Hello! Need help to find some list over Harman&Collins magneto. Different beetwin model 8R101 and 8R103 , over what years they made them and other info great to know. Thanks. Jan
Jan, I recently had my Harmon & Collins magneto gone through by Pat at Mason Racing Ignitions. He sent me a copy of an original brochure from H & C listing both 8R101 and 8R103 magnetos. He may know the difference - similarities between the two. Hope this helps. Offy 220
Do you have a address for Mason racing Ignitions ? Could you give a order of magnitude for repair cost?
Speculation, no catalog handy: The dif may be rotation. Flathead style mags were sold to go on aluminum front covers on racing OHV engines...these front plates had a flathead flange in place, probably for a fuel injection pump or something, and HC made mags for them. They are identical in appearance to the flathead mag but of course have reverse rotation foe engines with chain driven cams.
According to my 1954 Offenhauser catalog Offenhauser has 2 different part numbers for the HC mags. One part number (Offenhauser number 1329) was for 32-41 V8 and V8-60 engines (three bolt timing covers). The other part number (Offenhauser number 1330) was for 42-48 engines (two bolt timing covers). I've never seen a HC mag for a 2 bolt timing cover. The difference may have to do with the camshaft length??? Bruce may have it right with rotation. The numbers I have listed are Offenhauser internal part numbers, not HC model numbers.
Bruce, I'm still selling the timing lead plates. I'm out of the 3-Bolt version. I'm trying to build up orders to do a production run. I do have the timing plates available for the 2 bolt distributors and a coversion timing plate to use a 2 bolt distributor on a three bolt cover.
Give me the details and if you can, post a few pics of the timin base on here. Maybe others would be interested in one. I am told the the 8R101 was made for the flathead. 8R103 might be a reverse rotation which could be converted back for flathead use. I will post more details as I find out.
I have a Harman Collins magneto for flathead that the (then) owner jury-rigged onto a 427 Ford on clay tracks in the sixties. He welded a socket backwards on the magneto shaft (to fit over the bolt that holds the 427's timing gear to the camshaft) and mounted the magneto to the timing chain cover. There was alot of poor-boy engineering back then... none worse than mine.
Ok yes thanks i am very interested to know , I have one 8R103 and this is 2 bolt ,can the 8R101 be the 3 bolts maybe or it is the rotation ? If i have understanding right there are locked advance in the harman collins magnetos ?
I found some numbers in a '62 Moon catalog...Moon made the front covers and sold the mags. 8R101 is flathead...I assume the 3 bolt?? 8R101-R is the reverse rotation version for use on OHV front drives. The 103 wasn't in there...but very likely it is the 21A application one as 39truck suggests. They are locked advance...Pete posted on here how to set static advance using the drive stub. They were often run with the advance plate for nitro and such requiring very radical advance. I heard somewhere once that there was an early HC that had centrifugal advance...no idea if this is true.
Hello! Thanks for great information and very interest to get. I have the early tag from -49-51 so it looks like i must check it up what i have. ( the newer tag is more wider and not so high ) and great to know the 8R 103 go to the correct rotation.Thanks
it's hard to believe that there has been so little posted that on this. i would have thought several would have had all the detailed answers on model numbers.
So far...I have not dug up a catalog listing the odd model number. C'mon and dig! I'm not the only one with old catalogs! Somebody can prove what it is!
The 8R101 is for the early 3 bolt timing cover for flathead Ford. I think that would be 1932-1941. Then I assume the 8R103 is for the 1942-1948 2 bolt cover. An R at the end does mean reverse rotation. Hope this helps!
Yes thanks thats great and if someone find the 8R103 in some catalog i am very intersted to know what they write in the part discription. Thanks. Jan
Are you sure that fits a 2 holer?? Ford made all its '37-40 distributors with 4 holes, because (Lord knows why) 60 and 85 used same distributor but each used a different choice of 3 of the 4... LOTS of mags were used on 60 midgets, so I'm wondering if this one is actually 3 hole 85 and so rather than early and late...
Bruce, you are correct, someone reworked the lead plate to fit a 2 bolt cover and I assumed ......................
My 8R101 is 4 hole as well but it's exactly what Bruce explained. Early V8 85 or 60hp. 8R103 would be 2 hole for 1942-1948 flathead front cover. Bruce is that correct....1942 for 2 hole or was it late 1941?
1942 was first for 2 holer on V8...six cylinder got it in 1941, same basic casting. "41 used same basic distributor as '37-40 85 and distributor, but with a hotter advance curve.
Hello! I have now find a Bell Auto Parts catalog no.31 from -53. So here are the Models on the H&C Magneto : Model 8R-101 fits ´32-´41 V8-85 & V8-60 Model 8R-103 fits ´42-´48 Ford & Mercury engines $ 126.00 points pr. 1.60 Rotor 3.15 cap 4.20 condenser 2.10 Sorry it is to late to make an order there now but fun reading
Question is Harman & Collins still in business or has someone else purchased the rights to the company? Anyone know? I had someone contact me about five years ago telling me they purchasing the rights to the company and were going to go back in business. Jimbo
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