I am wondering if anyone here has tried to eliminate the points in a magneto. I have had it with the mag in my little Oliver crawler-dozer. Note - this is not a "collector" dozer. It is a user. I use it a lot for building trails in the Michigan Upper Peninsula.
Oliver "Cletrac" HG with the Hercules IXB-3 engine and aux trans. Great little machine.
Two chronic problems.
#1 - After storing all winter (outdoors but under cover) it never starts in the Spring. Magneto always dead due to corrosion on the points.
#2 - Magneto gets so hot after running around 2 hours in summer weather - it loses spark. Once it cools down, I can run for a few hours again.
Note - the magneto is impossible to work on while bolted to the engine. So, even to just clean the points I have to remove it. A LOT of work.
I keep three magnetos on hand. All three have the same issues. Fairbanks Morse FMJ4, Wico XH1113, and a new Aviation-type mag. I don't know if the quality of points has gone downhill over the years?
I have just about had it with fooling with this thing. I will say though that once I get it going in the Spring, it starts fine all summer and fall. Still has what seems to be a magneto coil overheating issue though.
I am hoping to find a battery-ignition type distributor to take the place of the magneto but it cannot be right-angle drive. It has to have the same footprint as a mag or will not fit. I have a Wico XB distributor that fits fine but I know of no good way to convert to breakerless.
So, I am wondering if anyone here has tried a conversion?
I am going to call Zimmermans (if they are still in business) and see if they have any ideas.
Oliver "Cletrac" HG with the Hercules IXB-3 engine and aux trans. Great little machine.
Two chronic problems.
#1 - After storing all winter (outdoors but under cover) it never starts in the Spring. Magneto always dead due to corrosion on the points.
#2 - Magneto gets so hot after running around 2 hours in summer weather - it loses spark. Once it cools down, I can run for a few hours again.
Note - the magneto is impossible to work on while bolted to the engine. So, even to just clean the points I have to remove it. A LOT of work.
I keep three magnetos on hand. All three have the same issues. Fairbanks Morse FMJ4, Wico XH1113, and a new Aviation-type mag. I don't know if the quality of points has gone downhill over the years?
I have just about had it with fooling with this thing. I will say though that once I get it going in the Spring, it starts fine all summer and fall. Still has what seems to be a magneto coil overheating issue though.
I am hoping to find a battery-ignition type distributor to take the place of the magneto but it cannot be right-angle drive. It has to have the same footprint as a mag or will not fit. I have a Wico XB distributor that fits fine but I know of no good way to convert to breakerless.
So, I am wondering if anyone here has tried a conversion?
I am going to call Zimmermans (if they are still in business) and see if they have any ideas.