Trying to make out the Operators ManualStill noShe

[Kirk]

To All

A couple of days ago I posted my cry for help as I am putting my Cub back together (all for the first time). Now I'm at the point of putting the Battery Ignition Unit (the mag, dist, etc) back in it and trying to understand the manual.

Several of you came to the rescue but I am still struggling with the manual.

On pg 35, of the Operators Manual, under "Installing the Battery Ign Unit"...point # 2 says: "pull out the drive shaft to disengage the gears"

My problem is that nothing "pulls out". Nor do I see anything that even resembles a shaft to pull out.

What am I missing here?

(I'm glad yall are patient with us newbies as you may be in for a long one here.)

Many Thx

[Bigdog]

(the mag, dist, etc)

Kirk, can you clarify that you are working with a distributor ignition rather than a magneto?

I'm guessing that you are trying to re-install a distributor rather than a magneto unit. Does your unit look like the one in the manual illustrations?

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Kirk, the shaft on a magneto does not pull out, but the one on a distributor will fall out if you aren't careful. Is your unit cylinder shaped (distributor) or more rectangular shaped (magneto)? Go to http://www.tm-tractor.com/gel/gel_001.htm and click on J4 Magneto and distributor to see the difference.

[Kirk]

BigDog and John,

AHH, there's dists AND magneto's. That's why mine doesn't look like the one in the manual. I thought that they just made changes to them over the years..

Mine is a magneto! (thanks for the pics, John) And I've taken a pair of pliers to everything on that magneto to see if it pulls out so I could disengage gears. I guess it's beside the point, but why the devil does the maual not represent both types. Sure makes it confussing (just thinking out loud).

My starter is now in the shop getting reworked. I suppose I can proceed with the instructions you guys gave me a couple of days ago in regard to installing the mag.

You will probably hear from me again on this subject. Thanks for clarifying it for me.

[Kirk]

John & Bigdog,

Now that we have determined that I have a magneto....not a distributor..the next step in the manual is "Timing the Distributor to the Engine." I don't find a Timing a Magneto the the Engine section. Is this procedure anyplace that I can pull up?

Thanks

[Bigdog]

Kirk, go back to page 30 in the manual and you will find magneto maintenance procedures. Page 32 covers removal and re-installation.

[Kirk]

Gosh I feel dumb

Thx BigDog

[Bigdog]

Don't feel bad Kirk. I do stuff like that all the time.

[Kirk]

Sorry BigDog, but I've got another question already.

Operators Manual pg 30, #5 says:" Then crank engine one complete revolution to the next TDC"

Question: Is it saying to crank it one full turn or is it talking about bringing cylinder #2 to TDC?

[Bigdog]

One full revolution.

[Kirk]

good news/bad news

I did the one full revolution with the crank.

Got the magneto re-installed, cleaned all the plugs, fresh gas (and put a starter on it from my '48 ) and gave it a whirl. It didn't fire a lick.

I checked the points and they are getting fire. I checked the coil wire (from the cap to the coil) and it's getting fire also.

But I couldn't get any spark from the plugs. What would you suggest next?

[Bigdog]

Kirk. put #1 cyl. @ tdc and pull the rotor cap and see where the the rotor wiper is pointing. It should be pointing at the #1 post on the cap. You're making spark, you just need to get it to the right place at the right time.

[Kirk]

Will do, Bigdog

Thanks

Kirk