MTFCA Forum

Another dumb question from Tenn. If I replace the magnets with oil slingers do I remove the coils too?

I assume you mean the magneto coil ring then the answer is yes.

Yes,
but don't forget to secure the back sides of the triple gear shafts.

Andre
Belgium

Without wanting to get into an argument, should you remove all of your magneto components you will save considerable weight from the engine.
I removed all of that stuff from my Speedster engine and weighed it at the time.
The fixed feild coil plate weighs in at 8 kilograms and the magnets, spools etc 7KG's = 15 KG's all up, or more than 33 pounds.
I dont know the weight of slingers, but I'd recon it'd be only about a pound or two.
Cheers,
Rob

Gary, if I were you, I'd do some research on the oil slingers. They have been known to come apart and cause all sorts of problems, I've seen it happen. Myself, I wouldn't use them, but I don't mind the weight of the mag. JMHO Dave

In the first T engine I built back in the early seventies, oil slingers weren't available. So, I made my own from thick aluminum angle (3/16" if I recall). They stayed in there without problems for the entire time I had the car and worked very well. Moved a LOT of oil!

I am not positive, but I don't believe my car has magnets...it free revs very fast. Like a KZ1000 Kawasaki
I didn't think to look when I had the pan off.
If so, slingers have been in there a long time...

If your car has a starter, you can take off the starter and look in with a light to see whether it has magnets or slingers.
Note if you remove the magneto coil, be sure to install the bolts which hold it to the block. At least one of the holes goes outside the engine and would cause a serious oil leak if no bolt is installed.
Norm

What is wrong with leaving the car as it was built?

If I was looking to buy a T and the owner said "By golly, I removed everything that makes a T a T, and you'll have to go to considerable time, effort and expense to put it back to original if you buy it", I'd walk away and buy the next T that came along. With the proliferation of T's continually coming on the market, that would be like, tomorrow.

People imply that removing the magnets is going to make some sort of amazing increase in power, which just isn't going to happen. You're going to gain less HP than you lose to a generator that is adjusted too high. I have heard of just as many slingers breaking off as magnets, and given the massively large number of magnets in service compared to slingers, I'd say the % likelihood of a failure is solidly with welded slingers.

If you have a 6V system you need a working magneto for your engine to operate properly. You will notice the increase engine speed when you switch from battery to magneto.

But if you have a 12 V system there is no advantage in a magneto, it is just extra weight.

Slingers work well, they are lightweight and they move a lot of oil!

Tom Hicks wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 09, 2019 12:24 pm

If you have a 6V system you need a working magneto for your engine to operate properly. You will notice the increase engine speed when you switch from battery to magneto.

But if you have a 12 V system there is no advantage in a magneto, it is just extra weight.

Slingers work well, they are lightweight and they move a lot of oil!

True, except if you run a distributor, 6V works fine for this.
I think no magnets may be a slight HP gain, but probably is a loss on the torque side.

IMO, running without the magnets and coil ring is OK if you use 12v battery for the T coils.

Have done each over the years, so my comparison is :


'15 speedster: Light weight body, std. axle ratio 3.63, rebuilt motor, Holley G, 12v battery, 4 trembler coils. (no mag, 4 angle iron flippers on the flywheel))

This '15 speedster was slow getting underway due to the lighter flywheel, but once going, fast runner.





'09 faux runabout, Light weight body, std axle ratio 3.63, rebuilt motor, Holley NH, Ford magneto, 4 trembler coils.

Very quick launch, as flywheel being stock weight gives the torque with low pedal, popped into high quickly too.
Winner of Stock Class in drag race (Hill Climb) Winchester Speedway, during the Richmond Model T birthday celebration

I removed my magnets years ago and am glad I did it. Iv seen the damage that can happen when a magnet comes loose. The biggest thing with the oil slingers is you need to balance them before installing them., Make sure they and the bolts your going to used weight the same. I went a little over broad on mine. I balanced them and then had the flywheel balanced with them in place.