Magneto interference

Just for anyone's information: I recently had a pacemaker implanted (Oct '15) and had not driven my 1951 John Deere tractor which I use for light duty work since I restored it a few years ago. I spent all morning this morning harrowing one of my hay fields. I felt some mild pain in my chest which I dismissed as muscle pain since it's a rough ride and I have to turn around a lot while driving to watch the harrow.
When I came in for lunch I felt a very irregular heartbeat and felt light headed. The pacemaker was obviously not working properly.
Well...I never thought that the tractor has a magneto ignition and that might cause some interference. After about 1/2 hour all the symptoms disappeared. So... I guess I won't be driving that tractor anymore!

5 Comments

Tractor shouldn't be problem

by Theknotguy - 2016-02-15 02:02:00

I've worked on tractors going back to the old John Deere A and B models. Also jump started cars while leaning over the running engines. The magneto and make/break shouldn't have given your pacemaker any problems.

Getting bounced around rough ground while holding your arms at a different than normal angles can have a lot to do with how you felt. You don't show what kind of pacemaker you have in your bio, and that could make a difference too especially if you have one that has an accelerometer.

While you've had your pacemaker for approximately four months, you don't indicate what you've been doing during that time. So if this was your first outing you can expect some different sensations regarding your heart. Even though I had passed the "typically fit adult" test for my cardiologist, I still had a lot of adjustment when I first went back to working in the wood shop at seven months. That included weird heart sensations as well as a lot of soreness as the scar tissue got stretched out. After two years of working in the shop I can do anything I want including tossing 90 pound 4x8 sheets of 3/4 inch melamine around.

As far as the pacemaker not working correctly.... You're still alive aren't you? I'd say it was working just fine. Now as to how your heart reacted, that can be quite a different story.

As far as running the tractor in the future, I don't see any reason you can't continue doing it. Just take it easy until your body gets adjusted to being tossed around.

Besides if you stick around the house, the wife will expect you to start doing dishes. I'm pretty sure other guys on the forum besides me will tell you that dishwater corrodes your leads. Now if I could just get my wife to believe that....

what magnets do

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-15 02:02:13

Newer pacers are very well shielded and most magnets do not affect them. If we get within 6" of a very strong magnet, a switch can be pulled closed which puts the pacer into test mode, same was when they interrogate it. It will pace at a steady rate in that mode. As soon as we get away from the magnet, the switch opens and it returns to full function with no harm done. I'm no medical expert, but from my understanding, it's unlikely the tractor caused any problems.

What may have happened, imo? Do you pace with rate response? If yes, the tractor could have sensed the bumps from the tractor ride can trick the pacer into thinking you are exercising and raised your heart rate to accommodate what it thought was exertion.

Neither of these situations would cause chest pain. My bet is it's muscular. Jostling can irritate the scar tissue when the device is new. When they interrogate next, they can tell you if something put it in test mode. When in doubt, call your doctor.

Magneto not magnet.

by BillH - 2016-02-15 03:02:23

Tracey a magnet, is not the problem, if there is a problem.

A megneto is a type of ignition system that is used on engines that don't have batteries.

Simple ones are on lawn mowers. More complicated outboard boat engines, tractors, and aircraft engines.

While they do have a magnet in them the typical distance from them would be way too much to have an effect. And even if you where fairly close, such as working on it the way that unit is designed most of the magnet fields are inside it.

However the ignition function does generate EFI. And a system in a 51 tractor will be LOTS dirtier than the system in a modern car.

So it is possible that the magneto is the problem. Specially if someone was working on a running engine, such as adjusting the carb it could really be a problem.

However, while driving the tractor, the distance is enough that it is less likely a problem.

So my first suggestion is what Tracey suggest.

Not a pacemaker problem.

by Selwyn - 2016-02-16 05:02:29

You state:"When I came in for lunch I felt a very irregular heartbeat and felt light headed. The pacemaker was obviously not working properly."

This effect is not related to the tractor any more than it is related to your lunch. It is almost certain you have experienced a cardiac arrhythmia. The light headedness being caused by a drop in blood pressure as your heart struggles to maintain a cardiac output.

You need to talk to a doctor, and may need to be monitored.

Seek help.

Kind regards,
Selwyn

Not a pacemaker problem

by suep - 2016-03-19 12:03:48

I agree with Selwyn. Good advice there my friend, especially relating to drop in blood pressure. Seek medical assistance. It is much better to be safe than to be sorry. My best wishes.

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