Flywheel Magnetizing

[simoner1]

Would like to know where folks get their flywheels remagnetized? I live in New York in the Saratoga Springs area but do not have issues shipping flywheels if necessary.
Thank you..

[sydinnj]

sent you a pm

[Mumbles]

Well, you came to the right place as several club members own magnet chargers and one may be near you and might be able to help you out if they read this. The popular Stevens charger was used in repair shops eons ago but I think most of them have been scrapped for the copper content. I tried to find one for several years without any luck so I ended up building a magnet charger. It’s a pretty handy tool.

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[The Boat House]

Most people don’t have access to a
magnet recharger but most magnets
retain enough magnetism in 70,
80, and 90+ year old motors to
start and run just fine. lacking the
skills that mumbles has I spent quite
a bit of money for my recharger only
to come to the opinion that its not
how strong the magnets are but
how fast they pass over they coil
that creates the spark. You should
also know that magnets after WW-II
are permanent magnets and attempting
to recharge them will destroy them.

[simoner1]

Thanks for the info. I have a 1940 Elto Ace that "seems" to barely attract the tip of a screwdriver at 0.5". Wish there was a quantifiable way of determining what the magnetic strength should be just to get that box checked.
Otherwise, capacitor, coil, spark plugs, and clean points are good to go.

[The Boat House]

What you describe is typical for that magneto.
Take the spark plug out and ground it to the
motor. Then spin the magneto as fast as you
can with just your hand. When the magnets
are in the proper location to the coil it will
produce a spark. You wont get a spark every
time because the magnets wont be in the
proper location every time. As a magneto
produces a stronger spark the faster it turns
producing a spark this way would indicate
that you have enough magnesium for the
motor to start and run. Or you could just
put some gas it the tank and try to start it.

[amuller]

Some old time auto electric shops still have magnet chargers. I suppose there are fewer of these all the time as people retire or die off, but It might be worthwhile to check around locally.

[nj-boatbuilder57]

In this application it isn’t about how well they attract steel objects (like your screwdriver tip), but about how well they disrupt the coil’s field. If the spark is good, the magnets are good (or "good enough").

And, as stated, magnets hold their charge a VERY long time. About the only things that can really mess them up is shock or heat. If the flywheel wasn’t dropped or torched, it is more than likely just fine.

Of course, if your spark is week and you know the other components are fine, then you may need to re-mag.

[Buccaneer]

I was always curious if sandblasting a flywheel would
"mess up" or de-magnetize the magnets.
Thoughts?
So far I’ve avoided trying it, but was tempted on
a couple real gnarly ones.

Prepare to be boarded!

[simoner1]

quote NJ-boatbuilder57:

In this application it isn’t about how well they attract steel objects (like your screwdriver tip), but about how well they disrupt the coil’s field. If the spark is good, the magnets are good (or “good enough”).

And, as stated, magnets hold their charge a VERY long time. About the only things that can really mess them up is shock or heat. If the flywheel wasn’t dropped or torched, it is more than likely just fine.

Of course, if your spark is week and you know the other components are fine, then you may need to re-mag.

Thanks for the tips. From what I have read about magneto magnets is that most tips that are provided regarding magnet strength deal with "if a hack saw blade is supported by the magnets field then the magnet is good". That sort of qualitative stuff. Since I am not the first owner of these outboards I can’t vouche for how they were treated over the past 75 years or so. Sounds like their is no quantitative way to know. You either get "sufficient spark" while rotating or you get something in between.

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