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Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:56 pm

Hey everyone, I was just wondering something... What is the deal with vertex magneto's? Why are they so expensive and what do they do that is better than other high performance distributors? Like one of the MSD Billet ones? Thanks in advance for your replys.

Jordan

Tue Feb 25, 2003 5:10 pm

If you understand how a magneto works, you'll realize why they are worth so much. I don't know much, and don't claim to, but as I understand it, a magneto creates it's own spark. What this means is that say u lose your alternator, and your battery stops charging; you still will be able to get to that crucial vw swap meet. As far as performance, that's where I am lost too. Single engine Cessna's use magnetos, as well as others. They have been around since before distributors, and they do their job well. Where did you get your pricing and how much are they?

Hope that helps...a little.

Ryan

Tue Feb 25, 2003 5:10 pm

The only I know is they run drag racers and Bikes on those! So they are worth it! Now the truth is they are like mini generators for the ignition think like the higher RPM's the more spark and...oh yeah, if it gets high enough you could kill somone touching a wire wrong! So don't work on it in the rain and with the engine running! Other then that don't have hands on expo. so I can't tell you much ,but they are worth the power if you want the spark to burn every inch of the fuel your running(mainly 87 cheap stuff these days). I don't know,personally I like the Comp-u-fire DIX distributerless system with no moving parts(like rotar and cap) it seems cleaner, and then the dual coil packs pick up the power(all modern engines run coil packs so maybe they know something about what works). The other opt. is the MSD and yes they are hot too(I actualy warpped a rotar in the dist. cap from running the 6AL without the MSD dist.) so they have power no joke. It's just me, but all the timming, rotar, cap, and things seems like just more to break?
So hope I helpped
mike

Tue Feb 25, 2003 5:36 pm

yeah... but the latest pricing that ive seen is $699 for just the distributor! You can buy a full MSD ignition system for around $400. So im just wondering why its so goddamn expensive.

Jordan

Tue Feb 25, 2003 6:38 pm

Yeah good point I can't tell you ,but there are some small parts and power proof wirering so maybe they claim that as cost? I think it's not that $$ and they rack it up cause it's a mag and if your running that your planning on spending the cash for a big engine so they know your rich!
The other part is they want a Hundred for the stupid dist. holdown! "And it's a must!" NOT.
mike

Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:45 pm

Gilding the lilly.

Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:50 pm

My buddy has an old judson magneto/distributor. It was on a 67 he bought, we haven't hooked it up yet but it looks pretty cool.

Sat Mar 01, 2003 10:11 am

I'm running an old Joe Hunt Vertex on my car now. It has a locked out advance, there is no advance whatsoever in the unit. I think it is timed at 25 deg. BTDC. You need a Bosch relay to make it work with the key, they require that you ground them to shut them off. From what I understand, you do not need a clamp to run it on the street- just the regular dist. clamp works, but with the weight of the thing, it can wear out your case. You also need either a special tach or an adapter- I've got the autometer adapter, and it does not work as well as it should. The mag works great- I think if you want to use one, it is really if you don't have an alternator, or for the "coolness" factor (that's why I've got it!). Looks great, with IDA's. The magneto does not have as good of a spark as the MSD, the MSD having not only a great spark, but multiple sparks up to 3K rpm. The mag only produces one hot spark, with a smaller gap on the plugs as well. Hope this helps you, Scott

Sat Mar 01, 2003 10:14 am

Pictures at http://209.204.169.136/scott.html

Sun Mar 02, 2003 10:26 am

Mags are great for stationary engines or aircraft, which operate at a relatively fixed rpm. While they can be fine for drag cars that see very little total mileage, using them in a street car with constant rpm changes tends to prematurely wear out the brass distributor drive gear. Mags have far more resistance to spinning than distributors.

Sun Mar 02, 2003 2:38 pm

So basically what everyone is saying is that its pointless to spend all that money on one for a street car? And the MSD is actually better? I see... thanks for all the replies everyone!

Jordan

Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:54 pm

can you use a magneto with a battery?
can it be combined with a generator?

Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:08 pm

Since a magneto generates it own "power" it is independent of any electrical system... Yes you can use or not an electric starter, generator/alternator, and any other thing electrical in "auto".... Only control you need for magneto is simple toggle switch to short out magneto to kill engine (minimum control) .... It will probably play hell with your stereo though....

Dale

Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:04 pm

Mack_T wrote: I'm running an old Joe Hunt Vertex on my car now. It has a locked out advance, there is no advance whatsoever in the unit. I think it is timed at 25 deg. BTDC. You need a Bosch relay to make it work with the key, they require that you ground them to shut them off. From what I understand, you do not need a clamp to run it on the street- just the regular dist. clamp works, but with the weight of the thing, it can wear out your case. You also need either a special tach or an adapter- I've got the autometer adapter, and it does not work as well as it should. The mag works great- I think if you want to use one, it is really if you don't have an alternator, or for the "coolness" factor (that's why I've got it!). Looks great, with IDA's. The magneto does not have as good of a spark as the MSD, the MSD having not only a great spark, but multiple sparks up to 3K rpm. The mag only produces one hot spark, with a smaller gap on the plugs as well. Hope this helps you, Scott

I run a Joe Hunt mag. I use a bracket that mounts where the fuel pump was. The bracket has a piece that is flat and will cover the fuel pump inlet. A piece the runs up at a angle to the center of the mag. A flat piece to hold the band. The bracket grabs the center of the mag with a ss strap. This will save the case. If you run gas in your motor run a 010 distributor. I have the pieces for the bracket you can tig welded it yourself cheap. PM me.

Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:19 pm

i have been running mags in all my hot street/drag engines for the past 25yrs and i will run them for another 25 years. just as long as the battery packs dont give out a mag would never leave you stranded like your most updated eletronic unit. yes they take hp to run but thats why you just build an engine that will take care of that like 183ci and above then the engine could care less if you have drag or not its called pure NA muscle type 1 style. what ever you decide to use is up to you i have had great succses with my mags i love them. good luck to ya. jeff d.

Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:28 pm

Mags are used in bikes fairly often. Hotter more consistent spark. Most folks who run them seem to feel their worth every penny.

Sarge

Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:56 pm

OK guys
just don't do what a friend of mine did, He won a magneto at a sand drag giveaway. On the way home driving he reached in the back seat and grabbed the mag and was looking at it, he was holding it between his legs when he gave the gear a turn. He said he pulled over to the side of the road and just sat there for about 15 minuets untill he could feel his balls again, said it was the worst thing he ever did and he got his cought in a radial arm saw once.

Earthquake

Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:00 pm

I run a mag because I run methanol and fuel. A gas 2333 VW motor with a set of 48 webers will run a 180 main jet on gas. The 2333 motor on methanol will run a 260 main jet with a set of 48 webers. The distributor will not burn that much fuel. I also have no generator or battery. They weight to much.

Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:52 pm

this should be in minimans and scott novaks thread.... or added to it.....

Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:51 pm

earthquake wrote: OK guys
just don't do what a friend of mine did, He won a magneto at a sand drag giveaway. On the way home driving he reached in the back seat and grabbed the mag and was looking at it, he was holding it between his legs when he gave the gear a turn. He said he pulled over to the side of the road and just sat there for about 15 minuets untill he could feel his balls again, said it was the worst thing he ever did and he got his cought in a radial arm saw once.

Earthquake

Thats gold right there! :lol: :lol: