i have a wisconsin motor on my plaster machine and it has a Fairbanks Morse magneto i tried starting it and i am not getting any spark. does any one know of a diagram or a methods as to how to trouble shoot this mag. the last time i used it, it ran fine.i did some welding on the frame of the machine where the engine is mounted. it had a crack on it. could this welding cause a problem on the mag.
In the '60s I ran a Joe Hunt Vertex in my g***er. Joe told me to always remove the mag if I needed to weld on the car. Of course he was talking about arc welding. I didn't have a tig at the time. So it's a possibility that you demagnetized your unit. Check arround there are companies that remagnetize magentos. The FOGGER
Never seen a dead F-M mag. It's probably the points need filing. I've welded lots of loaders and small tractors with mags and never killed the magnets yet.
Look at the points, most common problem is dirty points. And don't spin the mag when you have it in your hand. It has a spring inside that winds up, and then releases, it will spark just tuning it over slow.
yup it's a old wisconsin motor. and thanks for the offer. if i can't get it to work then i will hit you up to make a deal
i took the cover off and it looks like brand new inside. how would i test the condenser? and thanks everyone for your quick help!!
The magneto is not magnetic- the flywheel has a magnet in it.Check the simple stuff- pull the sparkplug wire, check for spark, check or disconnect the kill wire, check flywheel to magneto gap @ .006, generally no points since @1990( if you do -file clean, check gap at wide open@.020 and spray with brake clean to remove oil, check flywheel key for shearing.) If you can't get it going , I have cl*** starting September sometime. I always count down the time to summer but always forget exactly when we start! I have run into major problems with bad gas lately - in the engines, not personally. Good Luck, Bill
I have kept some of these old Wisconsins [ AENL ]running for some time at work and the only time I've replaced magneto's was when they flew apart internally. In our application, outdoor roof hoists, points are short lived,mainly they oxidize and a file will get them going a couple of times, after that you should replace them.Only replaced 2 coils in 20 Yrs. Check the plug wire and make sure the plug isn't gas fouled. I have a service manual at work if you need a page or two scanned or faxed to you.My money is on the points or a fouled plug. Hope this helps, bud
I have the F-M IPL/service catalog. If you need any info or part #'s PM or e-mail me. The catalog is about 6" thick and covers tons of mags. LLONNING@AOL.com
well it looks like i am gonna change the points and condencer. it has been sitting for about 3 or 4 years. do you guys know what to set the points at? the model says xd 187 u
The points set at .015. I have magneto serivce at my oilfield engine shop. I have all the parts you may need. If you can't get it going send me a pm.
If you can't get the answer you need here, try http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/boards.cgi. It's an old tractor/engine diesussion site and there's always someone who knows how to make the old stuff work. These type of mags are common on the old tractors and if needed, there are alot of people out there that can rebuild them.
thanks for all the help. i went and ordered new points and a condenser today. i'll have them tomorrow. i'll post my results
well i put the new point and condenser in and it fired up on the first pull. thanks everyone for your help. now if i can figure out how to adjust carb. it has a choppy idle. if i keep the choke half open it runs smooth.