shutting of an A

Charlie M · Nov 2, 2011

I finally got my A running I bought a couple of months ago. I had to have the head done to get it to run but now it runs great without any adjustments to anything. I've posted a couple of questions here for a couple of issues. Now that it runs I've got a new issue - it won't shut off. It has a H4 mag and I have put on a new on/off switch and ran a new wire to the post on the side of the mag and nothing happens, even when trying to short it out with a screw driver. This is my first experience with a H4 mag - what am I not doing right?

Bob · Nov 2, 2011

That terminal is actually the NUT making the connection between the points, coil, and condenser... shorting that brass nut to ground SHOULD "kill" it!

Janicholson · Nov 2, 2011

The post on the side of the mag should be connected directly to the points with a stranded wire with black vinyl cover. This wire shorts the points to ground to kill the primary circuit in the mag. Jim

Paul Shuler · Nov 2, 2011

I guess it's true, it's hard to stop these old farmalls

pete 23 · Nov 2, 2011

You put on a new shutoff switch. Does it have only one terminal for a wire as it should for a magneto and if so is it properly grounded through paint, rust etc. If you put on a two terminal switch for battery ign you would need to run a one wire to ground, one to mag, and pull switch out to shut it off.

gene bender · Nov 2, 2011

Is the new sw grounded where it bolts in the hole. You can ground out the mag by going across the post to the body of the mag that has to stop the engine.

Charlie M · Nov 2, 2011

I've got the one terminal switch - I couldn't short it out with a screw driver across the mag terminal either - shouldn't that have worked?

El Toro · Nov 2, 2011

Look for a wire from your points to your grounding stud. You should be able to ground out your points with a screwdriver as you stated you tried. Hal

pete 23 · Nov 2, 2011

You are correct, you should be able to kill engine by grounding the terminal at magneto. The thing that puzzles me is that the wire from the points runs to the condensor and that is where the shorting wire is hooked to, so how it can run well if that wire is not good or not hooked up is a good question. At any rate, your kill wire to switch has to be making contact with the threads on end of condensor.

Tom Fleming · Nov 2, 2011

Well, the screwdriver from the terminal to the body of the mag should shut it off.

Also, the ON/OFF grounding switch only works if it has good ground at the mounting point. if there is rust or paint between the body of the ON/OFF switch, and the mounting hole, it will NOT ground out the mag. Also, if the mounting bracket is not well grounded to the steering post. same result.

So, bottom line, new switch or not, if there is not good continuity between the switch body, and the body of the mag, it won't shut it off.

hope this helps.

shutting of an A

Charlie M

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Bob

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Janicholson

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Paul Shuler

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pete 23

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gene bender

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Charlie M

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El Toro

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pete 23

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Tom Fleming

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