OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Victa tiltacut cuts out

My usually awesome tiltacut has now started giving me a problem, it starts and runs for a little bit sometimes longer than others then just cuts off, it doesn't seem to be running out of fuel ( revving up before turning off) it's more like an ignition prob. I've cleaned the mag and coil with sand paper, cleaned out the carb, had the muffler and carb off muffler is fine, looked in the ports and piston/rings are fine. Does anyone know exactly wot the condessor does just off the coil? Could it be that?

Yeah Ive has similar problems in the past... found out that the condenser cuts the ignition out when it gets hot if it is crook. The other thing I got caught with was a blocked breather hole in the fuel cap once....only found that one after much cursing and walking away from it to come back and crack the cap to hear the air hissing as it was going in and seeing the tank expanding....
Condenser...cheap fix I reckon...

Edit: I think Grumpy has given a text book Condenser/Kettering ignition system run down on here somewhere from memory....?

Yeah tried it with the cap off. I'm thinking condenser but if anyone has any other ideas

Anyone know exactly wot the condenser does? I thought like on a car it's to remove any interferance sort of thing to the radio

Hi Fasty, the post from grumpy on Condenser/Kettering ignition systems is contained HERE then scroll to Post number 36972

Thanks Deejay! That was the one I was thinking of!
On re-reading it, I seem to recall grumpy? giving a better definition specifically on the condenser some where else maybe? Essentially that it also stores energy (as in the link to post)and quenches the spark across the points to minimize pitting on the point contacts as well, I think that was what I saw? from memory it was written quite well. sooo many posts sooo much reading!!!!

No probs mate! Hopefully grumpy may remember where that post is located and give us a link.
Your right mate, there are so many posts to remember where each topic has been addressed, and having some good comments contained in a thread that has at some time, slid "Off Topic", makes them nigh on impossible to find, unfortunately.

I have had a look and this thread is the nearest I can find to what you have described:

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...ords=capacitor&Search=true#Post32369

The primary purpose of the capacitor is to store the kick-back of energy as the field collapses in the coil, immediately after the points open. By doing this it enables the voltage across the coil primary to swing very quickly from say +12 Volts to -150 Volts, storing energy momentarily in the capacitor then returning it to the coil as a voltage reversal. The voltage generated by the coil is determined by the rate of change of magnetic flux in the coil's iron core. If you try to operate a conventional magneto or Kettering ignition without a capacitor, there is virtually no spark. Essentially, the iron core of the coil is magnetically saturated before the points open, and contains considerable energy. The objective of the ignition process is to convert this magnetic energy into electrical energy, and use that electrical energy to produce a strong, sustained spark across the spark plug gap.

As well as magnifying the energy input to the coil, the capacitor is accurately sized to equalise erosion and deposition of metal on the two points. If one point gradually erodes and the other builds up, you need to replace the capacitor, because the one you have is not precisely the right capacitance value.

Thanks grumpy, I knew you could find it!

Nice and concisely put grumpy...

On Deejays point,,,,sorry this is "off topic" perhaps as a suggestion the mods & Admin could lock some of this type of "first principle" stuff in a "general engine tech Glossary" or something in the forums headings??etc.???? ... this might/would save a lot of time and tidy up a lot of good solid vetted info... what do you think? could/would it work?

Pretty sure it's my ignition module. Why does my tiltacut have one and not my victa sports? It's the same motor