Saving Old Seagulls

Annoying when one finds a score in the bore
no doubt it will still run
You have mentioned that what shall not be named!...remember Harry Potter?

And if only I was a little bit more patient I wouldn't have brake the stuck piston ring in order to free it

Stelios,
In line with previous comments on the prop, my SJM35 has a 4 bladed one looking like yours. They certainly look the part.
Jeremy

Nice thanks.
I have also seen some pictures here and there with SJMs fitted the prop I have. I wanted to buy one pretty original so I missed small details that more experienced members than me noticed. But I think it was a good buy.

After some digging in my coil managed to rescue it!! You can see here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4177&p=32426#p32426

But it must have more gaps. In any case the engine run!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xywWSnB ... e=youtu.be

Some details on that. It wasn't an easy start. Many adjustment on the points to set her running. Finally 9 thou did the job. I also set the spark plug gap a little bit more than 15 thou. With these setting managed to get her running.

In addition, while running a was seeing all the time spark on the point. Is that normal? I tried to capture it on the video but I don't know if I managed to.

Stelios_Rjk wrote:After some digging in my coil managed to rescue it!! You can see here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4177&p=32426#p32426

But it must have more gaps. In any case the engine run!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xywWSnB ... e=youtu.be

Some details on that. I wasn't an easy start. Many adjustment on the points to set her running. Finally 9 thou did the job. I also set the spark plug gap a little bit more than 15 thou. With these setting managed to get her running.

In addition, while running a was seeing all the time spark on the point. Is that normal? I tried to capture it on the video but I don't know if I managed to.

Well done Mate. And yes seeing the points sparking all the time is normal, Its what fires the plug timing wise.

Stelios_Rjk wrote:And if only I was a little bit more patient I wouldn't have brake the stuck piston ring in order to free it

blow torch on the piston frees the rings every time for me

I try a little bit with the torch but it the rings overheat then I suppose they loose their properties, become weaker etc..

It's a pity that the research on coil construction was never completed.

The last few turns of the secondary winding are on top of a small mica pad that is directly underneath this bronze cap, the insulation on the last 6 or 8 turns was cleaned off & the small mountain of solder was soldered through the hole, the brass cap was soldered on top, sort of solid state, almost vibration proof.

Both CharlesP & I know the gentleman very well, who worked at Seagull as the production manager up to their closing, prior to that he ran their service department, where you could bring your motor in & pickup a rebuilt identical model on the same visit, & before that he'd working in almost every job, including the test beds, as he progressed up the chain of command.

Charles & I have had many conversations & cups of tea with him during our researches.

When I asked him about closing up the points gap as Mr Crossley describes in the FAQs, his comment was "Bollocks, how many Seagulls has he worked on? it retards the ignition!

Closing up the points, but to never less than 12 thou, only helps on the coolie hat Villiers ignitions where the timing can be returned to the correct position, by moving & relocking the base plate.

The distance BTDC that the 64cc & 102cc motors should fire is 1.99mm or 23 degrees.

Stelios:

I am not 100% certain but I thought seeing the spark on the points is a big no no? Wont that eat them up? I think that is why the the condenser is there to keep that from happening? I was under the impression (possible illusion) that our modern points ignition was a step up from the sparking and short points life of old?

I have no idea David. I only change settings until the engine run sweet.

Pretty interesting infos Charles and a reason to study and maybe research!

Tell them what it should be Bruce.

So my condenser is dead?
And what is the capacity of a good condenser?

I always thought that the points should have a flicker of spark when running