Ignition Coil Id

[GWGAllisfan 159]

is there any way to tell a Briggs points type coil from a magnetron type?. I have a motour that with points, but i think it has been converted. The wire from the condensor to the coil has been cut at the shroud and just ends in mid air. The other wire, that would connect to the kill switch, is connected to a wire from a plug on the coil. these join on a bolt at the back of the motour. Only one wire comes from the coil. the coil itself is marked " Cyl Side' and "this side out" The number "4995" is stamped into the plastic cover. A round metal part sticks out from the bottom between the legs of the armature. When mounted on the tractor it would be on the left if facing the flywheel. Is this a newer coil? the engine ran but poorly, so after I had been through the carb, ignition was next to check.

[RayS 79]

This a magnetron with electronic ignition

This a magneto for points If it is a motor set up for points it will never work right without sending the flywheel back to the factory to have it repolarized or use the correct mag and a electronic ingnition module or points.

[GWGAllisfan 159]

Judging from the picture I think the one i have is the newer style, Reasons: Mine has no ground wire, is sheathed in plastic and no gap between coil and armature legs. sounds like I need to buy the older style coil.

[RayS 79]

If it has that circled area in the first picture it is a magnetron.

[GWGAllisfan 159]

thanks, that's what I feared. I doubt the flywheel has been re-polarized. Is the old coil still available? if not doesn't Briggs repolarize flywheels if you ship them in to them?

[RayS 79]

The old style is still available. Part number is 298968.

[Al 6]

Hi, There is also a "Magnetron" kit that Briggs makes that slips up between the coil and the leg of the armature. This converts the point type coil to electronic. We use these all of the time and never put points in any more when applicable. FLYWHEEL BEFORE A CERTAIN DATE CODE IN 1980 WILL NEED TO BE REPOLARIZED. FLYWHEELS FROM THAT DATE CODE ON WORK AS THEY ARE. You can tell the year by the first 2 digits of the Code # on the engine. ex 92723xxxx was manufactured in 1992, 7th month 23 rd day. Numbers after that signify plant, line and shift then a sn for that shift. Briggs will repolarize the flywheels for free if you pay the shipping both ways. There are not that many of the old flywheels around any more. I would never recommend going back to points. If your magnetron is bad. BE SURRE TO CHECK THE IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE PUTTING A NEW COIL ON. Briggs stresses that the most common cause of failure it bad ignition switches. 12 volts on the kill line for 1 millisecond. 1/1000 of a second can destroy the trigger mechanism. Briggs recommends before replacing the coil to put a meter or light on the kill wire with the coil disconnected and to switch from off to start 25 times looking for any type of flicker of voltage on the line. Sometimes old switches get powdered metal from wear in the contacts in the lube in the switch. When going to start this "smear" can intermittantly get voltage to the kill terminal, as can any loose pieces on the inside. Al Eden

[GWGAllisfan 159]

Thanks guys. My engine is pre 1980, so i just have to decide if i want to pay shipping of a flywheel both ways, or if i want to just buy a new old style coil. Just out of curiosity. I have a non-running 23D. Is the coil the same as on a 240000 series?

[RayS 79]

The 23D has a different style coil that I think is NLA. But you can switch it to battery ignition like the K series kohlers.

[gregc 3]

The coil for the 23D is Briggs part #296834 and I believe it's still available.

[GWGAllisfan 159]

I went to by a new non-magnetron coil today and found it had a MUCH shorter plug wire than the one currently on my motour. Are there Two different ones? The one I looked at was 9.25" long. the magnetron one has a wire at least 18 inches long. This was an actual briggs one, do the aftermarket ones have a longer one?