timer here. need some help. I've got a jacobsen Turfcat ii gw224 23hp with a gas continental engine on it. I got the engine parts on a jacobsen site under the tractor look-up. the numbers on the engine are ( i believe) model r 08 spec 002001. two questions: can any one tell me where i might find a set of points and a condenser? i think they are NLA. Even a whole distributor set up? Can i set this engine up with electronic ignition? jacobsen showed a kit for the distributor P/N 503148 that contains points and condenser. but it is NLA? I want to get this thing running. My experience is on lawn tractors. briggs, kohler, kawasaki. I am not too familiar with 4 cyl. distributors. any help finding these parts is greatly appreciated LA IKE

Hi, Ike: I have the same machine with the same problem. Have you been able to come up with a solution? I like the idea of converting to electronic ignition if it isn't too expensive -- otherwise, I would be happy to locate a new cap, rotor, points and condenser. Any help you can lend in sharing what you have learned is much appreciated! Chet

[Bud Tierney]

IKE & CHET: Jacobson.com says the GW224 Turfcat and the T436G Turfcat came with a Cont R11 engine...I don't have any parts catalog listing for the GW224, but one for the T436G does verify Cont R11...are your engines 4cyl OHV??
Where does the info re' a Renault engine come from?? My coverage of Jacobson is very weak, but I don't see any Renault engines listed, altho it's my understanding Renault provided engines and/or engine designs for several other engine m'f'r's, which other m'f'r's sold as their own...
Any tag on the dist for maker/model #?? One site said ign parts for the Cont R's had to be ordered from Teledyne Cont, but didn't see any date, so don't know if it still in effect.
Where have you inquired , other than local parts places like NAPA etc??

[Chet]

Hi, Ike:

I have the same machine with the same problem -- a Jacobsen Turfcat II GW 224 with a Renault B1B247 4 cyl. gas engine.

Have you had any success locating a source for either a conversion to electronic ignition, or for a cap, rotor, points and condenser? Any information you can share is greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance for your reply. Chet

[Chet]

Hi, Bud.

I have an Operator's Manual and Parts List from Jacobsen (part no. 363861) that I am referring to and that is where it says in the Parts list for the Engine Assembly: "Engine, Renaualt Gas Model B1B247. That's all the information I have at the present time to work with.

Many thanks for any help you can provide -- searching for ignition parts has been very difficult! Chet

[Chet]

Bud:

I looked at the manual I have more closely and under GW 224 Engine Specifications it says Model: Continental R08. I am not familiar with these machines -- thanks again for any help you can lend. Chet

[Bud Tierney]

CHET & IKE: Well, it looks like what you have here is globalization run amok.
The modern Cont R series engines (presently includes R11 and R14) are apparently Renault designs or actually Renault engines m'f'd for Teledyne Continental, or whoever owned Continental at the time...
lawnmowerparts.co.uk (Brit) shows their GW224 and T436G Turfcats with the "R11", and has two sources under "distributors and service parts":
Teledyne Total Power distributors and centres; and
Ducellier part number 2525565.
midamericapowercenter.com says they specialize in:
Wis-Con Total Power engines;
R series engines by Continental;
Teledyne Continental R series;
Continental R series;
Renault; (as if these were all SEPARATE lines of engines (!?!) (there were older Cont R's from the 20s/30's)...
AND "...that Renault distributors for engine models INCLUDING (my emphasis) R08, R11,R14 etc, with all Ducellier body and S V Marchal casting numbers are supported as well..." Their site says questions are welcome.
Do either of your rigs have a Ducellier tag on the dist????
Have either of you tried midamericapowercenter???
One poster, re' a different model Turfcat, in 2006, said he always got parts at a New Holland dealer, but he didn't say if they were engine parts or mower parts.
Curiouser and curiouser...

[Chet]

Hi, Bud:
I contacted the midamericapower.com folks and they told me they only handle Kohler. I see now that you have added "center" to the end of midamericapoer so I will try contacting those folks. I very much appreciate your suggestions as otherwise, I would be at a dead end! Chet

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by LA Ike

hello Bud. just want to thank those who have helped me with my machine. you have pointed me in the right direction, along with farmallbob. i believe the engine is a renault, model #b1b247 according to the break down for the jacobsen tractor. Well Bud i will get to work on this thing. stay tuned as i may be back with more issues moving forward. thanks again. IKE

I don't know where your located but I have a Jacobsen with an R-11 in it here in Dallas. P.A. Ross machinery is the dealer for the engine and Luber Bros. is the dealer for all of the mower parts.

[Wheel Horse Guy]

I also have a jacobsen turfcat with an R11 in it here in Michigan. I'm looking for a starter, one or two deck spindles for the 72" deck, and the entire air filter assembly for it as someone removed it. If anyone knows where I can find some of these parts please let me know. I have a positive lead for a starter off of ebay but nothing for the air filter or spindles.

[holman]

Hello, I think you have a 27 HP Continential R-08. This was also a military use motor and today it has all available parts from Mid America Power St. Paul, Minn. 1-800-328-0916 ask for Don. This motor is also in the older Toro Groundmaster mowers. Call me I can tell you more. 1-609 898-4282 Joe Cape May, New Jersey Call me first!!!