Acme ignition coil

[Walter 2022]

Hi Just restored a BCS 715 engine (Acme) and have it running off a 12v car battery and coil - engine sounds sweet and starts on second pull.
However I would like to keep it origional and replace the faulty ignition coil. These are expensive to replace from dealers Approx £150 others i've tried on ebay seem to be scammers as i've chased paypal for two orders to be refunded. Any help would be appreciated or its make a battery carrier :-(

Cheers

 

[Roadworthy]

I don't know what an Acme is nor what an original coil looked like but you might consider a Triumph motorcycle ignition coil. They're smaller than an automotive coil. (Just a thought.)

 

[tomplum]

Welcome to TBN. Acme is their Italian OEM engine. I've never had to get a coil for one though. Earthtools says they have used Acme parts too. They were able to get us some carb parts, enough to save the day anyways. People used to bake the Lawnboy ignition modules to bring life back into them, forget why- but there is lots of info on the web should you wish to try it with your old one. If you get her all prettied up, post a pic. ACME ENGINE PARTS: Parts for Acme Motori - Earth Tools

 

[ptsg]

Hello Walter,

Have you tried checking the Asvarta website? They sell lots of parts of these older Italian engines. Pretty much all the brands that are now Kholer, like Lombardini, Slanzi, Ruggerini, Acme and several others.

Here is the link for the parts they have for the Acme engines: https://www.asvarta.com/es/recambios-lombardini/acme-motori

And the link for the coil, not sure if it's your model though: https://www.asvarta.com/es/bobina-encendido-acme-motori-a180.html

They are located in Spain. I've bought a gasket kit for an old Slanzi 2 cylinder engine from them before. Not a single issue and fast shipping too.

 

[Walter 2022]

Thanks for the help gents

Cant get a reasonable priced origional coil no doubt i'll eventually find one one but she's running sweet of a lead acid battery 6 v or 12v

Purchased a small coil for a motorcycle and a 12v to 6v converter so I can use either battery. Machine will only be used probs twice a year so ploughing we shall go.

Walter

 

[Walter 2022]

Thanks for the help gents

Cant get a reasonable priced origional coil no doubt i'll eventually find one one but she's running sweet of a lead acid battery 6 v or 12v

Purchased a small coil for a motorcycle and a 12v to 6v converter so I can use either battery. Machine will only be used probs twice a year so ploughing we shall go.

Walter

Oh forgot to say both items were £13 total on ebay.

 

[IndyJay]

I don't know what an Acme is nor what an original coil looked like but you might consider a Triumph motorcycle ignition coil. They're smaller than an automotive coil. (Just a thought.)

For some reason images of Wiley Coyote popped into my head...

 

[etpm]

Welcome to TBN. Acme is their Italian OEM engine. I've never had to get a coil for one though. Earthtools says they have used Acme parts too. They were able to get us some carb parts, enough to save the day anyways. People used to bake the Lawnboy ignition modules to bring life back into them, forget why- but there is lots of info on the web should you wish to try it with your old one. If you get her all prettied up, post a pic. ACME ENGINE PARTS: Parts for Acme Motori - Earth Tools

If you have the coil and it's just bad you can try baking it. I have done this maybe a dozen times to bad magnetos on old engines. The coils, whether a magneto coil or a standard ignition coil, can get moisture inside the coil. This can cause the coil to short out inside due to the high voltage. Baking in a 200 degree oven for several hours can dry the coil out and restore the original performance. What I did was to bake the coil for a couple hours at 200 degrees, then turn the oven off and let the coil stay in the oven overnight. It has worked for me many times.
Eric

 

[tomplum]

If you have the coil and it's just bad you can try baking it. I have done this maybe a dozen times to bad magnetos on old engines. The coils, whether a magneto coil or a standard ignition coil, can get moisture inside the coil. This can cause the coil to short out inside due to the high voltage. Baking in a 200 degree oven for several hours can dry the coil out and restore the original performance. What I did was to bake the coil for a couple hours at 200 degrees, then turn the oven off and let the coil stay in the oven overnight. It has worked for me many times.
Eric

I take the wife was out of town?

 

[etpm]

I take the wife was out of town?

I cleaned the coils first. They didn't stink of burning oil. And, I'm the cook in my house, so would not put stuff in the oven that could stink up the kitchen or something baked in the oven.
Eric

 

[Smokeydog]

I cleaned the coils first. They didn't stink of burning oil. And, I'm the cook in my house, so would not put stuff in the oven that could stink up the kitchen or something baked in the oven.
Eric

I’ll have to try that. Have BCS 705. Had the original coil fail and replaced at high cost on ACME motor. Has failed again and sat for 15 years. Thought about replacing with a Honda engine.

 

[etpm]

I’ll have to try that. Have BCS 705. Had the original coil fail and replaced at high cost on ACME motor. Has failed again and sat for 15 years. Thought about replacing with a Honda engine.

The first time I tried this on a magneto it was a Fairbanks-Morse mag. It was the type that was found on many engines that were hand crank started. The magneto mechanism at low speed winds up a spring inside that suddenly lets go at the right point in rotation. This makes the mag spin fast inside. So if the mag is held in your hand and slowly turned over it will be hard to turn because the internal spring is being wound up. Then all of a sudden the spring turns the mag over fast and it is easy to turn. Anyway, I had one of these old mags from an engine I was rebuilding. There was no spark. Turning the mag over by hand and holding the spark plug wire I only got a small tingle. So I baked the thing on the advice of an old guy who knew about these things. I was dubious but went along with his advice. After the mag was cool I held the mag in one hand and help the spark plug wire in the other. I turned the mag over. It wound up, snapped, and WOW! It now had plenty of spark! My arm hurt all the way to my shoulder. I threw the mag across my garage because my arm jerked so hard. After that I was convinced that baking a mag can bring them back from the brink of death. If a coil or mag won't even give you a tingle I don't know if the baking trick will work. But every coil or mag I have tried, if I could get a little tingle from it, came back to life after baking.
Eric