Mystery Bamford engine

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

For the WICO style of rotating magnet magneto Martin Perman is correct in that the capacitor (condenser) is mounted in an easily accessible position. The magneto currently in place on this engine would appear to be a rotating coil magneto and with those it is common practice (but not universal) to embed the capacitor in the armature.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Wico,Lucas, ML single cylinder mags all have accessible capacitors

Martin P

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

Thanks for all the replies. I have got the armature out and still can't see an obvious capacitor, I have taken photo's and the first one shows a small brown cylindrical object with a wire from the winding going into it, if it is I can't see how to remove it. Help! Regards Pat

Regards

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

Following on I have just found the Brightspark page which shows how to do the job chapter and verse, I will try to digest it and report back on the results. Thank you all for your help and I do feel that I have taken up a disproportionate amount of your good nature. Best regards Pat

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Pat,

Just PM'd you with my Mag repairer details, ring him after 18:00 though.

Martin P

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Likely as cheap to buy another (but always the risk of a dud). There will be lots on sale at the end of July, at the Cheffin’s vintage sale at Ely. Not the cheapest place to buy one, mind, depending on demand.

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Pat, as you will have now seen, the capacitor (condenser) is contained within the brass body at the contact breaker end of the armature. The centre screw that I said yesterday should not be insulated, actually screws into the body of the condenser. As a consequence you need to retain some of its physical presence – if not its electrical connections. The Brightspark tutorial is good but you need to be very careful removing the slip ring when dismantling the armature. The HT wire from the armature coil usually becomes corroded where it enters the slip ring so clean it well when putting things back together. The wire is just a push fit into the hole and establishing a good contact is a bit hit and miss.

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

I will probably fit the later type of condenser either a CO1 or CO2 which fit on the points plate depending on the rotation which I need to work out. The internals came apart fairly easily and it has been a very interesting journey. Thank you so much for all of your help. Best regards Pat

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Pat, looking at your photos you are going to have to dismantle the armature in order to disconnect the old capacitor (condenser). If that is not done it is likely to be a pointless exercise in mounting a 'Brightspark' capacitor at the points plate. You need to follow the 'complete works' chapter on the Brightspark website in order to repair the magneto that you are working on. Any defects in the old capacitor, other than a complete open circuit, will continue to influence the working of the magneto. Even if the capacitor is currently open circuit, it may well re-establish a connection and hence a fault condition, when in service.

I hope that you followed the advice to provide magnetic 'keepers' for the magneto body before removing the armature.

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

I have removed the capacitor so that I could match it up but I have now decided to get the CO1 from Brightspark which seems to be the best way forward. The magnet is firmly clamped on my metal top bench and I have cleaned everything ready for assembly. Thanks all for your help and I will post the results of my labours good or bad in a few weeks. Regards Pat

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