B timing/starting issues

[Eric Wagner]

Hi, I've looked thru the boards and can't find a distinct answer to my problem. I have a B that ran fine one day, sat out in the rain, then wouldn't start. I took apart the magneto and replaced the coil and rotor, and I get a good spark, but when I go to time it, I can't get the lug to line up when I have the timing line in place and the lug on the mag about to fire. If I just go with setting the lug when the timing line is in place, she won't start at all, and I can't get a snap when moving the mag on its base. The timing line looks recently painted, could it possibly be incorrect? Is there an exhaust stroke that I could be mistakenly timing to, or is there a better way to time the mag?

 

[old]

Send me an e-mail and I'll send you a copy of the manual for that mag. They can be a pain in the back sides with out the info in the manual. Cost to you is the time it takes to send me an e-mail

 

[steve(ill)]

the mag should fire at TOP DEAD CENTER, not the fire mark. that is the advance point. Set the motor to TDC on the flywheel, then turn the mag untill it is about to fire on #1 cylinder, then move the llugs as needed slightly to get the lugs to align in the hole. AFter install, turn the motor over 2-3 times and look in the insiection hole to see the TDC mark is on the pointer when the mag "snaps". Make sure it is firing on #1 cylinder.. its easy to get the mag off if you turn the rotor the wrong way to align the lugs... just remove and do again if its off. Check that motor is coming up on compression on #1 when you install the mag, not exhaust stroke. Stick your finger in the spark plug hole to see if your coming up on "compression".

 

[ed in cny]

Did you do any engine work to the tractor? If so have you got the timing marks from the crank to the mag correct? If not it will will be off and no mater of timing will fix that. It must be correct off the crank. Other than that the process is as has been discribed prior. Hope that this helps as well.