FrontEngineDragsters.Org Forum

Technical => Spud Miller's Cave => Topic started by: gasserx on April 21, 2015, 04:33:03 AM

Title: Magneto noob
Post by: gasserx on April 21, 2015, 04:33:03 AM

....another thing thats new to me... Magnetos!
I have come to the point where its time to put that thing on the engine.  I have huge respect for electrical stuff (got burned a couple of times as a kid), and keep reading about people getting zapped by Mags. Will this happen even if i just turn it by hand? If so, im gonna hate it... have to get myself some thick rubber gloves  ;D ;D
Can this be avoided in some way?

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: ricci32 on April 21, 2015, 05:44:04 AM

got zapped the other day just turning the mag a little to get it in the cam gear LOL. Be Brave.

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: gasserx on April 21, 2015, 05:49:09 AM

Quote from: ricci32 on April 21, 2015, 05:44:04 AM

got zapped the other day just turning the mag a little to get it in the cam gear LOL. Be Brave.

You are kidding me? I dont like ...   :-\

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: Spud Miller on April 21, 2015, 06:23:13 AM

 A mag can't shock you unless you're touching the transformer (coil) output. A Super-Mag, Sprintmag or Pro-mag has to be connected to the coil to make juice that would hurt. The mag's primary output at the harness (when rotated by hand) can barely be felt.

 If it's a Vertex mag with the coil inside ("OAC" type), then yes...if the cap is off and you touch that secondary lead sticking straight out and turn the mag, it will bite you.

 You do have to be alert when buzzing in a Vertex...in the process of positioning things, holding back pressure on the rotor and rotating the mag body in the engine you might get a jolt if you're touching that lead poking out. You can put an alligator clip on that lead and ground it to the top edge of the mag to prevent getting shocked. The mag will still buzz in fine with the secondary shorted to ground.

 Spud

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: H.G. Wells on April 21, 2015, 01:45:26 PM

I would like to tell you that you will only do it once, but I would be lying.
Only hurts for a split second and it is all part of the fun!
If you don't get the occasional injury it make for boring story telling years later.

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: gasserx on April 22, 2015, 12:16:22 AM

Thanks a lot Spud! It is of course a Vertex...haha

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: gasserx on April 22, 2015, 04:23:56 AM

Quote from: H.G. Wells on April 21, 2015, 01:45:26 PM

I would like to tell you that you will only do it once, but I would be lying.
Only hurts for a split second and it is all part of the fun!
If you don't get the occasional injury it make for boring story telling years later.

I can just partially agree...but at least you know that you are alive when it hurts  ::)

...oh, and yeah... like when i was kid and found a doorbell button with a short wire on it? I thought it was a good idea to try connect into the power connector so it could play some nice nice sounds. Well.., it didnt. But our house blacked out pretty quick.

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: dusterdave173 on April 22, 2015, 06:22:35 AM

We had an old man at work that would lay his hands on  plugs of a running 4 cylinder welder and stall it out by using himself as human ground--fun show!

Title: Re: Magneto noob
Post by: wideopen231 on April 22, 2015, 08:57:10 AM

Dave,

 Our drivers wife  once made a comment about that kind of stuff.

We where leaving Rockingham driving out the campground road.Two guys sitting  around fire in the rain passing 5th jack back and forth. SHe asked what are they doing. Crew guy said believe it or not they are having fun. Her comment "men do strange things for enjoyment"  this froma less than smart woman. But very true. I think being human ground would qualify .