How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

1956 Johnson 15 HP FDL-10. I pulled the flywheel off to do some ignition work on this motor. I always thought there were 2 magnets in my flywheel....1 directly across from the other. Found out in my flywheel there is no magnet in section A below and actually appears to be 2 right next to each other in section B below. There is no magnetism in section A and definite magnetism in section B. Is this correct and A is just a counterweight to section B?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

On that ignition system, strictly a two opposed magneto coil system, it demands a flywheel such as described in your pictures...... two (2) magnets, one is a south pole magnet, the other is a north pole magnet.

If you held a compass close (not too close) to the outer portion of the flywheel near one magnet or the other, you would notice that the compass needle would be attracted by one magnet and repelled by the other.

As the two magnets pass one coil, the flux is generated (keeping it simple) to fire the plug...... and as the two magnets pass the remaining coil, the second plug is fired.

Later models, having one drive coil under the flywheel (or some other types of ignition) would have separated magnets (north & south), but the magneto type has the one you've got there.

 

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

I was only getting spark in 1 cylinder...the top if I remember correctly. So you're saying that if I am getting spark in one cylinder I can rule out the magnets playing any part in the lack of spark in the other cylinder?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

That is correct. More likely dirty points assuming that the coil and condenser is okay. Also it has been known that sometimes as break in the plug wire will allow the spark to jump from the wire to the underside of the armature plate.

(Point Setting Of Magneto Models)
(J. Reeves)

Set the points as follows. Have the flywheel key aligned with the fiber rubber portion of the ignition points. Adjust the gap so that a .020 gauge will pass thru but a .022 will not. Should there be any question of the points being dirty (touching the contact with your finger would cause them to be dirty), clean them with a small brush and acetone or lacquer thinner.

NOTE: Should the operating cam have a small portion on it with the word "SET" imprinted, align this portion with the fiber rubbing portion instead of the flywheel key.

(Regular Magneto Coils - Continuity Test)
(J. Reeves)

Checking the continuity of the ignition coils....... Have the ohm meter set to High Ohms.

Remove the primary wire from points. Remove the coil ground wire. You do not want either of these wires touching anything.
Connect the black lead of a ohm meter to the spark plug boot terminal, then with the red ohm meter lead, touch the ground wire of the coil.

Then touch (still with the red lead) the primary wire. You should get a reading on both touches (contacts). If not, check the spring terminal inside the rubber boots of the spark plug wire.

If there is no continuity between the secondary circuit (spark plug) wire and the primary or ground, remove the coil from the armature plate, then check the continuity directly between the prong within the coil (prong that the plug wire connects to) and the primary and ground. Poor or no continuity of a coil (or plug wire) is one reason for weak spark, s/plug fouling, or no spark.

 

[mikesea]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

those coils go bad with age ,not just use,might be the coil,check for cracks

 

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

NEW PICS...MORE???Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

NEW PICS...MORE???Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

I just bought this motor about 2 weeks ago and as you can see in the pics below, everything in the ignition system seems to be in really good shape, except for the spark plug wires. The flywheel came off relatively easy leading me to believe it had been removed recently and while I've never actually seen new coils for this motor, the ones on mine could pass for new as far as I can see. The points looked really good too and gap was .020 on both. Condensers looked great visually too. Only thing that didn't look new was the spark plug wires. Also I switched plugs before tearing into the motor and both plugs sparked when connected to top wire but nothing on bottom wire. Everything points to a bad spark plug wire since I found out my magnets are ok. I guess I have to pull the magneto plate to get at the plug wires right? And I believe the plug wires just push into the coil correct? Thanks for all the help.

 

[marvxyz1]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

On your picture of the stator magnets I noticed that there is some rust on your magnet . This will definitely affect your spark. You need to sand off the rust from your magnet. IO know this from first hand experience Also sand off any rust from your coil. marvxyz1

 

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

I was wondering about the rust on the magnets. It is very light surface rust but I guess I might give them a light sanding (steel wool probably). The coils don't have any rust on them. The red is their manufactured color. Believe me, the coils could pass for new. They say "Made in West Germany" on them. That surprised me. Anybody have any idea what make they are. I can't believe they are the originals.

 

[marvxyz1]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

Both my lawn mower and my snow blower quit on me over the years (no spark). I took both of them apart and found rusty magnets and rusty coils . sanded them off amd reassembled. I got both my machines back. marvxyz1

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: How many magnets in these pics of my flywheel ?

(Magneto Coil Alignment)
(J. Reeves)

To align the coils properly, have the metal vertical portion of the coil yokes aligned with the inside edge of the bevel that exists on the top portion of the aluminum seat upon which the coils sit. This creates the proper distance between the coils and the flywheel magnets. Faulty alignment creats friction and the yokes of the coils heat up, turn blue and expand.