Greg, Just a lttle tale about a buddy here in NS who had been suffering woes with his "Troy Built" roto tiller of some age.
On our visits here I tried to counsel him on some trouble shooting but as a visitor I had none of my equipment so it was to no avail.
He got ripped for a bore hone and ring job by the local small motor thief.
One of the first things I tended to, once here, was Jim's rototiller. The first thing I did was to try an alternate to the magneto.
I tried a spark coil from a car and a 12V lawn tractor battery.
The old Troy Built had externaly accessable points so the hook up was easy. The machine fired up and ran almost immediately (second pull) and ran smoothly although there seemed like too much spark from those lovely external points.
So, I tried a 6 volt battery, one like those used in hand lanterns, starting was fine and point spark was almost invisible.
I made up a battery bracket and and coil clamp, wired in a switch and Jim has reported three years(so far) of excellent starting and great performance.
Battery yet to be changed.
It really disturbs me that the small motor "experts" here elected to perform an expensive repair that wouldn't solve the problem in effort to sell a new machine.
I, on the other hand, have acheived god like status with Jim and bask in his praise with his every use of his "tiller".
P.S. I did find that the magento coil was available , but at greater cost than my "in inventory" spark coil etc.
On our visits here I tried to counsel him on some trouble shooting but as a visitor I had none of my equipment so it was to no avail.
He got ripped for a bore hone and ring job by the local small motor thief.
One of the first things I tended to, once here, was Jim's rototiller. The first thing I did was to try an alternate to the magneto.
I tried a spark coil from a car and a 12V lawn tractor battery.
The old Troy Built had externaly accessable points so the hook up was easy. The machine fired up and ran almost immediately (second pull) and ran smoothly although there seemed like too much spark from those lovely external points.
So, I tried a 6 volt battery, one like those used in hand lanterns, starting was fine and point spark was almost invisible.
I made up a battery bracket and and coil clamp, wired in a switch and Jim has reported three years(so far) of excellent starting and great performance.
Battery yet to be changed.
It really disturbs me that the small motor "experts" here elected to perform an expensive repair that wouldn't solve the problem in effort to sell a new machine.
I, on the other hand, have acheived god like status with Jim and bask in his praise with his every use of his "tiller".
P.S. I did find that the magento coil was available , but at greater cost than my "in inventory" spark coil etc.
Busy Bee 12-36 lathe, Busy Bee Mill drill, Busy Bee 4x6 bandsaw, Homemade 9x17 bandsaw, Ad infinitum.