Briggs Magnetron ? UPDATE.....

[SteveP 0]

Briggs 323431, 16 single with no spark. Went to my TRUSTED shop Saturday and picked up a Magnetron coil. This was supposed to replace my coil and points. I even asked him if I would have to have the flywheel repolarized, the answer was No. I installed it this morning and STILL NO SPARK. Serching the Briggs site I came across nothing about repolarizing flywheels. Only 2 thing I was doing wrong was lying the plug on top of the engine (a no no in their mind) or maybe not spinning it fast enough with a weak battery (on the charger now). I thought (there I go thinking) that I would just slap this on, no wires to attach, no points to adjust and "WaLa" spark, WRONG. Yes I did set the air gap. HELP

[RayS 80]

Been through that with a Briggs dealer before. telling me that it would work. It won`t. You will either have to have the flywheel repolarized or just go the simple route and buy a electronic ignition module. http://cgi.ebay.com/Mega-Fire-Electronic-Ignition-Module-Chainsaws-Trimmers_W0QQitemZ270120333450QQihZ017QQcategoryZ85915QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[Chris727 2,142]

I've had mixed experiences with magnetrons. They work great on the smaller aluminum engines without changing magnets, in fact I just did a broadmoor the other day, but for some reason they don't work on all of the cast irons. I've had some that run with them but seem a little out of timing, then others barely run at all.

[PatRarick 1]

Steve, What is the code date of your engine? Only the latest cast iron models do not require repolarizing the flywheel for Magnetron. Not sure of the date break though. 1985 comes to mind but I may have that confused with when all Briggs engines came standard with Magnetron. Did you purchase the Magnetron module ONLY, or the complete armature (coil)? You state "no wires to attach". That may be your problem if you bought only the module as the armature's primary wire (the one the originally went to the points) has to be attached to the module. Whether you bought the module only, or the complete armture, you still need to hook up a wire for the ignition kill or you won't be able to shut down the engine. Do you have the armature mounted in the correct position? As you face the flywheel, the module should be on your left so the flywheel magnet passes the module before passing the coil. To put it as simply as possible, the module is a sealed set of "points" that are operated magnetically, rather than mechanically. On a standard point ignition system, the points break (open) just before the magnets pass the coil. When the armature is mounted correctly, the flywheel magnets pass by and open the "points" in the Magnetron module at precisely the same instant that standard points would open mechanically. If the armature is mounted backwards (with the module to the right), it will operate much the same as a partially sheared flywheel key in a conventional point type system. The "points" will be opened by the flywheel magnets just AFTER the magnets pass the coil. Spark will be very weak or non-existant.

[SteveP 0]

I now have spark. I used a Briggs Magnatron coil part number 398811. My mistake was I mounted it backwards. No where in the directions did it say it had to be mounted one way or the other. Imbossed on the coil was "cyl side" and "this side out". Both where very had to read and not noticable until my mechanic told my it was there. Fire up on what little gas was left in the carb bowl.:D

[Roy 0]

"Do you have the armature mounted in the correct position?" Congratulations Pat, you nailed the problem. ^ Good thinking Steve. Glad you found the problem. :)