Associated Igniter Question

I have two Associated Busy Boy engines with igniters. One seems to reload using a spring that pushes and the other with a spring that pulls the moveable piece into position. Is this common, or is one of these not working properly? As far as I know, both are original.

Alan If I understand your question right you are referring to the two posts on the lower part of the ignitor. There should be a small spring attached to only one of them. Spring should be attached to the one that holds the points open if you are useing battery and coil ignition. This saves the battery and also prevents the coil from heating. If the engine has a magneto the spring is attached to the post that hold the points together to assure that the current is flowing when the magneto sends the current through to the points when they break. I hope this is the answer you were seeking. Good luck in a good hobby. Joe Morris.

Thank you, Joe, I will check to be sure tomorrow.

[Keith Smigle]

Joe~

When I got my new igniter from Starbolt, the spring was set to hold the points apart. So I just left it that way. I timed the mag at the exact time the trip snaped the igniter and my engine runs great. I understand what you are saying about saving your battery and the coil not heating up, but the same position works well for my mag as well. I have not tried to run it with the points together and the trip breaking the circuit. Was this just a stroke of luck that I got it to run this way?

~Keith

[Ted Brookover]

Keith, they will work either way.

I put both posts on all of the Associated ignitors I build but I also put the spring on the front one always.

My thinking is that if the engine uses a mag and the owner wants to hold the points close, that's great, but on the other hand I would hate for someone to try to run an engine with a battery and coil with the points closed.

Joe, if you find this,it is as I thought. The second igniter has only one post. The other has either been broken off, or was never there. If it had a Mag, would there have been the extra post?

I've had one or two early Assoc. ignitors with only one post and found out this was correct from an Associated collector who knows these engines as good as anyone who may collect them (at least that is my impression). Ed

[Ted Brookover]

That's right Ed and there is an Associated ignitor that has NO post.

It drove me and Dad about half nuts trying to figure how it worked. Because all we ever got was the bare ignitor.

I finally saw an original on an engine and learned that it used a combination "Stop Pin/Spring Holder" that fit over the front stud and was held in place by the ignitor mounting nut.

Not a good system, and not used for long I would guess.