Original coils ??

[kodibass]

I just was given a old lark 4 40hp under the flywheel were a set of the original coils (translucent see thru tea colored ones) anyway they are pristine no cracks wires look great would a collector doing a show engine have use for these or should I just toss them? I'm sure they both work as well as the look. All the originals I'v ever come across had cracks & chunks falling off them, not these they are darn nice,

 

[F_R]

Re: Original coils ??

Don't toss good coils. If you want to offer them to a collector, go where the collectors are, the Antique Outboard Motor Club, The Antique Outboard Motor Club Website - AOMCI.org They have a free classified ads forum where you can offer them (Webvertize).

 

[boobie]

Re: Original coils ??

If they still work, use 'em.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Original coils ??

Myself, knowing that the original coils were so bad about cracking, I wouldn't put them on a motor that I restored. But my "restorations" are used and not museum pieces--unless you count sitting in my living room for a while. I guess there is some purist that might really like those old coils....

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Original coils ??

I wouldn't use them, but if a collector wants them you may be able to sell them. All old OMC coils essentially have a 100% failure rate in time. New coils are only about $20 each and they'll last forever.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Original coils ??

I doubt anyone would want them for originality's sake, either - they're not visible unless you disassemble the motor.

I've found a few motors over the years with what appeared to be original coils, but they all failed within a few summers use. I'm guessing the optimal conditions they may have been stored under in order to preserve them were quickly undone once they were subjected to more rigorous conditions...

 

[Crosbyman]

Re: Original coils ??

using old coils.... "bring raincoat and oars says" Confucius ....and a big lunch

 

[kodibass]

Re: Original coils ??

Do ya think if I send them back to BRP, they will replace them.........."-)

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Original coils ??

They should probably be sent to the smithsonian as the only surviving set of universal magneto coils left on the planet!

Really, I wonder why the universal mag. coils were so bad? Was it the epoxy/resin that they used? I know some of the other coils used in the 40's last virtually forever..... I've got some original coils on my HD20 that work fine and look fine!

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Original coils ??

They probably had nickle & dimers even back then. Guys who thought, hey, we can save 50? per motor if we use this plastic instead of that plastic! And, shoot, even the original coils lasted far longer than the motors were ever designed to last in the first place. I'm pretty sure the guys who designed the universal magnetos had no clue that there would be crazy folk like use trying to keep them going 40, 50, even 60 years after they first came out!

 

[kodibass]

Re: Original coils ??

I think the chemist who created the original mixture for the coil casing later designed nogahide & was interior designer for the Yogo automobile!