Putting The Spark Back - Vintage Magneto Restoration

The rewind and restoration of a B.T.H magneto for a vintage Velocette motorcycle. Getting to grips with my recently restored coil winding machine and completing it's first rewind.

[@ianlawrie919]

Absolute concentration and deftly executed craftsmanship! Beautiful video 👍👌

[@steveellerby9379]

Good to see someone taking up an old trade I got two magnetos that need work..... one day

[@steamwally]

Thanks, I actually bought the machine with the intention of learning at home but then had the opportunity through work. Not a bad way to do it I guess. It's certainly a very labour intensive process but I like the time honoured old ways of doing things.

[@ryanachen7737]

Excellent work! I really enjoyed watching the vintage winding machine. Thank you for bringing the old junk back to New Life!

[@stephenstead6333]

Know shop do this work now if thay did their be a line up out side the shop it time taking mate

[@alan2804]

That was an interesting taster of a mag restoration, yes id like to see one from scratch and going through each step with your usual clear explanations. Ive not seen a coil winder like that before either, what a wonderful piece of kit and useful in restoration of magnetos, keep the videos coming please.

[@2639263926392639]

Most interesting. Thank you for posting, watched every second.

[@BPantherPink]

A true perfectionist's labour of love... 'nuff said !!

[@sooperzero4087]

Thanks for sharing this video with us! Amazing craftsmanship, and awe inspiring!

[@Mfhblueberry]

I find your videos extremely reassuring. You approach all the problems I would completely shy away from due to a combination of ignorance and lack of experience. Your sober and steady style I find admirable. KZbin is too full of people making “have a go” videos where they blindly fail due to some daft mistake. Your channel has been readdressing this balance since the beginning. 👍

[@steamwally]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoy the videos. Whilst I make plenty of mistakes, I do try and learn from them for next time! I think if I've learnt anything over the years, it's to take my time with every job - still faster than doing it all again..

[@stevesayer4045]

You did a great job mate. And think you for showing us this video mate

[@steamwally]

Thank you, it's certainly given a lovely old bike it's legs back.

[@ianaristotlethompson4186]

Yes. Very interesting. I’m glad there are people out there willing to take the time and effort to show the process. Thanks.

[@craigkelly4480]

Very interesting and useful video. I've just purchased a Lister A which has an ML magneto (CM1 I believe). The design of my mag seems to be very similar to yours. The pick up is missing on mine so I would be very interested in understanding further how your restored the pick up on yours.

[@msdandrew]

What an awesome video Phill. Throughly enjoyed. I for one would love to see more magneto work (that said, more of any of your work is appreciated!). Thank you for taking the time to film, edit and upload this

[@steamwally]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. I'm using some new editing software so this one was a very basic edit, but I'm learning my way through it.. I'll take a more in depth look at the next magneto project.

[@enginelover1]

Well, That is something that describes your knowledge. Definitely as you said, that you need patient to make and will break yours eyes paying attention to what you are doing. My eyes are not very good, and by watching the video I can imagine how exhausted I will be doing so. One of the best videos I have saw this year. You are a brave man, had followed you for number of years now almost from the beginning. Achievements like this are what makes you best in you hobby. Watching you doing this made me feel childish on my restorations :). I wish you deeply all the luck on the future rewinding jobs. Happy 2021 mate. Cheers.

[@steamwally]

Thanks Joseph, well I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I enjoy learning new skills so that's what I do it, though I have only really just scratched the surface. Happy new year to you, hope it's a good one! Phill.

[@hhoward14]

Absolutely first rate video on restoring a magneto, in a way that few modern people would have the skills or mind set for. Don't think no body cares. I certainly do. If the end of the world comes, you will be one of the men that get's things going again....

[@clivelee4279]

Most interesting, I used to do this as a day job nearly 50 years ago, ( my ex boss is still doing it ) didn’t do the coil winding , he got a machine after I left , but what a performance , it was mostly the condensers slip rings ect in Lucas mags. Thank you .

[@balum8725]

Hi, great videos. I would like to know the guage of the secondary wire that you have used, I would also like to know the amount tension and speed of rotation required for secondary winding.

[@denhaagtrader8781]

Where on earth would I be able to get one of these "douglas magneto machines" what a beautiful bit of kit. Let me know if anyone has one for sale in good working order thank you

[@johnstevenson6651]

I watch a lot of KZbin videos as I am retired.. I don’t comment on many but I take my hat off to you ,,, excellent 👍 ,,,,

[@steamwally]

Thank you, glad you found it of interest. Since filming this, I have built a proper vacuum/ pressure chamber for the resin and improved the process.

[@rushymoto]

I had my BSA B33 mag done by Ribblesdale auto electrics in Deep Dale up narth some where. A Lucus dealer. He put it in a hot box to test before and after to simulate conditions behind a hot engine cylinder. They are long gone now. My Listar D mag was done nearly 30 years ago when I was a kid through the Lucus dealer in Dover. Also long gone.

[@steamwally]

Yeah that's quite common practice, a lot of winders have a hot testing rig and will hot test armatures straight out of the oven. The aero mags at work go through a very thorough endurance test. Not something we have to do for most aircraft now but some would also be tested in an altitude chamber, the kit for that is spectacular.

[@NavyPanther54]

51:50 curious about that black wire. It has that spring with the little metal cylinder on the end of it. Does that little cylinder/pin thing just press against the wheel inside the magneto? I have an old Pegson ER2 Power Rammer and the magneto isn't giving spark. Haven't opened it fully yet but the original spring was toast in the black end. I put a new spring, similar size maybe a little longer. So it should be rubbing very gently on the wheel on the inside, but is it supposed to? Thanks!

[@steamwally]

The Bakelite moulding that the HT lead screws onto is the HT pick up from the slip ring. The cylinder on the spring is infact a carbon brush which must run on the slip ring at the front of the armature. If you need a new carbon brush, check out Brightspark magnetos.

[@TONYJUD57]

All i can say is, WOW! i know there will be one of these on my Ransomes MG5 Crawler.

[@rotaryhoes]

Thoroughly enjoyed that video. Love the speed at which you can crank it up once you have it set right. I really enjoyed the video as it was from beginning to end. When i was making videos that is how i was starting to do them rather than a series, but it is a lot of effort and commitment and i appreciate the effort you went to. We don't have the virus here, really feel for you guys over there but it really has turned times back a bit of people staying home tinkering and families being together and to be honest i am really enjoying that. Keep up the good work.

[@steamwally]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. The editing takes time, filming whilst tackling the job isn't too bad. I've just changed editing software and got a cheap new PC (the old one was 12 years old!) so it's going to take some getting used to. Next, the cameras really do need updating as I find the old ones struggle unless I've got the place lit up like Blackpool! The virus is bad here at the moment and I've just about had enough of it now. It's infuriating the number of people who just aren't taking it seriously - they just can't see how they fit into the wider picture. During the Second World War, 70k civilians died in the Uk over 6 years, 87k have now died from the pandemic in just over a year. I really do wonder where it all went wrong, a little bit more sense on the part of the wider population and we wouldn't be where we are now, it's certainly not all the governments fault, far from it. Anyway, that's as near politics as my channel gets.. I consider myself fortunate to be among the league of garden shed engineers with too much to do and never enough time..

[@MrAuldphart]

Apart from your excellent workmanship, it is pleasing to see spotlessly clean machinery and work surrounding, Absolutely essential for high quality work, It is a credit to you sir,

[@steamwally]

Thank you, I try to keep a tidy workshop - as well as being conducive to a good job, it helps maintain my enjoyment of the work. Any work done in my free time must give maximum enjoyment, magnetos are certainly satisfying to overhaul.

[@thra5herxb12s]

Francis Cann used a coil winder very similar to yours, but very battered and beaten. He did many rewinds during the time I worked for him, but something I never learned. I remember his entire house always smelled of baking coils and bonded brake shoes. I'm surprised his wife Ruth let him do it in her oven.

[@horacerumpole6912]

Very interesting!!

[@kostoglotov2000]

BRILLIANT.

[@AK-ck7cy]

This is a great video. I wish you would have shown how you put the coil in. BUT It's A Great Video. I loved how you showed how to wind the coil,and how to vacuum it also. Very good information. I'm working on different magneto. I repair ones on hit miss engines. So the information is very similar. I'm working on a Bosch AB 33 magneto. Similar to the one that you have shown. Only my condenser is bad. It came apart. It was original. So I half to replace it. So I'm working on it. But thanks for the information. Great video. I would like to see some more on magneto. I'm also working on a Webster magneto, and a EK magneto to. So I'm busy with different ones. I don't have a coil machine wish I had one. But I can get most of the coils if I need to. Thanks again for the video.

[@Biokemist-o3k]

Fantastic video!! I have been following a guy named Norman from Isavetractors and I got the bug to wind my own stator coils from vintage engines. I have always loved the perfection of Morris and Bosch Magnetos and have wanted to see how these were made. I will probably have to build my own machine but I thank you for the awesome information and techniques you have shown.

[@bsatrialsguy9095]

Thanks for sharing . I left few of bikes project. Due to magneto. Repair cost too much. I always thought making those meganeto should be done cheap enough. In cnc and 3d print world

[@steamwally]

They are a little more complex than it first appears, the steel laminations cast into the aluminium body could prove challenging. The armatures are also made up of laminations and machined and you couldn't save much time on the winding of the armature if it's done in the proper way- they would quickly end up very expensive. It's very easy to see why there are so few who overhaul mags properly- there are vastly easier ways to earn your money.

[@bsatrialsguy9095]

@steamwally thanks for thoughtful reply. I have links in developing countries. Love to see them selling under 100 euro it will revive lot of old bikes ..I will study more .I have only one professional magneto in Eire .sometime I think what will happen if he stop doing it.

[@steamwally]

@@bsatrialsguy9095 Magnetos were expensive when new, I think the main problem you will come up against trying to produce a magneto to retail at that sort of price will be having to use materials of much lesser quality than the manufacturers used in the past. If you can produce good magnetos for double that price, I'll eat my hat!

[@bsatrialsguy9095]

@steamwally I want try with bth mag I have at some stage . Not sure these thoughts will materilze or not thanks .

[@glaicogobbo4046]

Precision service just like a fine jeweler! Congratulations! There is no subtitle translation for Latin languages. If you can, thank you very much!

[@ekus6196]

Very informative video - thanks . Could you please tell me how you cleaned the magneto body ?

[@mattswan7710]

Absolutely fantastic ! I have just spent two days restoring a 55 year old Shelly Jack ! ... many thanks so interesting

[@ianyonok]

Great video, very interesting, Thank you.

[@tekknow8482]

Great video! Do you know anything about a shield with a stationary armature?

[@jefflewis5852]

Great video, really informative, cheers.

[@baldjeff]

please make another video of a complete rebuild beginning to end!

[@rushymoto]

I hope that micrometre on the bench hasn't been left closed up? :)

[@mikewilson631]

Excellent. The only observation I would make is that the HT pickup/lead joint needs a waterproof cover, as would the advance/retard cable. The latter probably comes with the cable; it might be difficult to get one to fit with the non-standard HT pickup.

[@steamwally]

The pickups very often don't have any such cover, but such an addition is not a bad idea. BTH did make completely waterproof versions of these magnetos which were intended for competition.

[@midgoog2]

Some of the older Mags tend to suffer from a loss of magnetism . Have you run across any of them and how did you deal with it ? Stay safe Stay healthy 2021 could be a roughy in the UK with the virus and Brexit officially in place. Cheers Eric

[@steamwally]

Thanks Eric, best wishes to you too for this new year. Magnets doloose some of their magnetism over time, it seems to be more noticeable with the older low tension machines. It's not something I've studied but I can only think that the manufacture of magnets improved over time? I don't currently have my own magnetiser but the ones I restore at work are recharged on a powerful magnetiser after overhaul. That should be done with the magneto assembled and it's important to remember that you charge North to South, South to North, but I expect you already know. I'm certainly not much into politics, but I think the Brexit situation will be just fine in time - the papers are busy listing all the ways you never knew Brexit would effect you, like it being more difficult to take your dog on holiday for instance... I think in some ways it will be a change for the better, there will be negative effects too. I'll just keep doing my thing, life is what you make it.. Phill.

[@cavman7]

As I am about to start a restoration on a 1941 Matchless G3L, this was a great insight into how much I have ahead of me. More importantly, that a mag should spark with such little rotation. I suspect I will be seeking the services of a good Mag restorer here in Australia. If not, I may be shipping it to the UK to you. :) I just subscribed. Thank you.

[@steamwally]

Thanks, I'm glad the video was useful. Good luck with your restoration - enjoy it!

[@highdownmartin]

I was just going to post” lucky it wasn’t a pile of rust after it’s rest in the shed” Oh. It was! Happy new year mate

[@steamwally]

It wasn't far off! Nothing a bit of elbow grease couldn't put right though.. Happy New Year to you too, hopefully a better one than the last.

[@hareti79]

Nice work. What thorough job.

[@bobridgwell3152]

Well done !

[@russelldahlberg7717]

Very interesting i would like to see a full rebuild, theres alot of work going into this one part

[@steamwally]

I'll have to get around to filming the next one... Magneto overhaul is certainly not a "quick buck" when done properly. Most people have no idea just what is involved but will still baulk at the price... That's partly why I put this video out, it's never something I'd want to do full time but more a skill that I just wanted to learn to assist with me own projects - Pretty much all the good magneto men seem to have year long waiting lists. It just so happened that in the end, I was able to learn in the course of my work and eventually restore my own machine.

[@55points]

Excellent as usual. Happy new Year to you. You must start a family soon and hopefully pass on your ethics and precision to your sons and daughters. this world sorely needs that.

[@steamwally]

Thanks and Happy new year to you too! I'm sure that'll happen one day, though I always swear it won't.. I've been around collector hobbies and engineering since childhood and the constant complaint has always been "not enough young blood", but they are out there. I come across interesting people all the time in my work, there are little sheds and workshops all over the place doing incredible work, but you just don't see them. Industry has moved on but the craftspeople are out there and many of them young people too. Personally I think we are now in the "golden age" of vintage restoration, there is real interest in bringing old world skills back to life, so I have a lot of hope for the future.

[@55points]

@@steamwally Glad to hear it, its good that knowledge is being preserved. Having children is not for everyone, I was 30 for my first one 32 for the twins. Thought I would never marry myself. You can always pass on your skills to someone. does not have to be your own. You will know if you find it, if you do not, happiness will not evade you, as you seem to have it already. I am certain If I had not found someone I would still be a happy man. Its how I roll. Endless optimism was a gift I was given somehow.

[@robotstar5]

Have you considered learning 3D printing to make the HT pickup?

[@steamwally]

I'd need to join a more recent century! Actually my Land Rover has a 3D printed part in the engine and it's great.. very interesting technology. I would like to learn CAD and be able to produce parts like that, but it's all time and money..

[@garethdavies7326]

Superb workmanship as always.