Wico EK / Stover magneto problem.

[JBailey]

I recently bought a Wico EK mag for my Stover CT-2. When I trip the mag by hand it produces a nice blue spark, every time. But when mounted on the Stover, it seldom will produce even a weak spark. It's as if the trip finger is just easing the armature away from the core rather than snapping it away. The trip finger is a repro but seems to be very much like the original. Anybody have any experience with the Wico type 2 trip mechanism that can give me some pointers. Thanks.

[Neale Behm]

Do you have a running engine you can borrow the return spring from? (This is the spring just forward of the trip mechanism. Harry's High Tension Ignition page shows it if you aren't sure)

I found that an incorrect spring can cause you to use a lot of bad language.

Thanks Harry

Was this mag rebuilt? If not, check to see if the guide is worn and the armature is comming off uneven. I had the same problem w/ my Stover and my Taylor. It would even spark when I pulled the push rod by hand, but never or sometimes by turning the flywheel. Try putting a screwdriver under one side of the armature and twisting it to see if it comes down and not the other side. If it was rebuilt, it's probably your kick off adjustment or your spring tensions.
Good luck,
Tim B

[Sky]

that things gatta have a stout spring in it to snap really good. i lernt that from my hurcules.

[Rick I]

Be sure the long bolt inside of the spring is screwed all the way in also. If it isn't, the spring won't compress.

-Rick

[BDMelon]

i have a KE stover that had same concern, replace the springs that trip mag & return, now it makes ouch! great zaps

melon

[Chuck Woycke]

i agree with tim,last year i rebuilt 5 ek mags that i had lying around.put new coils/cond/points in them.all of them gave a good blue spark using a screwdriver to trip them off.then as usual i test them on a 7hp hercules engine for 1 hr running.all but 2 wouldn't give a spark.i noticed that the armature was not coming off even.after replacing the bushing that goes into the armature,they all worked ok. marks magneto sells the bushing for around $20.00. since then i made a jig to mount the armature to a face plate on my lathe and bore/ream out the egg shaped armature and press a thin bushing.or you can remove the iron bushing out of the armature and chuck it up in a lathe and bore it out and press in a thin bushing-chuck