Briggs and Stratton magnetron conversion?

[davidtmercer 55]

I have a C-161 with the original B&S 16 hp twin engine 401417-013001 and I am not getting any spark.

Upon review of parts manuals, there appears to be a armature that converts the original breaker pointes ignition to a Magnetron Ignition.

Was hoping someone has experience with this conversion and can confirm that all I need to order is the 394891 armature and eliminate the breaker points from the ignition circuit. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,070]

I do not know. Have heard if there are 2 magnets on the outside of the flywheel they will not work. One magnet required.

Service manual

 

[Gasaholic 224]

Yep. OEM conversion parts will also include a plunger hole plug to plug the plunger hole for the breaker plunger. However, many of us pro techs shortcut it by clipping the wires next to the breaker box cover without popping flywheel off (Be sure which wires you're clipping though, don't clip alternator wires!)  other than that the magnetron conversion coil bolts right in, just set the air gap and hook up the ground wire to your kill circuit and should be good to go. Note that the Magnetron generally requires around 250 RPM to generate a spark so trying to check spark by spinning the flywheel by hand is a crapshoot, so if you tend to do that to check spark before bolting up, don't assume it means the coil is bad. You'd need to put in recoil or spin it with starter to generate enough RPM to get a good spark from Magnetron coils. 

 

Also to add -  New briggs part number currently is 590781 (394891 is the old part number) 

Edited September 21 by Gasaholic

[davidtmercer 55]

Thanks for the prompt responses.

qwest_ca:  It only has 1 magnet on the flywheel so it should work

Gasaholic: unless you recommend someone else, I will be ordering one from the RopShop which is only 70 miles from my house. 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255461103626?_skw=briggs+and+stratton+394891&itmmeta=01J8AP14KH63HJB6A41S46JEGA&hash=item3b7aab180a:g:SnoAAOSwdj9XTttH:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!46540!US!-1&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlPHQazvN5onfpSLOfq0AFFg%2B6bFx9tNquNVyhCqWWF1iB9CkRjPKXMQyBv%2BvrjSlvL%2BBqZJTnDrBtSIqB3aDTMe9vUr39%2BtF3JQPsqCZ2Nt6unjiNeI%2Bsl7QZtwwprBt82p18%2FbXkN8hUbUmy4G5nmxqIIPOMTgRNnvPyAuX64iTc68kt7BV%2BM5mLD%2BP9ki69XhwOuvyShqxcq69ZebGdsjUhouUlB0qju9130Q0R9f5NMMejo9B%2Bi5lnILF0cIwbpDWKHhixJ2ZDd4XfgzAbsaA9kiFsILnJ%2FHdEv1SerHK9ZjW0AQfdrf2vRkHe8uBY%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-rJhNbCZA

 

[Achto 27,639]

I've done a magnetron conversion a quite a few single cylinder Briggs. Have never been disappointed. I do as @Gasaholic suggested, cut the wire for the points & just leave them where they are to plug the hole. 

[Gasaholic 224]

1 hour ago, davidtmercer said:

Thanks for the prompt responses.

qwest_ca:  It only has 1 magnet on the flywheel so it should work

Gasaholic: unless you recommend someone else, I will be ordering one from the RopShop which is only 70 miles from my house. 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255461103626?_skw=briggs+and+stratton+394891&itmmeta=01J8AP14KH63HJB6A41S46JEGA&hash=item3b7aab180a:g:SnoAAOSwdj9XTttH:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!46540!US!-1&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlPHQazvN5onfpSLOfq0AFFg%2B6bFx9tNquNVyhCqWWF1iB9CkRjPKXMQyBv%2BvrjSlvL%2BBqZJTnDrBtSIqB3aDTMe9vUr39%2BtF3JQPsqCZ2Nt6unjiNeI%2Bsl7QZtwwprBt82p18%2FbXkN8hUbUmy4G5nmxqIIPOMTgRNnvPyAuX64iTc68kt7BV%2BM5mLD%2BP9ki69XhwOuvyShqxcq69ZebGdsjUhouUlB0qju9130Q0R9f5NMMejo9B%2Bi5lnILF0cIwbpDWKHhixJ2ZDd4XfgzAbsaA9kiFsILnJ%2FHdEv1SerHK9ZjW0AQfdrf2vRkHe8uBY%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-rJhNbCZA

 

I've bought from them before, and had decent experience with them, so you should be good to go. 

[Lagersolut 664]

7 hours ago, Achto said:

I've done a magnetron conversion a quite a few single cylinder Briggs. Have never been disappointed. I do as @Gasaholic suggested, cut the wire for the points & just leave them where they are to plug the hole. 

 

I converted the Briggs on my Troybuilt  horse to Magnetron 25 plus years ago when I did a short block - can sit in the shed for 4 months over winter - starts first pull every spring runs like a champ . No more popping the flywheel to access points .

[bds1984 1,435]

I've done this years ago just by installing a newer style coil and leaving all the old ignition bits (points, plunger, etc) in place.  Be sure you have the proper side of the coil facing towards the engine.  I have a complete 16hp engine if you need those parts.