OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions on Other Engines TROJAN MAJOR - Motor Fitted To Ogden Rotamatic

I need some help, I have a Trojan Major engine fitted with a Wipac Series 90 Magneto. Pic below is of the electrics



Now IanOZ has helped me out via messages but what I need is a pic of the electrics from the Trojan Major engine as it has the magneto mounted on the inlet port side giving it a clockwise direction. Maybe any rotary mower that has the Trojan mounted Flywheel up will be the same.

What I am suspecting is that my coil should not be at the bottom as I have spark but not at TDC. The plate mounting only has two holes so it will only fit one way or the other but I am not sure so would like to compare electrics with a working one. A big ask but I am grateful for any help.

Hello Paul

All I have is an illustration of a Major.
It shows the coil at the 2 O'clock position.

Sorry I can't be of more assistance.
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Jack.

Thanks Jack, I have the same pic in one of my mower digests. With my coil at two my points will be at four which is not consistent with the picture. Makes me feel that my set up is perhaps not original a photo would be conclusive as to what should be where.

Thanks for helping

Paul, I thought that the coil, itself, was fitted to the wrong stator core.

See:-

http://www.brightsparkmagnetos.com/easycap/universal/wico-pacy_series_90.htm

http://www.tanygraig.force9.co.uk/John/wipac1.htm

You just might be right there Jack, shifting the coil would also bring the coil lead into line with the exit holes in the back plate. Good to have another set of eyes look at a problem, I will give it a go tomorrow. Thanks

Yes

the exit holes for the HT lead was one thing I noticed.
I love the lighting coil for automotive applications.

I wasn't aware you had an Ogden Rotamatic. A very rare machine!

All very interesting.
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JACK

I have the engine, cowl and fuel tank. If a base ever turns up I am ready for it :-). I will post a pic of the engine unit when I get it running. Hmmmm optimist I am !

Hello Paul

I see. These are such a handsome and interesting machine.
I hope one turns up.

Looks more like a moon buggy than a mower, very space age.

Nearly going, broken ring so I fitted another good piston and bore off my junk motor then found a cracked rear seal so I swapped that as well. Once I get it running I will fit new rings and seals, bearings etc.

It wants to go and nearly does but just won't, pulled carby down again and checked timing but to no avail.

G,day Paul,

I was giving your magneto thing some thought. Did you end up swapping the coil position?

Reason I ask is that you say you had spark but not at TDC. If you had spark then the magnet neutral to points timing must have been at least fairly right - and changing the coil position would have thrown that out the window?

Just curious.

Cheers,

Cheers.

Hi prd,

Thanks for your help, I had spark but it seemed to be at BDC. I changed the coil and now have a very good spark and the motor is timed correctly. Points just start opening a few degrees before TDC and fully open at TDC.

Still not convinced it's getting a proper dose of fuel, a lot of cranking and the plug is not wet ?

OK, that is interesting. Not what I was expecting but your new coil position agrees with the photo in the motorbike link.

Gotta confess that I would have blasted in and flipped the whole thing on the 2-screw mounting if I'd been faced with that.

Sounds like your annoyingly close to a goer. Hate it when that happens.

I did flip it but it was a no go, I am still not sure if its position is right. A photo would be conclusive. It wants to go with the drill spinning it over but won't carry itself. I have pulled the cylinder off again and tipped it up and a lot of crap ran out. I am going to split the cases and replace the bearings, seals and gaskets, clean it all out. There could be that much carbon and rubbish down there that's it's destroying the fuel mix.

Bearings are no problem, they are the same as Victa and I have loads of spares. I will try the bearing place for seals and make my own gaskets. Rings not to sure about. Once The engine unit is sorted it one thing off the check list.

Hello Paul and prd,

I'm pretty happy that the coil is now on the correct stator plate core.
The second link also showed that as well. I just wish the design was more
'service friendly', making it impossible to fit the ignition coil or
lighting coil (if applic.) in the wrong place.

Here is a reconditioned one from Villiers Spares UK:-


[Source: http://www.villiersparts.co.uk/wip.html ]

p.s. Paul, I have added this page to the Master Record:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=60982

Yes Jack I would say the electrics are sorted. Mind you after draining the crankcase out I bet it would go. With all that was in the crankcase compression of the air fuel mix would be difficult.

Hi Paul

What amazes me is that I have no record of anyone owning a Rotamatic.
We're talking about a very big company - Ogden Industries - that sold these
machines for a couple of seasons: yet where are they?

For the record, may I ask how you know your Trojan is off a Rotamatic?
I certainly believe it is; because of the fan above the flywheel.
I suspect Ogden made the fan, and cast the unique alloy cowl.

The Rotamatic, in its Olympic colours, would have looked outright stunning.
A green and gold moon buggy, I guess

All very collectable.
-------------------------------
JACK

Hi Jack, I have the cast cowl which has the fuel tank strap on top and the Ogden logo on the front. Colour looks to be a mustard, may have been gold. I will post up a pic.




Spacers are still present on the mounting bolts to lift the motor up clear of the deck, photos are of as found. You can't see the large scrawled Ogden logo in the pic and it is only barely visible anyway.

Hi Paul

I was wr ... wro... wron... close.
I meant that it was painted with a gloss green enamel base,
with yellow cowl (not gold) and yellow wheels.

Thanks for the photos - first non-factory ones I've seen.
----------------------------------------------------------
JACK

It's a bit cleaner now :-) pity the fuel tank wasn't kept on it.