By Eugene Kochnieff on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello all. With kettering ignition there should be a capacitor (Condenser same kid different haicut) across the points this resonates with the coil and minimises the current in the coil primary.
If the value of this cap has changed ( due to drying out , these are most often cheap paper capacitors ) the points will burn in a certain way, namely they will pit on one side and build up on the other.
If your points are doing this you need a new capacitor.

By Digger on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello out there,
I'am a new owner of a older Max. It has a JLO 297 engine. It seems to be losing power and backfireing when it is run for a while.
Where are the points@ condenser on It, and how do I time it?
Digger

By Kevin Percy on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Digger,
The points and condenser are located under the flywheel, but I would suspect a fuel problem first, maybe a partially clogged fuel filter. If it starts well and seems to have enough power when it is first started then the ignition timing should be close, and it shouldn't change when the motor warms up. If the fuel mixture is lean I think that would cause the backfiring and loss of power. I would change the fuel filter or clean the screen in the carb (which ever it has), and if that didn't help, then try turning the high speed mixture screw on the carb out 1/4 turn.
Good Luck,
Kevin

By Digger on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks Kevin for the come back.
I found a crack in my fuel line and shaffing on the ground wire to my coil, also a loose connector to the coil for the ground. Runs good again after the repairs.
Thank ,
Digger

By davidinoklahoma on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I just got an older max2 with a jlo engine, it is not getting any spark to the plug, I can remove the plug wire from the coil and I get a weak spark from the post in the coil, it will not jump a very big gap,I claened the coil mounting brackets, replaced the ground wire.I am totaly lost any help would be great.the engine cranks lights work, thanks david

By EugeneKochnieff on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi David,

There are a couple of things to try.

Firstly the air gap between the coil and rotor should be as small as possible for the strongest spark. next the condenser ( capacitor) might be leaky they are cheap so it is worth a try to replace it. Are the points opening enough? most magneto ignitions will run ok with 15-20 thou gap. If all this fails then there are only the expensive things left. The magnet in the rotor may be weak this happens when someone hammers on it in an effort to remove it when it is stuck. They can be remagnetized but finding someone to do it can be difficult, so often another rotor is your only option.
Lastly there is the coil itself it may be faulty with an internal short so once again a replacement is the only option.

By davidin oklahoma on Unrecorded Date: Edit

thanks for the info Eugene,right now I have the engine out , I found that is the only way to remove the cover I cleaned the points, they looked pretty rought,here was some rust on the magnets and the field windings, I allso cleaned that. Im not sure if i can find any parts here I had the coil checked at an motercycle shop using an ohm meter they told me it was good.I guess to replace the condenser, just unsolder the wires from it install the new one and resolder? last question, will a regular 12 v coil for a point system work? this max is 12v pos ground????? thank you for the help. if I can get it going , the max looks like it could be a good time. thanks again, David. Altus Oklahoma.

By David Cartwright (Davidinoklahoma) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

thanks for all the info everyone. Cleaned all that needed to be cleaned, filed the points , replaced the condenser ,with an automotive one,and I am getting hot blue spark thanks everyone .David in Altus Ok.