On Sun, 01 May 2005 15:50:17 GMT, Ken Sterling (Ken Sterling) wrote:

"Wayne Cook" wrote in message
news On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 13:46:15 -0700, "Roger Shoaf"
wrote:
snip
One side note here is that while on a points ignition if the
flywheel key is sheared then you loose spark. On the other hand with
the solid state ignition it doesn't matter and it will spark even if
it's 180 deg out. This can be confusing sometimes when trouble
shooting and you've got a engine that runs but just doesn't run well.

Second side note is that if you don't tighten the flywheel nut up
enough the flywheel key will shear the first time it's started.
Wayne Cook
Shamrock, TX
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook
Beg to differ with you on the statement above, Wayne.
If the flywheel key is sheared... you will *still* have spark, but it
will not be occuring at the correct time to fire the engine. As long
as the magnets are passing the coil face, a spark will be generated,
the key is for proper timing.
Ken.

And if the timing is not correct, the points open when there is no
coil exitation, and you get no spark. That simple. And pretty fussy in
my experience.