Ransomes Marquis 4A - Ignition problem
At last I've got started on my Ransomes Marquis MK4A. I acquired this a couple of months ago as a non-runner and was assured that in the past it had received extensive care but had not been run for a couple of years. Actually, it does seem to be in quite reasonable nick although there was a lot of dried mud on the cylinder blades.
Non runner.
No spark at the spark plug.
No spark on my tester at the end of the HT lead.
I don't know how to test the HT lead and started to disassemble to clean and investigate problem.
There was a wire (obviously fitted by some maintainer in the past) routed round the front of the cylinder and I did not know what it was for. On disassembly it seems to be the kill wire and was connected to the kill switch. So, could kill switch be shorting out and preventing spark ? Disconnected kill switch (there was a convenient connector in the middle of the wire - you can see the blue connector in the photo). So, if I spin the flywheel with the tester grounded on the cylinder head there should be a spark - no ? Unfortunately still no spark.
Having read many posts on this site (many thanks Wristpin in particular) I was somewhat expecting to see an electronic ignition to be fitted. But looking through the flywheel all I can see is the points and what I suppose is the condenser.
So, am I correct in thinking that a spark ought to be visible when spinning the flywheel in the current state of disassembly ? (Basically starter and cowl removed)
What do I need to check next ? That HT lead ?
Meantime - off to get some 5/16ths Whitworth bolts as I think that flywheel is going to have to come off. I'm also thinking that I'll be installing a Meco electronic module as recommended by Wristpin.
Forums
Thanks again ! I really didn
Thanks again ! I really didn't have much confidence about setting the points - childhood memories of fiddling about trying to find TDC with a bit of wire through the spark plug hole. Anyway, it turned out to be quite simple to do as you suggested and to my utter amazement and huge pleasure a spark is now duly being emitted. Still toying with the idea of the electronic replacement.
Good news. The Sloper on the
Good news. The Sloper on the Marquis has a keyed flywheel so even if you do remove it the timing is not lost.
Have you cleaned the points!
Have you cleaned the points! Removing the flywheel makes the job easier but it can be done through the window - easier without the starter cup . Don't use emery cloth but a bit of fine sand paper or coarse wet or dry glued to stiff card is ideal. Give the points a good scrub then hold them open, insert a bit of clean paper such as 90 gm copy paper and gently pull it through but not right through. Open the points and remove it. If you drag it out and the points snap onto it you may leave paper fibres just where you don't want them! Then set the points gap , eighteen thou from memory, and repeat the paper cleaning.
I would check the spark off the bare end of the HT lead , no plug connector and no patent spark checking device. Remove the plug, hold the lead an eighth to a quarter of an inch away from bare metal such as one of the exposed cylinder head bolts and either flick the flywheel over or wrap the rope around the starter cup. If you then have a spark, refit the plug connector and the plug and try again with the plug held against the bare metal. No spark - you may have a dud connector or plug. Got a spark, refit the plug and see if it will fire up.
Just remember that you are dealing with a machine that may be over fifty years old and even with every thing set right you probably won't get a " cracking" spark and fitting an electronic points and condenser substitute module won't make up for a coil that is well past its best. However with a reasonable coil and condenser , clean and correctly adjusted points those old Slopers will run on the smallest of sparks. The electronic unit will give reliability but it is not a remedy for an iffy coil.