40 Minus very weak spark

[flemingb]

We picked up a 40 minus from our uncles shed and it had been sitting around for a while and had no plug in it and was seized and had sat around for who knows how many years before that. My brother tore it apart but in the process had to get a new used connecting rod as the old one broke. The rod came with piston, rings and shaft all assembled. A propeller was also ordered. He put the engine back together to find there was little or no spark. We have tried the spinning the flywheel trick a few times, that did not work. Strengthening the magnet with another big magnet just made a mess and a new used working magnet had to be ordered. A good tecumseh small engine condenser was installed in place of the orginal and still the same. We tested the original condenser with a condenser coil checker and it still tests good. The coil when tested should have had a reading of 4 to 8 according to the tester instructions and only had a reading of 1 to 2. A voltmeter test was performed on the coil as well. The HT lead was alright but the secondary going to the points read way off of where it should be. We would like to get the 40 minus running but at the rate we are going it may just become a decoration as money keeps adding up in parts here in there coming from England off eBay. Is there anywhere here in the States to get a used working coil for a reasonable price or a way to repair the coil or may the problem be something else. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

[david doyle]

run it and see if you like it enough to drop another 100 on a repro coil.

[livewire]

Have you done the basics? Checked the points gap and clean the points.

[1650bullet]

Give us the Id numbers thats on the lower part of the engines crank cases. That way we can help you with what year and type of ignition it has. Its either a villiers or Wipac. So lets get that bit out of the way first.

[david doyle]

IIRC it is possible to use the shorter villiers coils that are available in Britian. Shipping is not expensive. likely under 10 bucks you wont save anything sourcing one in the USA. BUT before you spend the money make sure you can get the old one off with out out breaking the flat head screws that hold the wings on. You might also want to make sure the points box/condenser box will come off. These are unforgiving fastners.

The smart thing to do tho is probabley to just be patient and pick up a complete motor for the price of a coil. Gulls are social animals and the depression they sink into when kept caged alone can cause all sorts of troubles that would not arise if they had a bunk mate or 3.

If you are patient and shop for another gull the chances on stumbling up on a 200 dollars newish honda with low hours increase dramatically

[flemingb]

Give us the Id numbers thats on the lower part of the engines crank cases. That way we can help you with what year and type of ignition it has. Its either a villiers or Wipac. So lets get that bit out of the way first.

Its an SJM 12894

[Stelios_Rjk]

OK so your ignition is Villiers MK1 unless someone have change it.

Over here you can see the types of all ignition used on Seagull outboards. http://www.seagullparts.co.uk/ignition2.html

You could check the resistance between the HT lead and the back plate or the hole where the plug fits. You should get around 4000Ohms (4KOhms).

Oh, only until now I saw that you get 1-2Kohms. That probably means that some layers in your coil must sort circuiting.

Correct me if I am wrong but this means that you need a new coil.

[Collector Inspector]

DD, if you want to use a battery ignition...............no reason why not as simple and gets otherwise no spark motors running etc.

I would wire up as this....(Kettering type coil)

Pos battery to Neg coil

Pos coil to points and condenser

Condenser reference to Neg frame (Condenser is sized by COIL MAKER)

Coil mounted with reference to neg frame. (Any form of coil mounting bracket or studs re motorcycle coil to frame)

Neg Frame to battery Neg.

Kill switch breaks pos from battery. (A MUST DO)

Your schematic is not good, you are probably used to pos ground on old vehicles but the coil is about face for that anyway. (you can just turn your coil around re your schematic but)

My way, neg ground.......see below.

You want the center electrode to donate when sparking not the outer frame reference ground of the plug. Coils have pos and neg for a reason this style......arse about but remember pos always heads to neg.

Just a thought.

Cheers

B

[1650bullet]

New Coil. Have a shop around and E-mail john from SOS and see if has got anything.

[Collector Inspector]

I have said enough!

Enjoy if this is the way anyone may want to go.

If continuing discussion please make it relevant?

New coil from John no probs if that is what anyone wants to do of course.

DD asked another question however

No pack Drill OK?

Old Dears Rule!

B