School me on an old WI Engine

[Baw335]

I was at an estate sale today and found a tamper powered by an old Wisconsin engine. When I got it home, I found that I'm not getting any spark. Someone please school me on the magneto of this thing; I've never owned something so old.

 

[Baw335]

Another photo

 

[American Locomotive]

Start by cleaning the points inside the mag

 

[Motorman55]

get the Model and Serial Numbers of the pump and go on the internet. You should be able to find on line manuals and parts break downs for it.

 

[larry4406]

Start by cleaning the points inside the mag

And sanding the surface of the magnets on the flywheel.

 

[Baw335]

Thanks for the tips on where to start. I'll try that this morning to see if I can get it fired up.

 

[Zeeman]

Are the points located underneath the flywheel? I can't really tell what some of those parts are, but I second some others who have said use the model and serial number to find the correct settings for the plug, points, and air gap. Clean the rust off everything electrical, and see if you get anything. That's a cool engine. Good luck.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Clean points in the magneto first. Nothing on flywheel or under it...it's all in the mag.
Can you hear the impulse coupling snapping when you crank it?

 

[ttpete]

That looks like a Fairbanks Morse mag. Rotating magnet and pretty reliable. The first thing I'd do is to disconnect the wire connected to the side terminal and see if there's a spark. If there is, follow the wire to whatever the other end is connected to. That terminal on the mag when grounded kills the spark to stop the engine. There probably is a switch of some type connected to the end of the wire, either a toggle switch or push button.

 

[Baw335]

I cleaned the points, messed with the plug wire (poor shape), and the grounding shut off switch and it fired up after a dozen or so pulls! It died shortly after and took awhile to get started again but I'm still figuring out the fuel system. Fuel was dripping out of the carb a little but I'll get it cleaned up and figured out. I found out that the model is an ACN. Thanks again for the tips; I'm looking forward to making this a reliable little engine.

 

[American Locomotive]

Check out the smokstak.com forums as well. There are a ton of guys on there who know those weird mags inside and out.

 

[elidas]

So old! I have power mowers close to 100 years old

 

[poppinjohnnies]

Those are good little engines. I have one in my Whiteman Power Buggy forklift.