Your Magneto Experiences.....

[SPYDERLK]

While it works.. emory paper or boards are super harsh on a points surface.. they leave shards that gouge the metal on a microscopic level, further reducing contact area, and making micro high current spots that actually encourage future burning. that said.. yeah.. I've done it before. when i do.. i use 1000 or 2000 paper. don't take much.. and I only do it for the most coroded points. i then pull clean white typing paper or brown paper bag thru them..or maybee with a drop of rubbing alcohol on them.

that's actually my prefered method to clean points.. stiff coarse paper.. like grocery bag, 20# typing paper.. construction paper.. etc. lets you see what you pull off.. and is an abrasive paper when it gets right down to it... if you've ever seen the surface of aper under an electron microscope it looks like a ridges rough surface strewn with fibers... cleans points good.

my 2nd favorite points cleaner, after coarse paper is a proper fine toothed ignition hone. in plain terms.. it's a file.. but it is exceedingly fine. trick is to slide it inbetween the contacts perfectly square and only a time or two.. you really want to leav ethe surface metal ( tungsten or other ) intact and not get into the base metal.. once you get the contact metal wore thru.. the base metal erodes pretty quick... that said.. i usualy get 4+ years out of points starting by paper cleaning.. then perhaps a honeing after a few.. and then after a few more.. the sand paper.. generally after 1-2 sandings and a few years.. it needs points.. I think I've been able to get 8yrs on my longest run set of points so far..

for mags, try to get everything perfect... fouled plugs are troublesome for mags,, kep the plugs cleaned or new ( I like the sandblast cleaners.. just remember to get the abrasive media completely of fthe plg with air... then a shot of carb cleaner.. then a dollar [edit])



soundguy

If I let my Farmall Cub sit for a few months the points get a little cruddy. It doesn't take much to clean them up. Usually just pull a piece of paper through them. A dollar bill woks nice.
M.D.

AGREE. Show em some money! Unless there is real damage this will work best due linen content.
larry

 

[Lazy]

Here is a place you can purchase the burnishing toolBurnishing Tool 9337 .120 Width | GC Electronics | 9337 also here is the pic of the one I have, no Idea of how old it is

 

[Soundguy]

Hi
Thats about all a dollar bill is good for these days. A five is the smallest bill I have in my wallet, with the way cost of things are going up next year a 10 might be the smallest or only plastic no cash. Life is great if you don't weaken. Some years ago I seem to remember a tool coming with a new set of points that looked like a very small finger nail file fo dressing the points. I think I might even have one in my collection of junk, I will try to locate it and post a pic. Soundguy has the best proceedure, but a new set every couple of years is hard to beat.

hard to find a real / good fine points hone these days.

I have one and take good care of it.

soundguy

 

[wolc123]

There definitely seems to be a common link between short point life and tractors that were originally 6 volts and have been converted to 12. I did that on my Farmall cub and it needs points every 5-6 years. My old 8n with the 24 year old points that is still 6 volt never misses a beat on the cheap old set of points I installed back then. Do any of you electrical guru's have a good technical explanation for this phenomona. 12 volts is good for some things but apparently not points.

 

[Soundguy]

Easy... contact surface area and current.

The average bonehead mechanic that converts a machine to 12v forgets to put in a resistor.. or correct resistor inline with the coil primary.. or forgets to change to a coil with the correct primary resistance. If primary resistanc eis to low, the coil will overheat and eventually become thermally damaged, plus the points are having to conduct more current than they were designed for. Much over 4a on a standad set of points and they roast...

soundguy

 

[Lazy]

Hi
I believe most of the burning occurs when the points open, the Inductive reactance of the coil tries to keep the current flowing creating an arc when the points open. A good condenser will help reduce the arc. You should replace the condenser when you replace the points. Also using the proper coil and or resistor when switching to a 12 volt system.

 

[Soundguy]

Hi
I believe most of the burning occurs when the points open, the Inductive reactance of the coil tries to keep the current flowing creating an arc when the points open. A good condenser will help reduce the arc. You should replace the condenser when you replace the points. Also using the proper coil and or resistor when switching to a 12 volt system.

UHH.. how bout' try something closer like back emf.....

The frequency dependent impedance of an inductor is called 'inductive reactance'.

If you like to learn how a breaker style ignition system actually works, google 'kettering ignition'

soundguy

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I'm just a dumb ME - I can't figure out what 12v does to a magneto.

 

[Soundguy]

eh??

soundguy

 

[Brad_Blazer]

eh??

soundguy

Okay - How does converting a tractor with magneto ignition from 6V to 12V starting/charging affect the longevity of the points?