F-20 magneto

[Farmboy4221]

I have a 38 F-20 I restored it 11 years ago and had the mag professionally rebuilt its been sitting for a couple years now I pulled a spark plug out and cranked it up and no spark I have the lever in the down position I actually tried both directions but pretty sure it needs to be down. I also have a f-12 with same F4 mag and I have spark on that one so I switched the caps from the 12 to the 20 and still no spark? Did I loose magnetism while sitting? Would pulling it increase the chance of getting spark or using a flipped belt to crank it up either one is simple enough for me to do or should I just plan on sending it out again?

 

[Dirt_Farmer1950]

Have you cleaned the points? Take off the spark control cap and use a nail file or emery cloth to shine up the contacts.

 

[Farmboy4221]

i am mechanically inclined but have never had these mags apart your talking about the cover that the shut off lever connects to? With the "spring clip" holding it on how does that come off?

 

[Dirt_Farmer1950]

Yes the spring clip pivots out of the way and that cover comes off revealing the breaker points

 

[Ron Weber]

As my grandpappy used to say....it'll cost you a dollar. He would take a dollar bill, fold it, open the points and insert the
folded dollar bill in between the points. A dollar bill cleans the points without scoring them and you are back in business. And
it was just a $1 fix.

 

[Farmboy4221]

Thank you so much will try that tomorrow first thing! If there is
30 hrs on that tractor since restored You wouldn't think
anything major would be wrong with it from just sitting would
you it's been in a shed out of the weather but here in MN
there is plenty of humidity and condensation

 

[Tom Fleming]

As has been stated, clean the points. I can almost guarantee you that is the issue.............

 

[Andy Martin]

I'm cheap enough I go ahead and spend the dollar after cleaning. I've even used a ten dollar bill to get a high dollar cleaning.

 

[Farmallb]

NEVER let them set that long without starting at least once a month. Take the flat belt with a twist and try it. Ill be somewhat supprised if a 12 can throw a 20, but if it can, your in luck. Turn the gas on and let it run. IF it don't start in a minute, spray some starter fluid in it. IF it don't pop off and run after another minute, then take it back. DID YOU WATCH IT SPARK WHEN THE MAG MAN HAD IT? I always was right there when he worked on mine and I always saw that they would spark on his tester.

 

[Farmboy4221]

I ran this tractor steady for years parades, tractor rides, and thrashing oats with our 28" IHC machine I parked it in the shed got married had a baby and now it's time to get the toys back out and want to use it on the thrash machine this weekend just don't understand why I'm getting spark after I shine the points and loose it right away

 

[36F30]

(quoted from post at 14:04:08 07/29/15) I ran this tractor steady for years parades, tractor rides, and thrashing oats with our 28" IHC machine I parked it in the shed got married had a baby and now it's time to get the toys back out and want to use it on the thrash machine this weekend just don't understand why I'm getting spark after I shine the points and loose it right away

did you oil the mag? (flip caps) and especially the impulse, if the impulse (clicker) isn't working correctly...no spark, needs to be free enough to work while your cranking not just when turning it by hand

 

[Farmboy4221]

Oiled flip caps 3 of them? Can hear it clicking when cranking I
get good spark after 3 revolutions of cranking I loose spark

 

[Tom Fleming]

Are you wires copper core? If they are not copper core, you should change them. If you want, send me a private message and I will reply with my phone number. I would be happy to talk to you and walk you through some checks..............

 

[Dirt_Farmer1950]

In my (limited) experience with mags, if you have spark and it's in time I would move on to fuel and compression. It should spark enough to fire a few times and if it doesn't run then you can recheck the mag.

 

[rhtx55]

(quoted from post at 19:19:57 07/29/15) Oiled flip caps 3 of them? Can hear it clicking when cranking I
get good spark after 3 revolutions of cranking I loose spark

That is interesting.......
1. Spark after cleaning the points.
2. then 3 cranks & lose spark.....

I would contact Dwayne @ Rustic Red Acres dot com.
I am betting it's a bad condenser or mag coil.