Wico X? Need Help?!

Okay, so I have this Wico X Mag that has been sitting on the shelf for awhile. Came off of a JD I scrapped, but of course, I clung onto a bunch of this kind of stuff. It never did turn, the shaft that the rotor was on would NOT turn at all.

So, I now need a mag for my B, so I started messing with this one yesterday. I took all of the stuff off of the back, and then took the 4 screws out. THEN I took the cap off, then the rotor and stuff, and then proceeded to LIGHTLY tap on that shaft, and it easily tapped out.

I then discovered that the reason it wasn't turning, was just due to the hug amount of rust and corrosion around the area that those magnets turn inside the housing. So I cleaned up the shaft, magnets, and all that stuff.

Then I decided to try to clean out the housing. It didn't want to clean up with standard methods, so I decided to just barely hone it out, that worked very well. Didn't take any metal off, but made it look MUCH better!

Greased the shaft (with just a little engine assembly grease) and then slid it back in. Now it turns freely.

Then I put it ALL back together, re wound the spring on the drive and everything. But I still don't have spark?

Then went and cleaned the points, they were pretty bad, and also cleaned that spring/contact that touches that big cluster thing, also cleaned the clusters contact.

Still no spark. Should I be able to get spark by turning that thing by hand, or does it need to be grounded out on the tractor?

Any help would be appreciated! I am NOT about to spend $400 on a "rebuilt" mag, so I need to figure out how to fix my own!

Thanks! Bryce

You should be able to get spark by turning the drive with a vise grip.
Turn the drive backwards. Can you feel the magnet pulling?

If the magnet is strong enough to make electricity. Then your problem is the points,coil,or a wire is grounded to the base.

Check to see the little metal strap going to the "kill" terminal is not touching the aluminum housing.

The magnets (tried both sides) were picking up all kinds of bolts and screwdrivers, and sockets and stuff... How strong do they need to be? I thought that was pretty good?

Not sure I understand what you mean by the "kill" terminal, but I will check it out, and look for it a little better.

Is there a way to test if the points/ coil are good?

My dad has a Wico X that has always turned and had good spark that we are putting on his JD GM, so could I just take the points/coil out of his and put them in mine and see if that makes it work?

Is the impulse working? That's what winds up and lets go (snaps) when turning slowly. It does nothing at running speed.

John Deere may not have the "kill" terminal now that I think about it more. If your magneto has a threaded screw sticking out the left or right side of the housing. That would be the "kill" terminal.

If you have another type X mag. Swap the coil,points,and condenser. If that makes it work. Put the old parts back in one piece at a time. Keep checking the spark till you find the bad part.

Coil,points,and condenser from a four cylinder type X will also fit.

OH! Okay, no this one does not, but my dads Wico X does?! Kind of odd huh?! I will try swapping stuff around some time... Taking it really slow and easy, just because I don't have a clue what I am doing!

Thanks for the help! Bryce

Yes, it is working, but it is not quite as strong as the other X? I can turn the mag all the way, until one of those little arms hits a stop, then obvisualy the mag stops turning, and you have to then turn against the spring. Once the lug thing, turns all the way (still turning against the spring) to where the arm is on the stop, then it pushes it past the stop and snap! Not super strong, but still makes a good pop? Sound okay?

The spring may need wrapped around one more time.

No better way to learn. Pay close attention to how it looks before disassembly and go for it. Point gap for the JD wico X is .015 I believe. Good luck.

Replace the Condensor.

if the condenser is bad you will have spark at the points when they open but not at the coil.

if the condenser is working you will have no spark or a very small weak spark when the points open and hot spart comming out of the coil.