[SEL] BTH magneto question

[Jerry Evans]

Hi The list,
         I'm having problems with the BTH Type M1 mag fitted to the Ronnie 
N and, being totally ignorant about magneto's, I'm hoping some of you can 
come up with ideas and information.

         When I first got the engine I did get it running with the mag but 
the contact breaker spring was a bit stretched and would touch the body of 
the mag and short out. I temporarily sorted this out with a strip of 
insulating plastic but this wore out very quickly. A friend (who knows 
these things and is not a fool) took the mag to sorted this out by 
shortening the spring a little. He also cleaned up and serviced the mag and 
skimmed the brass brush track. When he was finished the mag was producing a 
nice strong spark.

         Now that the engine is reassembled I'm getting erratic results 
again and the spark is pretty weak (the mag is well earthed to the engine 
via the mounting bolts). Justin (my aforementioned friend) suspects that 
the condenser in the armature is causing this problem but has never 
stripped one of these.
         I found a company in Britain who offers a "modern replacement" 
condenser and have written to them asking for details regarding how to fit 
the new condenser (does it need special equipment and suchlike) but have 
not received an answer from them yet hence my letter to the list.

         Does anyone have any info on how to do this - can a skilled person 
do this with normal tools or is any special equipment needed ?
         It would also help if anyone knows what the values of this 
condenser are and could tell me what to look and ask for and I could try to 
source one locally. I'm not against ordering one from Britain but it would 
be easier and quicker if I could get it locally.

         I do know that I could send the mag to England, Aus or the States 
for repairs but unfortunately my budget does not allow for this. We have no 
local companies able to fix these old mags.

         Of course any other ideas or suggestions regarding the working of 
the magneto would also be appreciated.

         I have temporarily fitted a Wico mag to the engine and he is 
"puttering away" beautifully but I would like to repair and replace the 
original BTH - especially seeing as that as I went to so much trouble 
polishing it up and removing the chrome to see polished brass :-)

Thanks in advance.

Keep the revs up (or down)
Jerry Evans
Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
Tel. (016) 365-5787 or 083 283 7191
Visit our website for old engines in South Africa.
www.oldengine.org/members/evans  

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