I have just acquired a Little Forty from the local recycle tip, built in 1951. Most of it is there and there is compression. I have cleaned the points and fitted a new plug but the spark is at best intermittent at the points. Any suggestions?
Chris
Lack of sparks
Moderators: John@sos, charlesp, Charles uk, RickUK, Petergalileo
Hi
the most important thing with an FV is to avoid dismantling the thing if you can possibly avoid it! You won't be tempted to do that for just an ignition problem of course.
I have been told on more than one occasion that the earlier Villiers magnetos respond to a thorough clean of the points, a thorough clean of the HT lead contacts, and a new plug. They also need gapping correctly, - here are the instructions from an FV tank...
*************************************************
MOST IMPORTANT
USE FULL THROTTLE FOR STARTING
FUEL MIXTURE ONE part of oil to TWELVE parts
of gasoline - ( 3/4 pint to one gallon )
PLUG GAP Keep points close ----- maximum .015”
Keep motor tilted when not in use – but under no circumstances
beyond horizontal position
Note the 15 thou gap as a maximum.
*******************************************
Good luck - little model forties are my favourite. Has yours got the small cylindrical tank or the canted oval one?
the most important thing with an FV is to avoid dismantling the thing if you can possibly avoid it! You won't be tempted to do that for just an ignition problem of course.
I have been told on more than one occasion that the earlier Villiers magnetos respond to a thorough clean of the points, a thorough clean of the HT lead contacts, and a new plug. They also need gapping correctly, - here are the instructions from an FV tank...
*************************************************
MOST IMPORTANT
USE FULL THROTTLE FOR STARTING
FUEL MIXTURE ONE part of oil to TWELVE parts
of gasoline - ( 3/4 pint to one gallon )
PLUG GAP Keep points close ----- maximum .015”
Keep motor tilted when not in use – but under no circumstances
beyond horizontal position
Note the 15 thou gap as a maximum.
*******************************************
Good luck - little model forties are my favourite. Has yours got the small cylindrical tank or the canted oval one?
Lack of spark
Hello Chris - if you have a spark, the engine will almost certainly run, assuming you've also got the fuel side sorted out.
The spark will improve after the inial run, as the condensor will be charged up.
Good advice from Charles - FV's use a 'sandwich' assembly method for crankcase, cylinder and head and fun to seal up during reassembly, but there is almost certainly no need to go this far.
FV's are cute motors and not so common - have fun! Rick
The spark will improve after the inial run, as the condensor will be charged up.
Good advice from Charles - FV's use a 'sandwich' assembly method for crankcase, cylinder and head and fun to seal up during reassembly, but there is almost certainly no need to go this far.
FV's are cute motors and not so common - have fun! Rick
Little Forty
Thanks for your suggestions. The motor has a cylindrical tank. There does not appear to be a condensor - should there be one?
Chris
Chris
It's a small rectangular unit encapsulated in tin, and it lives cunningly hidden underneath the points. To get at it you'll have to remove the cylindrical points box from the magneto baseplate. That means taking the flywheel off, and you will doubtless have read the advice about that on this and other sites. In short, don't in any circumstances use a flywheel puller. If you can't find that advice, then ask here again.
John's FAQ is probably the best source of information:
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/faq.htm
But before you remove the flywheel, is your spark completely lacking? Is it intermittent? Can you detect a faint spark in a dark room?
If there is a spark, but just not a very good one, you can try the famous 'whizzing it round' technique, again described in depth on John's FAQ. I have personally experienced the supposedly dead ignition coming to life after a couple of minutes with the flywheel rotating powered by an electric drill. Again, if you can't find that stuff, come back!
Let us know!
Good luck.
By the way, the little round tank is definitely the prettiest.
Good luck
John's FAQ is probably the best source of information:
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/faq.htm
But before you remove the flywheel, is your spark completely lacking? Is it intermittent? Can you detect a faint spark in a dark room?
If there is a spark, but just not a very good one, you can try the famous 'whizzing it round' technique, again described in depth on John's FAQ. I have personally experienced the supposedly dead ignition coming to life after a couple of minutes with the flywheel rotating powered by an electric drill. Again, if you can't find that stuff, come back!
Let us know!
Good luck.
By the way, the little round tank is definitely the prettiest.
Good luck