Is there any one device to achieve the in car magneto recharge other than the 6 six volt battery's (as has been described here and in the Model T electrical system book). Pretty expensive to buy 6 battery's for this. I believe the electrical manual referred to a modern "fast charger".
I used three twelves. That seemed to work OK. I think 36 volts are 36 volts, whether you do it in the car or out.
I used my 48V golf cart. Worked great and quick to do--minimal set-up.
Three 12 volts will work fine. Just make sure you hook them up in series and the size of the battery doesn't really mean much just as long as they are over 40 amp hrs. each and they add up to at least 30 volts for a good charge. you just want to flash charge them. So if you only have 2-12 volt and 1-6 volt it will work fine.
Daniel,
VERY IMPORTANT to hook the cable to the magpost (or the lead button if out of the car)and "strike" somewhere else so you don't damage the terminal. If you or a neighbor have a golf cart, that's the easiest way ever--no dragging out multiple batteries and lots of cables, just raise the seat and hook up jumper cables to 48V and use the other ends to flash the T.
Daniel,
You don't need 36V ore 48V to recharge your magnets. Your Model T 6V battery and a normal 12V car battery in series , 18V ,will do the job.
Just put your flywheel in the right position and "Strike" only once. If the magneto ring is Ok and the end play on the crankshaft is correct you magneto will work as new.
Good luck.
Andre
Belgium
Some have reported good luck magneto charging with a DC welder.
At: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/279855.html?1333485331
Terry Horlick wrote:
"I always do that when I have my transmission out of the car. I have a moderate size welder which I set on it's lowest amp setting (150 A at 50 VDC if I remember correctly) setting... 50 A DC. I set an old non-useable mag on the magnets and flash it 5 or 6 times. I then turn the mag two poles and repeat. I do this a total of 8 times.
Be sure you have it in the correct position so you are not reversing the polarity of the magnets... I verify this by magnetizing a bolt first and comparing that to the original magnets with a compass.
When you first position the mag it is easy to place and remove. After your first flash you need a pry bar to remove it.
I used to have a web page about how to do this with a good series of photos. My server closed down so that page is gone. Maybe someone here saved a copy they would send to you.
Remember you only want to flash the mag with the DC welder. If you run current through it for any longer it doesn't help magnetize but just creates heat and may ruin the old mag.
Doing this gives you a strong mag, I always run my car on mag. This is much better than doing an in-car charge, but not as good as charging the magnets off the flywheel. The reason I say this is that with off the flywheel charging you can replace the screws and check the magnets for cracks and breaks.
tabare clua is correct, a small welder is ok, DC is absolutely necessary. A welder in AC mode is a DE-MAGNITIZER! Using the welder is an order of magnitude more effective than a 12V battery... even much better than running 3 batteries (36V) in series, when done correctly.
Doing this with the transmission on the bench is better than in the car because you do not have the mag gap to decrease the effective charge.
IMHO, TH"
Good Luck,
Jim
Thanx for all the info. I'll certainly do one of those; may have access to a friends welder (hopefully it's DC). Not likely to be able to get golf cart (I do live a mile from a golf course; maybe I could drive the T there and they'd let me use one of there! Probably not; they'll probably think I'd be rigging it to blow up or something).
Dan
It makes interesting reading about recharging in period publications, Ford condemned the practise for many years, only recommending change over or new magnets in his service bulletins.
By oct 1926 Ford service bulletin has 6 pages on how to do it, the Ford way, using K.R.W. Ford testers and mag/batt charger etc. Apparently it's not a high voltage needed but the ability to reach approximately 80 amps.
I had good results using a 24 volt battery charger.
New golf carts have a 40 volt battery charger built in for charging the batteries.
Old golf carts had a separate 40 volt battery charger that will apply almost 40 amps to the coil ring. With a push button switch, you will not harm the device with three short one second zaps.
With the coil ring laying directly on the magnets and if the current meter shows close to 40 amps, you will have to pry the coil ring off the magnets.
This device is only a little less effective with the magnet in the engine and using the standard procedure.
This device cost $40 and works, as is.
This is a restored very similar unit with the defective switch replaced with a push button starter switch.
I clicked the wrong button first.
Here are the photos.
I clicked the wrong button first.
Here is one of the photos.