Fold-light mag

[Waunnaboat]

Today I also acquired a 1931 OMC(ELTO branded) Fold-light.  Everything is perfect except it has no spark.  Does a military coil swap work on these?  I still need to dig into it but it will be a while and I might as well order parts while i’m waiting.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

[PM T2]

These things rarely produce a spark unless you work on them first. DO the basic operations and prove that the coil is no good.

PM T2

He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...

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Waunnaboat

[Waunnaboat]

By that you mean to clean up the points, check resistance/continuity, etc…?

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

[PM T2]

With these old motors, the very least you should be doing with a fresh acquisition is to polish the points with 400 to 600 grit paper and make sure all oxidization or dirt is removed. Spray them with electrical contact cleaner and wipe a business card or sheet of white paper between them afterward, the card or paper should be clean after being pulled thru the points. Check the point gap and make sure the contact surfaces are as parallel to each other as possible. FWIW I don’t even bother checking resistance or continuity until I test it for spark with clean points. since I have a Stevens tester, I’ll run the condenser through the short/leakage test. There are very few coils I haven’t been able to wake up doing what I just described. Some coils, you know they’re crap as soon as you look at them ( i.e classic OMC or Skintillas) but most antique coils (aside from some Eisemann coils) will still work if the points and condenser are good and the wiring connections are sound. The Evinrude-Elto coils of the 30’s have a good record of longevity as long as they’re not physically damaged. one thing about a Foldlight ignition – make sure the wires are in good condition and won’t break loose if the motor starts up. That coil is susceptible to failure if the motor is running and a lead breaks off somewhere; the coil will almost certainly suffer an instant death if that happens. Trust me on that one.

PM T2

He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...

1 user thanked author for this post.

Waunnaboat

[Tubs]

  Mine runs on the coil it came with. A member posted this picture of his OMC conversion. Military coil most likely can be used as well. 

 

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

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Waunnaboat

[Waunnaboat]

That note on the plug wires is good to know.  I’ve had one 1940 sportsman coil that was junk even with plenty of points cleaning and everything else, and it had absolutely no continuity from any point.  Hopefully these motors are all good once I have enough time to work on them.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

[Waunnaboat]

I got spark on it today(for at least a few seconds) after cleaning up the points.  I think(but could be imagining) that it popped a few times, but I may have to wait till warmer weather to get it to run for more than a few times.  Could be a condenser issue?  IDK and will have to give it another check for spark and clean the carburetor before I truly know.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

[Waunnaboat]

Thanks all for the help.  The motor now runs great.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

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