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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Electronic ignition for Ransomes Multimower.

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Thankyou for letting me post a question. 

For many years I've had an old 1960s ex-council Ransomes Multimower with a MAG 1026 engine and mounted with a Reelcutter cylinder blade unit. The problem was that, though the mesh filter round the starter recoil protected the innards from collecting grass cuttings, it didn't stop dust getting through and this always caused problems with the points, usually in the middle of a mowing session. I was told by my local mower repair shop that to fix this I should fit an aftermarket electronic ignition unit and the owner supplied me with a SIG - 01 electronic device. My brother kindly offered to fit it for me, took the mower away, fitted the device and told me he'd cut his lawn before returning the mower to me. I seem to remember that when he brought it back it ran for about 10 seconds before cutting out and never worked again. It's been sitting in a shed for the last 25 years or so. 

With the current Covid 19 situation I'm having a clearout and I've decided the time has come to 'use it or lose it' but, as previously cannot get any spark to the plug. I've been in touch with Meetens of Preston who passed me on to MAG in Switzerland. MAG offered to sell me new points, coil and condenser but their prices are quite high and they didn't answer my question about a suitable electronic ignition kit. The MAG has a 4 magnet flywheel and I've read somewhere that electronic ignition kits don't work with multiple magnets. Now I'm confused and even questioning my own memory. Did it really run at all or was I imagining it? Can anyone tell me if there is a suitable electronic spark generator that would work with this engine or will I have to go back to points and condenser?

Thankyou for your help.

BruceK

Forums

wristpin Fri, 24/07/2020

Well, if brother is to believed and your memory is correct it would suggest that the module does work with the Mag magneto.  Those module kits come with a twist connector that has been known to work loose so I always solder the connection and protect it with heat shrink tube. 

So first stop is to check / remake that connection, it’s only one wire from the coil to the module and possibly one from there to a handlebar mounted kill switch.  

 

 

BruceK Fri, 24/07/2020

Thanks for the reply and suggestions wristpin. I've already disconnected the kill switch to see if that was the problem. I'll try soldering the connection as you suggest. My reason for doubting my memory is that I contacted someone who's selling a SIG - 01 and asked if it would work with a 4 magnet flywheel and he said he didn't think it would.

It could be the coil of course. I'll do some tests with a multimeter.

Thanks again.

wristpin Fri, 24/07/2020

So are you saying that despite what you said in your first post , it has never worked ? Hopefully your brother didn’t throw away the points and condenser so other than your dust problem you can get going without further expenditure . On most applications I fit the module outside the magneto and leave the points and condenser in situ but disconnected.

BruceK Sat, 25/07/2020

No, I'm not saying it never worked.  It's just that, having read online that aftermarket electronic ignition modules don't work with multiple magnets, I thought I'd check compatibility with the SIG - 01 seller who is currently advertising these on Ebay. He replied that he didn't think this unit worked with multiple magnets.

My other thought was that a new unit such as the SIG - 01, might work briefly on my engine but then either fail after a very short while or cause a problem with the coil because it was overloading it or doing a job it wasn't designed to do, and that perhaps there's another unit available that would be a better match.

I am certain the mower ran very briefly but, having had a few sleeps since then and when there are contradictory opinions out there, even began to doubt my own memory!  I'll have to check my brother's recollections. He's now living abroad.

I thought that someone in the Old Lawnmower Club might have experience with these old MAG engines and could tell me conclusively whether I'm wasting my time trying to pursue electronic ignition any further. Often on specialist sites there are old-school guys who, having done this sort of job loads of times, might have been able to give me a solution to my specific problem. When I asked MAG themselves about electronic ignition for this engine they didn't reply to that part of my enquiry ~ just gave me prices for coil, points and condenser ~  and the guy from Meetens could only refer me to MAG, so I felt I was going round in circles. The only other relevant company which comes up on a Google search is one called DLA Store, and their site is blocked by my browser for security reasons.

The condenser on the engine is still in situ, albeit minus a lead, but the points are long gone. I'm sure I can find a replacement set though, either from MAG or elsewhere. 

Thanks again.