IC Engine ingition systems

Hi Chaps,

I am building a half scale hit & miss stationary engine (a Sparta/Jaeger/Hercules Economy) and have got to the point where I need to start thinking about ignition systems.

For the stationary engine boys out there; the design calls for a Webster Tri-polar dummy magneto with a spark plug fed from some of the available electronic systems which is not right as the Webster's were typically low voltage magnetos and only used with an ignitor.

These engines were originally supplied in a number of guises including, battery + ignitor, Webster tri-polar and ignitor or Wico EK and spark plug (amongst one or two other options). My thoughts are to build a dummy Wico EK containing the necessary electronic wizardry for a spark plug, or to use a battery and ignitor in the interests of building something as true to original as realistically possible.

My question is: has anyone had any success building a small (half) scale ignitor to use in place of a spark plug? It's easy enough to build the device but I'm not sure about its potential performance on a relatively small scale engine.

I know Bob Shores in the States has a book on building a half-scale Wico EK which may be an interesting option but I thought I would explore the ignitor idea first.

Any ideas?

Regards

Mark

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Reply to
Mark_Howard
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Do you want to build a small spark plug or a glow plug. Or what is an ignitor (sorry, I really dont know the term).

Nick

Reply to
Nick Müller

Hi Mark, check out Reg Ingold's models. He has had success using quite a number of different methods and has made a lot of models:

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Reply to
Patrick M Livingstone

"Patrick M Livingstone" wrote

Don't know is the site was any use to the OP, but I certainly enjoyed it. Thanks :-)

Reply to
Nick H

Thanks Patrick,

Not only has he built a Hercules Economy (from scratch!) but he built it with an ignitor and video evidence on the web site proves that it runs!

I know this guy has been retired for 20+ years but he has to be one of the prolific engine builders I've ever seen - very impressive.

I have emailed him, expressing my admiration and asking for ignitor tips.

Thanks again

Regards

Mark

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Reply to
Mark_Howard

Hi Nick,

An ignitor was commonly used in the early days in place of a spark plug. It was a low voltage (relatively high current) device that could be used from a battery power source or a low voltage magneto. It was a mechanical device, similar in some ways to a set of contact breaker points whereby the voltage was passed across two contacts which sparked when separated. The device was usually driven from the same push-rod that opened and closed the exhaust valve on hit and miss type engines. Obviously the breaker points were inside the cylinder in the same way that a spark plug would be.

Many early engines used them, particularly (but not exclusively) early American engines such as Amanco's etc.

Hope it helps.

Mark

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Reply to
Mark_Howard

Ah! Now I know. Isn't that called "Make and break" (or is that an US-term?).

I think I have a few drawings (not for scale models) if you want that.

Nick

Reply to
Nick Müller

Any drawings would be gratefully received!

Thanks

Mark

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Reply to
Mark_Howard

If you can handle about 20 scanned pages (lots a text and about 10 drawings) and your eMail-address is valid ...

I quess that will be 20..30MBytes.

Nick

Reply to
Nick Müller

before you dig for your German dictionary: text is all English. :-)

Nick

Reply to
Nick Müller

Excellent! Thanks Nick it's kind of you.

Mark.

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Mark_Howard

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