Posted by Jack Smith on June 14, 1998 at 00:20:16:
In Reply to: M-37 Magneto 24 volt posted by Cecil Cox on June 13, 1998 at 22:11:57:
Cecil,
I believe you must be referring to the waterproof military distributor with the internal coil. Things that can cause it to stop firing are a shorted condenser, points not opening or closing, and a broken/worn primary wire. The internal coil sometimes goes bad, but all these parts can be replaced easily and cheaply. Because the unit is sealed, it is a bit harder to troubleshoot, but if you have it removed from the engine, start with the points and condenser. Just replace them with new ones. With the points set at the proper gap, try it again and see if it fires. Check the primary wire while you have it opened, and if it's bad, replace it. Make sure the unit is rotating as you crank the engine, and the rotor is in good shape. The center button on the rotor is known for corroding, and if you see this on yours, replace it. Finally, the coil itself costs about $30 and can be gotten thru military truck parts distributors. (see the links here on this site) Everything else should be available at a Napa store. Bring your old parts so they can identify them. Post back if you need more help. Don't be scared off by the waterproof distributor...it's quite the same as the one in your car, and can be repaired simply.
Regards,
Jack