[SEL] No Spark on John Deere Model E

[Reg Ingold]

If you take a magnet off a mag, you lose a LOT of the magnetism. You need to 
recharge it in situ.
Does the engine run with a battery and coil?
Reg & Marg Ingold
Newcastle NSW Australia
randmingold at hotkey.net.au
http://www.oldengine.org/members/randmingold
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Allen" <cwja at telus.net>
To: "'The SEL email discussion list'" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>; "C. 
W. Jefferys Allen" <cwja at telus.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 7:22 AM
Subject: [SEL] No Spark on John Deere Model E


>     I am having a terrible time getting a spark at my ignitor from my
> magneto on my John Deere 1 1/2 Model E Stationary Engine. I have totally
> cleaned the mag (actually I have the same problem with another identical
> JD Magneto), put in new carbon brushes, cleaned the bearings, and still
> I cannot get the engine to run. I have followed the instructions in my
> manual for timing the ignitor and timing the magneto, matching the marks
> on the gears very carefully. The engine has fine compression, cleaned up
> the valves which are in great shape, new fuel tank and needle valve
> (lots of fuel when cranked). I have changed out three different ignitors
> that I have and the points are bright metal after cleaning and the
> points snap quickly. They whole engine turns easily through good
> compression. I have pressed the  "L" pin into the detent before mounting
> the magneto, matching the marks on the gears.
>     I have switched the horseshoe magnet between the two magnetos and
> still no juice. The magnets have about 1/4 pound of pull when I remove
> the keeper ( I kept them on the anvil of my bench vice as a keeper). Do
> these magnets go dead often and need to be re-charged?  For most cases I
> am very familiar with these old engines and generally don't have trouble
> getting them started. I have a good number of engines but this is my
> first ignitor project; I have mostly WICO magnetos on my flywheel
> engines and have had no trouble cleaning and refurbishing them. This is
> my first try with a JD and I thought because of the general good
> condition of the engine it would be quite simple to start. Live and
> learn. Any ideas would be welcome even if they make me look silly by
> being obvious.
> -- 
> Jeff & Marja Allen Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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