I am trying to get a Jap 2A going but have no spark.
The flywheel magneto is a Wico FW880.
I have done all of the obvious stuff like cleaning the points and all
connections but still nothing.
How do I test the capacitor ? If I replace it with something modern and
easily available - what spec should it be ? Can I damage the coil if I get
it wrong ?
Any other ideas to try ?
Cheers
Squid
That looks high for a secondary, but look at the primary coil
resistance as well, that should much lower, probably 25-50 ohms.
Secondaries do vary, but I'd have guessed that is possibly open
circuit with carbon across the gap/break,
Roly probably has some bits he can measure up, I'm at work so I have
not got anything here to lay a meter on, other than an old Suffolk
Punch.....
Peter
6K is not inconsistent with past results I've had from good mags of this
type but there is no guarantee its not breaking down under load. Our
resident capacitor man is getting wet at the moment but will hopefully
return soon. Bitter experience suggests checking all the obvious things
first :-) Is the HT lead sound and with sound connections at both ends, are
the points absolutely clean with no trace of oil or oxide film, and the one
I always fall for; are the insulating washers in the right place?
From my one experience of this type of mag the coil/pole piece distance from
the flywheel is adjustable and needs to be not quite touching.
hth
Roland
"....are the insulating washers in the right place?"
I don't know for certain. I assumed that the engine had just been put away
under a bench for the last 25 years, but if someone played with the ignition
and put it together wrong, that could be why it was put away.
I am getting a connection to the casing from both the terminal and the body
of the capacitor - but when it is removed, there is no connection between
them.
There is an lv wire that goes through a grommet into the crankcase - I can't
think what it is for other than earth, but if it is why not terminate where
you can get to it ?
Does anyone have a wiring diagram ?
"...the coil/pole piece distance from the flywheel is adjustable..."
It does not look adjustable.
Paul
Hi Paul,
testing the capacitor fully (often the archaic, but contemporary, term condenser
is used when talking about magnetos) is
not really possible without equipment to subject it to 500V DC and measure the
extremely small (if its any good) leakage
current when fully charged. A measure of the capacitance and power factor also
give indications as to the quality of
the capacitor. 500VDC in the primary circuit may seem a lot to some of you, but
I have it from two good authorities
that a goodly back emf will not be kind to capacitors of lesser voltage rating.
I have to say that you would need to look far and wide to find someone who knows
less about JAPs than me, but magneto
principles are pretty similar in most engines. The capacitor is used to
suppress sparking across the contact breaker
points in order to stop the points becoming pitted and useless, and to allow
optimum energy tranmission to the
sparkplug. Typically in the latter stage of a capacitor's life it becomes
leaky, eventually going short circuit at
working voltage. This means a lot or most of the energy meant for the spark is
lost.
I suspect that the capacitor in a JAP is oil impregnated paper/aluminium foil.
Perhaps some of the others could comment
on this point. If its a mica capacitor, they can last for much, much longer.
In my experience, any oil impregnated
paper capacitors of this sort over thirty years old which I've tested are
knackered. I've tested all the condensers
from a job lot of about six Wico A mags I picked up once, and every capacitor
was almost short circuit at 500V.
As to capacitance value of the magneto capacitors I've measured are around
220nF. I must stress none of these are JAP
capacitors. For any of you who are wondering, duff capacitors usually measure
okay on a capacitance bridge which
subjects them to a couple of volts AC.
Paul, sorry this is so wordy, its written to be informative in general. The
measurements you took on the coil sound
quite reasonable to me.
Now then, Roland, as to your remarks about getting wet, the only problem I
suffered from weather wise was sunburn! I'm
still aglow now :-).
Regards,
Arthur G
It obviously does not rain on the Godly:-) We had sunshine and showers on
Sunday and it persisted down yesterday.
regards
Roland
snip
suffered from weather wise was sunburn! I'm
Thanks for that, but without any capacitance metering facilities it seems
that my best way of eliminating the capacitor is by substituting a different
one.
How do I find out what specification to get - there is nothing marked on the
Wico one, nor is there anything marked on the capacitor on my rather rusty
pile of Matchless (Which may or may not work).
Can I damage the coil if I get it wrong ?
Paul
condenser is used when talking about magnetos) is
the extremely small (if its any good) leakage
also give indications as to the quality of
you, but I have it from two good authorities
knows less about JAPs than me, but magneto
suppress sparking across the contact breaker
allow optimum energy tranmission to the
leaky, eventually going short circuit at
foil. Perhaps some of the others could comment
longer. In my experience, any oil impregnated
knackered. I've tested all the condensers
capacitor was almost short circuit at 500V.
220nF. I must stress none of these are JAP
measure okay on a capacitance bridge which
The measurements you took on the coil sound
suffered from weather wise was sunburn! I'm
Paul,
I would try any condenser from a motor factors or similar, the capacitance
value is not all that critical and I can't
see how you could damage the coil.
Regards,
Arthur G
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