Success…Lauson Pony Coil Converison w/ video

[mas]

I posted my pony coil conversion with pictures a couple of years ago on the old site (now lost). Other projects and life got in the way, which stalled the project without ever testing the conversion. Well, I spent yesterday and today working on the motor to get to the point to try and start the Lauson in decades. I had to clean a replacement tank, go through the carb, replace the throttle levers (broken) as well as other adjustments. In the end, I am very pleased with the results. I cannot wait to test the SportKing on the water and make final carb adjustments.

The SportKing is kinda an odd duck and not very popular, but it maybe the only antique outboard allowed on lakes in the future due to its "clean footprint!"

Still have a bit to go, but it’s running!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2ZWy9KRqfI

Happy Motoring,

Mas

[thepetrolist]

I’m so new to this site that I haven’t seen the original post you did of this engine, but it sure did turn out good, runs like a million dollars! Great work and a cool little engine!

[jcrigan]

Great to see you finally got that motor working. If I may ask, what did you end up using for the capacitor? Those Lausons run a long time with only a bowl of fuel. Hope to see you run that motor at one of the meets.

[mas]

Thanks guys..

I ended up using an original capacitor from a Lauson parts motor (hence the yellow tank) that "looked" pretty good. The motor seems to run really well with the conversion…but I have no idea if the capacitor will last. I tried to find a capacitor for the John Deere pony motor ignition, but the last price I got from my local John Deere shop was over $40.00…which didn’t float my boat! Does anyone know the mF value of the original capacitor (Eisemann 62D magneto) and a modern replacement if/when she fails? I still do know what effect a mismatched capacitor/coil/magneto will have on the ignition…any ideas…?

Happy Motoring,

Mas

[jcrigan]

The capacitors for the pony motor can be found in the Brillman’s website. I don’t have my catalog with me but they were around twelve dollars the last time I checked.

[jcrigan]

I have used capacitors that are used on older Chevy 6 cylinder trucks with great success. They are around .2-2.4uf.

[legendre]

With one odd exception, every ignition condenser I’ve ever encountered was nominally 0.2uF – be it on a car, motorbike, moped or small engine. If you think about it, they all pretty much do the exact same job. It would seem to be one value you can almost bet on..

The lone exception is the Motobecane 50V (and possibly 40-series) models, which apparently use 2.0uF. I have no idea why this is the case, nor have I investigated it. However, it may have something to do with the fact that on the Motobecane**, the ignition coil grounds through the tail lamp, as as such, also powers it.

(** ETA – Then again, that might be a different marque that used the weird tail lamp + ignition ground circuit.. need to check it.)

[chris-p]

The Eisemann 62D Coil has a part number of H27-927

Its Operating Amperage is 2.2, and the secondary continuity min is 35, secondary continuity max is 55

All of the Eisemann Magneto Condensors:

H22-910
H23-470
H24-235
H24-924
H26-982
H28-0990

….all have a range of .17 to .22 uf.

The Tecumseh powerheads (still Lauson) used condensors with a slightly lower uf rating, around .13 to .17 if I remember correctly.

[legendre]

It should also be mentioned, that, while there is tremendous economy-of-scale in producing millions of condensers of a given value, smaller-value condensers are cheaper than larger-value condensers, all other factors held constant.

So if it "will work" with 0.1uF, there’s no reason to spend anything extra on 0.2uF – if there is, in fact, any cost advantage to be had. For the most part, ignition condenser value is specified as "anything equal-to or greater-than" the spec.. though things might get hairy if +much+ larger values are used.

[chris-p]

I would say for the 40s/50s/60s vintage magnetos, a lot are in the .18 to .22 range. Cannot really go wrong with .20 uf.

As the motors vintage gets earlier, the uf rating vary.

30s vintage motors average more in the .4 uf range (.36 to .44) These include the P30,P35, P40, P45, PR40, TR40, etc…. and Evinrude counterparts

Motors slightly older than that, such as the A35, A45, VR45, and the like had roughly a .3 uf rating (.27 to .33), and Evinrude counterparts Big Four, Speedi Twin, 460.

Very early motors, such as the A, A25, J25 had a much lower uf rating, as low as .09, but most I have tested are around .12, Evinrude counterparts Ace, Pal, Ranger, Cub, etc…

Mercs and Martins are all around .16 to .21

Olivers slightly lower at .13 to .17

Call me a weirdo, but I have a pretty good collection of condensors. Don’t ask me why. Also like to collect Magneto testing equipment, and manuals.

My wife wants to lock me up.

[Author]

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