It takes more spark voltage to jump the usual .025" gap under compression with a fuel and air mixture because it is a better insulator than atmospheric air and therefore requires more spark voltage for it to break down, ionize, conduct electricity and make the mixture go boom. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. How do you test a magneto? Buy It Now . McElroy works occasionally as a strategic consultant to federal candidates. The needle deflects to the right of the scale briefly then comes to rest in the green portion of the left side of the scale approaching zero leakage once fully charged. Simplicity; The Wiring in the Coil Ignition System is quite complicated hence this system requires greater attention against possible defects. Run your mower and place a match book cover between the flywheel and the magneto core. Wear rubber safety gloves when working with any sort of electrical wiring. Here is a vintage Wico (Mercotronic model 60) tester. It has a 2HP variable speed DC motor and variable width spark gaps. The condenser is a device that stores electricity. Share Followers 0. A leaky device will show an inrush of current but will never drop to zero. Photo Album: Oldcroak Magneto/Vintage Ignition, Wico John Deere Diesel Starting V4 Ignition, FW Series: Flywheel Magneto Service Info, Brands using Edison as original equipment, CM-4 Caterpillar Magneto Service + Parts Manual, CT-4 Caterpillar Magneto Service & Parts Manual, Fairbanks Morse Illustrated parts 1983 Sec 4, Fairbanks Morse Magneto Application Information, FM FM-H FM-K FMO FM-OH Heavy Duty Series RX, FMJ Series Parts List 1947 Bulletin 9846B, FMJH Series: Mercury/Disston/Kiekhafer 9871A, IHC Magneto/ Ignition tuneup quick reference, K-W Ignition Magneto Instruction Book 3Rd Ed, K-W Model T and TK Magneto Instruction Book, Splitdorf Magneto catalog 53 Models EU & EV, Rewound antique engine and tractor Magneto Coils, Vintage Tractor, Auto, Stationary Engine Parts, Wico Magneto Wisconsin Engine Applications, Wico magneto Replacements Wisconsin Engines 1981, Wico Magneto Wisconsin Part # Cross reference, Wico Model C Magnetos for Wisconsin Engines, Wico XH Series Magnetos Wisconsin Engines Chart, Am Bosch Mags Ca 1945 MJA MJB MJC MVA MJK, MJ... Series 1948 line, Farewell MJC, Enter MJH, American bosch MRF Magneto Service Manual, DU2-T American Bosch for the Rumely Types, RF Series Flywheel Magnetos American Bosch, American Bosch Flywheel magneto Instructions, Service Manual American Bosch Magneto 1928, AB33 Equipped Fairbanks Morse Z Engine Manual, American Bosch Farm Magnetos Catalog 1945. Be sure to check the wires and connections also. The large device on the far right is a 1947ish Allen electrical servicer. The best test procedure is to use an automotive condenser tester. Beware of resistor or non metallic wires, they are a big NONO with early magneto ignition systems as are resistor plugs. Check the connection of the high voltage, or HV, wire to the coil and to the spark plug clip if you obtain a reading higher than 15 k. After making sure the connections are clean and unobstructed, retest. We have had a few of these show intermittent and almost drive us looney. Set the multimeter into the ohms function, or just use an ohmmeter. Pull the rubber casing off the spark plug. So, Here it comes Comparison of the Magneto and Coil Ignition Systems. Step 2: Spin the flywheel rapidly (at least 350 RPM) and watch for spark in the tester window. Magneto Output Test To easily and cheaply test your magneto's output, the document to the right will give you a good idea of how well it's working. If you need to remove the coil, be very carefull of the two setscrews on top holding it in. This is a good condenser. IGNITION COIL Module Magneto fits Tecumseh OHV175 OHV180 OHV358EA OHV490EA Mower. If the magneto is generating the proper ohms, check to make sure the spark plug is working properly. Application Info ala 1948 Or What Fits What?? Remove the two wires from the coil using a small electrical wrench. If no buzzing is heard, either the vibrator is inoperative or the circuit from the “OUTPUT” terminal on the vibrator to the switch and magneto points is open. Ignition coils take energy from the battery (usually 12 volts) and convert it to a high enough voltage (50,000 volts or more) to create a spark. This indicates an internal short in the magneto. Click the thumbnail to the right to download a pdf of the file and print the directions. While there are a couple ways to check for electrical output, one of the easiest for a novice is to attach a spark plug, via a piece of electrical wiring, to the coil output terminal. Buy It Now. A defective device will come to rest in the red portion of the scale on the right or peg to the right. Reinstall the coil. How To Test the Ignition Coil in Your Small Engine. Sometimes a few strokes will polish the points to like new. Once the device is tested and passes the leakage test one can measure capacity in microfarads. The John Deere electrical service manual describes steady firing at a 9MM gap at 1000 RPM. Goat 9,471 Posted May 20, 2013. Modern replacements are readily available. Options for fixing this are to buy a new magneto or to send the magneto to a business that specializes in restoration. Manually set the dial or button on the meter to the 40 k range. Nearly all such testers work by applying a voltage of about 150-250 volts to charge the condenser and measuring the current through the device once fully charged. A weak reading could indicate a magnet that has lost some of its strength. Here we will share some basic testing and troubleshooting gleaned over many years and beers from college professors, farmers,mechanics,coworkers and the college of hard knocks. American Bosch uses similar specs. Digital multimeters are of limited use as most do not test for leakage with the spike voltages encountered when installed. The first test to perform with a no go before a frontal assault on the magneto is to determine if it is indeed the problem. The most common failure is electrical leakage or a short which is like the condenser leads are connected together inside the device . Small engines can get away with less spark output. There is an alternative for that “just once in awhile” coil tester. Employ a spark plug for testing. Briggs & Stratton Engine Magneto Magnetron Ignition Coil Testing Service Manual. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! Trying to fix a Fairbanks Morse magneto Mark, I guess you had the coil out or coil wire off the points and condenser. In ignition systems it minimizes sparking at the contact points and intensifies the spark. From United States +C $23.08 … A shorted device will show heavy current and peg the meter. Too much screwdriver torque and one side of the slotted head will break off and we have a problem . Goat . Check with your boat or small engine repair shop to see if the magnet can be recharged before replacing the magneto. The first test to perform with a no go before a frontal assault on the magneto is to determine if it is indeed the problem. Joe McElroy has been writing on politics and culture since 1983. An out of spec magneto coil may generate some current, but not the correct current that the CDI or high tension coil needs to see. Can any one give me any info on some quick tips to do some tests on an old lucas magneto. Cost; The Manufacturing cost of Coil Ignition System is low, due to less precision work than to Magneto Ignition System. Occasionally a condenser can fail as an open where it is as if there is no condenser present at all. A spark plug misfire will immediately be evident in the tester window. Point contacts can fail by accumulation of metal oxides that are hard and do not conduct electricity. The conductors can pull apart inside the wire insulation jacket in some cases we have seen. We will start with some basic tests one can do without special service equipment and show how things can get really complicated, confusing and totally out of control later with test instruments. Wear leather work gloves throughout this process to protect your hands and the sensitive parts of … As with most types of vehicular maintenance, you'll want to begin the test with the vehicle in park and with the … Fluke Brands: Troubleshooting Outboard Motor Magneto Ignitions, Splitdorf Voltage Regulators: Magneto Problems. This is helpful to detect a miss from a short or leakage as well as how hot is hot enough to perform adequately by adjusting the widths of the spark gaps. Then start the engine and watch the tester window. Do not use auto ranging, as it is unreliable with a magneto. Step one is to test the magneto as a system with the Allen Electrical Servicer then if faulty identify and correct the defective components. Do not use auto ranging, as it is unreliable with a magneto. A good reading will range from 3 k to 15 k. A higher reading indicates a poor connection. Measure the distance between the flywheel and the magneto; it is usually set from.010-inch to.012-inch. AT4 AT6 Bosch Magneto Instruction Parts Manual, MVA American Bosch Magneto Instruction Manual, U6 American Bosch Magneto Instruction Manual, American Bosch Instr & Maintainence U1 U2 U4 U6, American Bosch U1 and U2 Magneto Parts List, American Bosch U1 U2 U4 Magneto Instr Parts List, Bosch Impulse Starter Info AKA "IS" Suffix, Edison AJ Magneto Parts for Gravely Tractors, AM Parts And Service info Wisconsin Engines, AM Parts and Service Information for Gravely L, Eisemann AM magneto Instructions and Parts 1947, Eisemann RT Series Magneto Service Manual, F-M application Information 1943 Bulletin 85A, Fairbanks Morse Magneto Applications FM85D 1952, Dixie 40 42 and 44 Magneto Manual N-404A 1919, Dixie Magneto Model 60 and 63 Catalog 1915, Splitdorf Dixie M1 & M2 Magneto parts List, Showing and Sharing your antique engines and old iron. JW² ***** Digital meters will be accurate with a capacitor(condenser) for measuring capacitance with no leakage and will show an overstated capacitance value with a leaky device. Locate the magneto. C $19.24. To conduct the test, expose the coil housing, which is usually concealed by the engine cover. Step 1: Clip one end of the spark tester (service part number 19368) to the ignition cable and the other grounded to the cylinder head as shown below. Lubricate the Coils Install Them. Replace the magneto if the meter reads "OL." Its a single cylinder … When the button is released the device is discharged for safety. Check Your Work. Pull the rubber casing off the spark plug. By Goat, May 20, 2013 in Two Wheels. There are no products listed under this category. The coil is probably the easiest thing to check and therefore the first thing to check when embarking upon ignition system troubleshooting. Step 2 Place the red lead from the ohmmeter on the positive (+) terminal and probe the coil mounting bracket with the black lead. I hope there are no cracks in that plug wire or Mr hands is going to get a dose of shock therapy. Related: vintage magneto tester condenser tester ignition tester magneto magnet charger magneto tools merc-o-tronic magneto test magneto tool Include description Category Testing a magneto. This includes all types of Stationary Engines, Tractors, Boats, Motorcycles and Cars ranging from the most simple generator sets through to exotic racing machinery. Testing the Coil or Armature. Normal wear, moisture and a faulty condenser can cause this. More on this later. To test the operation of both the ignition coil and the spark plug, connect the tester between the spark plug boot and the spark plug. Testing of any outboard coil to see if it's good is relatively simple if you following the procedures below. Insert it into the … A good condenser will show a brief inrush of current till the device is fully charged then drop to zero. You'll want to start by checking for signs of bad ignition coils, and then follow up that diagnosis by testing the coils with a multimeter. An automotive oscilloscope has a coil and a condenser tester on it that may be used toas a coil tester for a magneto. Test Each Ignition Coil with a Multimeter. Get the best deals for magneto tester at eBay.com. This is fairly reliable and easy to do in the field without special instruments. Often it is not a magneto issue at all. Manually set the dial or button on the meter to the 40 k range. If the spark jumps the tester gap, your ignition coil is working fine. Old service literature describes a minimum of 2 megohms of leakage at the operating temperature of the condenser and 20 megohms at room temperature. If not, it needs to be replaced. Customers include individual owners, collectors, companies, shops and museums from all over the world. Should magneto touch flywheel? Sometimes but not always you see a bit of brass sticking out on the coil lamination bar and test off there if the laminations are rusty clean or won't get a good reading. Most manufacturers describe cranking the engine at normal cranking speed and holding the end of the plug wire 1/16"-1/8" or so from the engine block and see if we have a spark. Performing an Ignition Coil Spark Test 1 Turn the vehicle off and open the hood. For tractors this is a good ballpark target. Condensers almost never change in value but this is a good way to tell if the device is open or intermittent by performing the test and moving the leads while watching the meter. The Cratex abrasive block is one of the best contact tools we have found. Coils of the day, especially the varnished tape wound variety suffer from the usual woes of sticky goo that finds its way onto the magnetic rotor. This indicates an internal short in the magneto. The transformer is the magneto. Remove the engine cover, locate the kill wire and unplug it first. Check the connection of the high voltage, or HV, wire to the coil and to the spark plug clip if you obtain a reading higher than 15 k. After making sure the connections are clean and unobstructed, retest. Set the multimeter into the ohms function, or just use an ohmmeter. From United States +C $27.28 shipping. You can get zero reading none if hooked to points and they are closed. Test: If voltage is within specification, listen for buzzing of vibrator during starting. The equipment involved is often out of reach of the typical home outboarder.