Correct Sumter magneto

[Tanner Remillard]

I have a 10 H.P. Hopper cooled, ignitor fired Fairbanks Morse that I need to find the correct magneto for. I dont know the model No. of Sumter that I need. Can anyone shed some light on this for me so I know what to look for? Thanks

[Doug Barbee]

Tanner,
I think it a #14 Sumpter. I will try to look at it Tomorrow and make sure.
Doug

[Chris J]

i dont think its a 14 cause a 16 maybe it was a 14 was on a friends 3 h.p. it must be larger than 16.

[Robert Haus]

Some of the earlier ones had the Sumter #12 rotary, they later used a 14, and later still a #22...it will depend on the horsepower size, model year, and if it is the rotary or the plugoscillator type of mag used. (plugoscillators being more common on the 1918-1919 models, the earlier years having the rotary mags and after 1920 or so they were going to the ab33 high tension spark plug types)

rh

[Tanner Remillard]

It could'nt be a rotary since its a ignitor engine, it would have to be a trip mag would'nt it? My engine is the early style, I believe the first year the 10 H.P. Z was was built.

[Rudy]

According to Chuck Wendells fairbanks book, on page 83 it says that in 1914 they had a rotary low tension magneto, in 1915 they also experimented with a Webster mag ,and in 1918 they switched to the trip plugoscillator style mag. This was on the 10HP and larger engines. On these larger engines i would guess that the rotary mag was a Sumter Junior, #30, or the larger "B" model from looking at the pictures.Hope this helps.

[Rudy]

Here is a pic of a Fairbanks Webster mag bracket,aparently they weren't too common.

[Ed Noli]

Tanner.. Look at my reply to "1916 Fairbanks Z canon type" back on 6/5/07.
the info I posted should help you. Ed

[KidDynamo]

Originally Posted by Tanner Remillard

It could'nt be a rotary since its a ignitor engine, it would have to be a trip mag would'nt it? My engine is the early style, I believe the first year the 10 H.P. Z was was built.

Yeah, it could be a rotary if it were like, say, a Fairbanks headless, but it probably isn't.

"The 10 and 15 H.P. "Z" engine, 1914 pattern with Sumter Oscillating Magneto were built

On 10 H.P. Engine up to and including No. 323573
On 15 H.P. Engine uo to and including No. 327133

The 10 and 15 H.P. "Z" engines, 1918 pattern with Sumter Oscillating Magneto bore serial numbers as follows:

10 H.P. engines from No. 323574 to N. 403566, Inclusive
15 H.P. engines from No. 327134 to N. 396816, Inclusive "

After this came the Bosch Magneto.

Exactly which magnetos were used, I can't determine at this time. It does appear that they fitted a different magneto model, but I don't have a chart, as this book is a 1941 replacement parts catalog and at the time of printing, the replacement magneto was actually a conversion to spark plug and an RV-1 high tension magneto, for both the 1914 and 1918 10 H.P. "Z".

Basically, it sounds like your engine may have come with a "Plugoscillator" , perhaps not. I don't think I've even seen one, so what do I know.

[Rudy]

According to Wendells Fairbanks book the early ones had a rotary magneto, not a oscillating mag,this would also make sense since the early 3 and 6 HP engines came with a rotary mag and the plugoscillater mag came later, and what this has to do with a Headless Z is beyond me.