On 2018/05/26 10:38 AM, John-Del wrote:
On Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 12:51:13 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Fri, 25 May 2018 18:28:53 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Saturday, 26 May 2018 02:06:45 UTC+1, wrote:

There were a lot of Briggs and Stratton electronic type magnetos that
were prone to failure. I use a method to test suspect magnetos before
I spend much time trying to find out why there is no spark. Remove the
spark plug from the engine so that it turns over easily. Then stuff a
rod or something similar into the the spark plug boot so that it makes
good contact with the end of the spark plug wire. Now turn the engine
over slowly while holding the rod. You should get at least a tingle.
If no tingle then try turning the engine over a little faster. If
there is a little tingle then the problem is most likely a bad
connection. This could be a corroded ground wire. If, even turning
the engine over fairly fast, there isn't even a tingle the magneto is
bad or the kill wire is grounded. I have used this method for years
and it is a really fast way to find out if the mag is probably good or
not.
Eric

say hi to Darwin for me.
Oh phooey. There is no way you can get a dangerous shock from slowly
turning over an old lawnmower engine equipped with a magneto. Sheeesh!
Eric

Exactly, on a small magneto like this it'll tickle, but this reminds me of a true story:

Many many years ago, a guy I knew was having some ignition work done on his stock Hemi Challenger at my buddy's garage, and brought along a magneto to try just in case. Just rotating it a half turn sent him flying! Those things have balls.


Magnetos were used as torture devices by the Nazis and other
unscrupulous folks and guess where they were hooked up...

John :-#(#