Question for Magneto Experts

[Anonymous-0]

Is the H4 international mag any good for pulling? Does it have a timing advance like a distributor?

I have a stock H I want to try pulling this summer so I'm working on getting the ignition, governor, and carburator working properly. Thanks in advance. Tom

 

[Charles E. McNelly III]

Hi Tom,
Both of my tractors run a mag right now. I'm changing one over to a distributor soon. At 400rpm they go to 35 degrees of advance which hurts low end lugging power to some extint. The one thing that has worked for me with the mag is after you set it to factory specs, draw a line on the housing then push the mag towards the engine about 3/8" and lock it down. This puts the total advance around 24-25 degrees which is good for lugging but hurts the top end. You can't have both with a mag, with a distributor you can. Just go have fun, pulling is a fever you cant ever seem to get over.
Charles

 

[D.redgreen]

Use a pertronix electronic ignition with a distributor i've heard good things about doing it that way...

 

[rtb321]

what about crank starting with the mag moved ahead 3/8"? will it still start easy or will it try to rip my arm off?

 

[mEl]

His advice retards the timing from the 35 degree lag angle built into the mag to 25 degrees so the initial timing should be after TDC a few degrees, Should eliminate the kickback altogether. mEl

 

[Charles E. McNelly III]

I dont recommend it if hand cranking. Now if your saying ahead as too ATDC and not BTDC I would say it's ok. Now with what I did which is retard it, NO I don't recommend it. Remember, when hand cranking always pull up on the crank, Do not push down!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for the info!