OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Points - Electronic Module Replacement?

I'm curious as to how this module replaces the points and condenser on the points ignition, what do you use to actually trigger the spark? what does it use as a pulse coil?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140985383145?

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I have just purchased one of these to fit into my villiers. My coil is good, but no spark. So cut the wire from the points and connect this in between. I have yet to do this but the video on youtube makes it look quite easy.


Here is the link

Hi Millzy, keep us updated on how it goes, I still can't see what actually causes the spark, you need 3 things, pickup sensor from the crank, the igniter module and the coil. The Briggs and later Powertorque have them incorporated into the single coil pack. I'm interested if they work because I have a number of full crank points motors that don't have spark. I also have several sidepull full cranks and this module should fix most of those easily

Will do, once i find some free time from buying all these reel mowers!!

I have asked the seller how it works I should have an answer in a couple of days hopefully. You certainly have your work cut out with those mowers

They won't know, I'd bet.

It'd be just a 'black box' to them, full of magic smoke! You'd know about that; it's the stuff that Brit bike electrics work on - electrons are a myth! When the smoke gets out, things stop working...

See my post near the bottom of this page for info and references; https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/83322/

Thanks Gadge, I would still like to know where it picks up the trigger from the crank but I guess it must come from the coil itself

Yes it does, from the rate of rise change in coil primary voltage, as the flywheel magnets swing past the coil/armature.

Edit: I've just read the Atom patent in detail, and firing is triggered when the primary voltage rises to a 'trigger voltage', which is set by the values of certain circuit components.

Sounds like it is probably a Schmitt trigger in that little tin box.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Electronic/schmitt.html
If you are into 70's rock you have probably heard them in action on guitar effects pedals.

Thanks for that, clever little buggers aren't they, I have one on the way so I can have a play with it in the next few days

those things been round since 1980s in one form or another for small engines
only thing it does is to act as a electronic switch instead of mechanical a switch as in points
they don't work on all engines depends on how many flywheel magnets

There use to be some bloke on eBay who claimed he could replace almost any Bosch ignition system with an electronic ignition. Can't seem to be find his ad any more. This upgrade would of course be possible for the technological-minded, which I'm not.

In any case I recently found that the same old points ignition system that was used on my vintage mowers is still alive and well in Germany and Italy. Ducati are in fact still making them for scooters and mopeds. They work perfectly. Only difference is the central gap for the shaft is a bit smaller on the plate, but as these are made of soft alloy it is a very easy job to file it out a few mm wider.

We have a few Flying Fleas in the club that could do with that type of electronic ignition. I set one up a few years ago with battery powered points coil ignition and that works well but a magneto would be better. I also have one here I was going to see if I could fit a Lifan ignition/stator setup but haven't got around to it. I also had one setup that you had to use a battery to get it started and then switch it back to the points/coil powering the external coil setup so it would rev, but then when you you switched the lights on it would stall the motor, so it still sits in the shed. Another one sitting in the same shed has not run in many years because of no spark. The old Lucas Prince of Darkness ignition was not too flash

The problem with any component out of China is getting hold of useful tech info about it. Even 'which wire connects to what' level stuff.

My bike mech mate, Pete Allica, ran up against this issue a few weeks back, when looking to replace the ignition module on a Chinese made quad bike - IIRC either the bike or the replacement module was a Lifan.

He did however find a source for that info - but I can't ask him for details just now, as he's over in China for another week.

Got the new module yesterday but I was quite surprised how small it is compared to the factory Victa modules. If I get a chance today I will fit it on a motor and see if I get spark.

G'day everyone,

I got out the old VC160 yesterday it's been sitting for around 10 years or so. Anyway I tried to start it and it's got no spark at all.

First thing I tried before taking all the top of it apart to check the points etc, I removed the kill switch wire from the carby just in case it was shorted out, nope still no spark at all.

Took all the bits off the top of the engine last night, the damn flywheel was seized on there, had to end up making up a bit of metal and some bolts as a puller to pull the damn thing up a little and then after some foul language and a couple of large screwdrivers on each end I got the bugger off! lol

I have a spare set of points and condensor here which I will probably change out as the points in the mower just looked like they were corroded, I tried to clean them up a bit but now that the bugger is all apart I might just change them as I have a spare set here.

I still haven't tracked down why it has no spark, but after this ordeal I am seriously thinking about converting it to electronic ignition as I think it's more reliable and also even it you leave the mower for a few years it will probably still have spark when you try it again after a while. I left a powertorque engine with electronic ignition sit for 10 years and when I tried it again the spark was fine.

I just want to ask do these electronic kits actually do away with the points completely? Or do you still have to keep the points in there to do the switching for the electronic module? If the points are still used for the switching I know the electronic ignition reduces the current being switched and makes them stay in tune and last alot longer. But it won't stop the points from corroding after sitting idle for years. It's best to get rid of the points completely if converting to electronic ignition.

Cheers!

Hi Converse,
You could have saved yourself all the grief of pulling the flywheel off, just cut the black wire that comes out of the side of the crankcase and connect a module to it. A module from a SPFC or a PT will work fine. Points/condenser just leave in there they are redundant once the module is fitted

Hi NormK, did you end up getting one of these electronic modules from ebay to work on your engines? I don't have any spare modules from other Victa engine's here. They don't cost that much I will just grab one if they work ok.

Cheers!

I only bought one of the ebay ones just to see if they work and it worked fine. I have tested the PT ones on the F/Cs and they work , no problems. Just wait a bit, you will find another PT on the nature strip and you can use the module off it or as luck would have it you will find a PT with the module built inside the coil and you will then have to wait for another PT to turn up and then it might have a bad module (occasionally this happens) and then you will have to wait to find another PT, and quickly you have 30 mowers sitting there and you ask yourself, what have I done. Get what I am saying

Hi NormK and thanks for the help mate!

Haha yes I know what your saying, I am starting to have mowers all over the place it's starting to happen already! lol

Now I even have that B&S 4 stroke here aswell. Hey if that doesn't work then when I get a good PT engine I can maybe fit the PT to that base...lol

I might just throw in the points and condensor for now as I have them sitting here anyway. See how it goes but seen as this mower will probably go into storage again I am thinking about converting it to electronic ignition. I don't want to be taking all the covers off again just to check/adjust clean or change the points again. It's not as easy as on a car where the points are just sitting under the distributor cap. Got to take half the mower apart, then remove the stuck on flywheel just to get to them on the old VC160...lol

Cheers!