38 Elto Pal Spark

Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 38 Elto Pal Spark

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 17 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Posts
  • February 11, 2016 at 10:38 pm #3622
    Anonymous

      I have a 1938 Pal which has no spark. It appears to have a very simple electrical system. The coil checks out, I installed a new condenser and my Tenma meter says it is good, the points seem to be functioning as they should and the wiring all check out. This leaves the permanent magnet in the flywheel and the gap. The magnets will hold a fairly light screwdriver. The only two things I can think of are: 1. the magnets need to be recharged (I don’t have the equipment to do this but would gladly pay to have someone else do it.) or 2. the gap between the flywheel magnets and the stator is to great. (I don’t think there is any way to change the gap on a Pal)

      Your thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated. I plan to attend Bob Grub’s meet later this month and will bring the Pal along.

      February 12, 2016 at 12:57 am #31802
      crosbyman
      Participant

        Canada Member

        no spark on the plug….. or the wire ?

        Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

        February 12, 2016 at 2:51 am #31807
        kevinf
        Participant

          I’ve got 8 or 9 Eltos and Evinrudes from the late 30’s including a 38 Pal and the magnets are good in all of them. If the coil is good and the connections are all clean and correct I usually I end up going back and cleaning/gapping the points a couple of times before I get it right 🙂

          Kev

          February 12, 2016 at 1:48 pm #31818
          Anonymous

            Thanks for your replies. My ohm meter tells me that all the connections are good and working as they should. Most of my work has been with Johnson A series motors from the 1920s, and yes I would agree Kevin, that based on my experience with those motors it would be unusual to have the problem relate to the magnets. I cleaned the points with 400 grit paper but won’t rule that out. The Pal has a very simple magneto, could I be missing something? As far as I can tell you set the point gap by simply visually observing if the points are open or closed.

            February 12, 2016 at 2:05 pm #31819
            bob-d
            Participant

              US Member

              How are you checking to see the actual spark?
              If you are just grounding your spark plug to the engine and no spark, I wouldn’t rule out the plug.
              Bob D

              February 12, 2016 at 4:04 pm #31827
              Tubs
              Participant

                A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.

                • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Tubs.
                • This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Tubs.
                February 12, 2016 at 5:42 pm #31832
                Anonymous

                  Thanks Tubs. You have been quite helpful and it is greatly appreciated. I know I must be doing something wrong. I have checked out the connections with an ohm meter and bury the needle with the points closed and nothing when they are open … just like one would expect. I have cleaned the points and checked out the coil and all the wireing everything seems good.

                  This brings me to another possibility. A few weeks back you suggested I replace the condenser and gave me some specific replacement recommendations. I bought a Radio Shack 0.1uF capacitor, but did not use it. Instead I bought a NAPA AL869 which was the same thing the motor had before replacement and installed that. Unfortunately NAPA does not have any ratings for their capacitors … hard to believe but true. The 0.1uF capacitor is in the range of those for this motor. Is it possible or likely that the NAPA AL869 is so far out of range that it is causing my problem? The motor had that same AL869 when I bought it about 9 years ago … and it was not running at that time. I am not that savy on electrical circuits. If this seems to be a possibility I will switch out the AL869 for the one you recommended.

                  May thanks for your help.

                  February 12, 2016 at 5:52 pm #31833
                  crosbyman
                  Participant

                    Canada Member

                    please indicate if you have spark or no spark on the wire lead to the plug….test it to frame ground using a screwdriver or paperclip

                    or are you are only missing spark on the plug itself….

                    see BoBD’s comment above

                    if no spark wire end ….be courageous… test with your finger to see if ANYTHING is being generated … you will know 😮

                    Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

                    February 12, 2016 at 6:13 pm #31835
                    Anonymous

                      No spark! … and yes I was courageous and grabbed hold with my fingers (wire at the plug) and gave the rope a big pull … nothing. Good thought but unfortunately that is not it.

                      February 13, 2016 at 11:59 am #31874
                      jerry-ahrens
                      Participant

                        US Member

                        I don’t think I have ever seen a bad condenser on one of these motors. Are you using a feeler gauge to set the points to the correct gap? That motor should jump a 1/4 inch air gap, cranking the motor with the spark plug removed.
                        I have seen the spark plug wire cracked and arcing to ground, on the underside of the mag plate.

                      • Author
                        Posts
                      Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 17 total)
                      1 2
                      • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.