another Snow engine

[fumopuc]

Hi everybody, today was the day of the final ignition set up. Before I will assemble the inlet valve cage, hopefully finally, there was a good opportunity to see the spark plugs in the combustion chamber and to check the function.
The adjustment, 8° before TDC was easily done, but I have noticed a strange behaviour of the sparks already.
Than the mess started, sparks, no sparks, weak sparks, sometime sparks, two sparks in less than half a second ............I hate it.
Ground check to the socket of the spark plugs was perfect. Power was perfect.
Checking all the wiring and than detecting some copper visible at the hall sensor wires coming out of the adhesive at the lower distribute part.
I have send Roy from S/S some pictures and an order for a new lower distributor with hall sensor.
Has anybody out there seen any similar problem ?
Would be happy about any comments.

[GordonL]

What are you using for the ignition system? TIM 6 or S&S ignition or other?

[Ye-Ole Steam Dude]

Hope to see it running real soon and the beautiful smooth motion.

[fumopuc]

What are you using for the ignition system? TIM 6 or S&S ignition or other?

Hi Gordon, it is a S/S System from Roy Sholl.

[GordonL]

I am also using the S&S system and have a weak spark but I had some other problems and had to disassemble it again so I did not do a lot of testing. I will put it back together again this week and try again.

I am not sure if the contacts in the distributor are actually supposed to make positive contact or if they will bridge a small gap. I have never used a distributor before.

[fumopuc]

Hi Gordon, some time ago the system was sparking without any problem.
https://youtu.be/GH2eLATDuis
https://youtu.be/Ie4K9w6_0ig
So I have made something wrong.
I will ask Roy for his timing light and hall switch tester also, so I hopefully will be able to check the funcition of this in future.

[fumopuc]

I am also using the S&S system and have a weak spark but I had some other problems and had to disassemble it again so I did not do a lot of testing. I will put it back together again this week and try again.

I am not sure if the contacts in the distributor are actually supposed to make positive contact or if they will bridge a small gap. I have never used a distributor before.

The center of the finger should have contact to the center contact in the cap, to each cylinder the small gap will be bridged.

[fumopuc]

As usual I have got a long mail from Roy at S/S with some comments and tipps.
I have ordered his little hall switch tester also, to be able to check the funcition of a hall sensor in future when ever needed.
So now I have to wait for his parcel and than I will replace the hall sensor and do some testing to get the lost sparks back.

[Tjark]

Hello Achim,

I gave it some thoughts about your problem.
Did you had to put the magnet into the housing for the second time?
The HAL sensors are sensible to north and south pole off the magnet.

       Tjark.

[fumopuc]

Hello Achim,

I gave it some thoughts about your problem.
Did you had to put the magnet into the housing for the second time?
The HAL sensors are sensible to north and south pole off the magnet.

       Tjark.

Hi Tjark,
here is the link to that part of this thread where I have done the O.K. test.
http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,4060.60.html
At this time I thougt all is O.K.

[Tjark]

Achim, i have seen your spark test and this was okay.
But I had made a mistake when I disassembled everything and  put back together.
I had put the magnet the wrong way in.
That’s why I put this remark.
When you have made no changes it shut be working okay now also.
Then it’s a shame that it’s not working now.
Hope you soon sorted out the problem.


  Tjark.

[fumopuc]

Hi Tjark, thank you very much for your thoughts and comments.
The disk with the magnets inside, is fixed by a set srew. If I assemble the disc wrong way around, I can not see the flange with the set screw anymore, so it is unlikely to do it the wrong way.
I am waiting now for the little hall switch tester from S/S and than I will be able to check the function of the sensor indipendent from the whole system. This will give the way for further trouble shooting.

[Roger B]

I'm still following along  I hope you get your ignition problems sorted out soon    

[fumopuc]

Hi Everybody, this morning was the day to look for the first pops of my Snow engine.
Ignition was checked some days earlier and also the compression test was, in my eyes, fine.
So I have opened the chemical lab to prepare the mystery mixture. I have started with 50:1.

[fumopuc]

... with the help of the power screwdriver I have got the following result.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2fIxCm7aQM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2fIxCm7aQM</a>
I do not have the time yet to continue with the experiments, but a quick measurement with the laser thermometer shows cylinder #1 and #2 with nearly 55°C to 45°C and cylinder #3 and #4 with only 30°C to 40°C.
So I should know were to attack tomorrow.