Well, over the past weekend I managed to dig up an NOS Judson Electric Magneto. I was wondering if anyone is currently using or has used beforew and to what success? I want to use on my 12 volt Ford Flatty. This is a really cool looking piece and from the info found on the net they were made in the late 50's. Anyone have any further info on them? Jim
I paid $8 for a nos one in the box at a tractor swapmeet. The drawing of a car on the box looks like mid 60s or later. 12v neg ground on mine but I think there are others. The VW bug guys are into those because Judson made a supercharger for bugs; plus corvairs, healys, etc. Looks like an oversized finned coil, but don't know if they do anything special. Do a completed auction search on ebay, maybe it would pay to sell it if they go for over $100 or so.
OH, Boy! I laughed when I read this, So any way, here we are at this ol'boys shop and he's selling everything off, and I'm digging through the back of the top shelf and what do I find,,, wow,,, five bucks and I'm stylin'! Threw it on the fire wall of my straight eight powered rat and it looks *****'in BUT drive it home in the rain and see what happens! Maybe mine was no good to start with but I stuck a regular coil behind the engine and it ran twice as good! BUT the Judson still looks *****'in!! look on youtube, theres a pic of a guy running a Judson blower on a flathead, they made aircraft superchargers too during the war, their web site is frustrating and don't bother trying to e-mail them you wont get a reply! But Boy, they sure look *****'in!! Good luck!
Are you sure it's a magneto? Magnetos don't need 6 or 12 volts to work, just spinning 'em make the spark.
Yeah, I am sure on what I read and have seen used. There is someone on here who is using one in their coupe. Yes, it takes either 6 or 12 volt. And yes a regular MAG doesn't need power supplied. Are you confused yet? Well then I suggest you do a little research on the topic before you make comments on something you have no idea what it is! Just for you referance here is a picture or two and if you care to read up a little here is a link for you also. I saw that they were popular in the imorts of the 50 and 60's. I thought that they had some higher performance stuff also. Just hoping for some info if it was worth my time and money and it sounds like its not.
I have been using them on my Bonneville cars since '78. Work for me and look cool. My Lotus 907 (non trad motor) wound well over 10,000 through the gears and was pulling 8400 through the lights in 4th in pictured roadster. Ran great, held record for 10 or 12 years.
Yeah... they work kick***. I had one on my coupe for a while before I switched to a du-coil. I'd actually run two if I could find another one. It's just a hot coil. Nothing magneto about it. If you want to run it on 12 volts, run a ballast resistor. If running on six volts, you dont need one. I just picked up a wierd judson coil thing at a swap... but it's a really small version of the regular one, but it has an extra terminal on it. I'll take a picture of both of mine.
The Judson coil is a capacitive discharge ignition system that steps up the primary voltage to give the coil a higher overall output. The forerunner of transistor ignition systems. Many cars used capacitive over the years and it was somewhat reliable. Be careful with the judson unit as many ( most) were positive ground 6 volt units.
To GMC Bubba - How can you identify one Judson coil from another ? Can these be used on a street rod with a Spalding Grant distributor ? Or are they to hoot and will burn up the points contacts ? What are your recommendations for such an application ?
Sorry for bumping an old thread but it makes sense to continue the discussion. I was wondering, is the Judson electronic magneto (which isn't a magneto) actually worth installing on a vehicle? Does it truly work or was it just a coil made to look fancy? I've read the original design had reliability problems, so they ditched the parts that made it function like a CDI. I have a fascination with old school parts made to improve engines, like the VariCam VVT cam sprocket. I know Porsche had a CDI that also interests me, and then there is the Pertronix Ignitor that goes back to the 70's I think. I know the Ignitor is not a CDI, it just replaces the points.
Cool engine. Is the distributor still running points? Has anyone checked to see that the Judson unit decreases the voltage at the points?
Is there a way to get in touch with a member here, KCCOS? I don't think I have permission to send him a message.
Put the @ before the user name: @KCCOS If an active member they will see the notification. Two more posts and you will be able to send PM's.
Yep, that's why aircraft use magnetos. In case of electrical failure. They also have redundant systems. 2 mags and 2 plugs per cylinder.
Yep. I wish people would become aware of the use of "impulse couplings" on stuff that has to start nice. The only magnetos I ever personally saw on cars never had them. (Harleys neither) All aircraft do. Apparently Vertex and Joe Hunt just made auto magnetos that were so magnetically powerful they would start with .025 plug gaps which is a hell of a lot at cranking speeds. Lot - I got a Honda CB750 with an IH tractor magneto running off right cam-end because I got tired of buying batteries for it, lol. The next year I got tired of cleaning out the tank and carbs and made it burn propane, double lolz.
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