Flywheel magnets came off!!

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

 I took one of my eight horse engines apart and when I pulled the fly wheel off two of the magnets were stuck to the stater. A little closer look and the little spacers that go in between each magnet we're gone. Is there anything special to be done to the fly wheel to put these back in place? What Would I use for spacers in  between each magnet?

[formariz 11,987]

Here you go. All you need to know about it.

 

How to Reinstall or Replace the Charging Magnets in a Kohler or Tecumseh Flywheel - Top of page

When a ceramic magnet becomes loose inside the flywheel, if it is not broken, it can be reinstalled with Krazy Glue, Super Glue, Gorilla Glue, or any industrial strength adhesive. Broken magnets cannot be reused. A broken magnet must be replaced with an identical magnet in good condition. A broken magnet actually becomes two magnets with a north and south pole on each broken piece, and will not work at all in a small engine alternator charging system. Even if the two pieces are glued together, the magnetic poles may or may not attract, and the molecules cannot bond together to form one single magnet.

When the flywheel is removed and all the magnets are stuck to the stator, remove the magnets and place them someplace where so they're be in the order that they were in the flywheel or on the stator (don't mix them up). Thoroughly clean the outside curve of each magnet and the inside of the flywheel with electrical contact cleaner, brake parts cleaner, cleaning solvent or paint thinner (these leave no oily residue), and then reinstall the magnets in the order they were removed with Krazy Glue, Super Glue, Gorilla Glue, or any industrial strength adhesive. Make sure the magnets are equally spaced apart, too.

To remove good, reusable ceramic magnets from a flywheel (for whatever reason), first of all, place a number on each magnet in their position in the flywheel (1-2-3-4-5-6) with a Sharpie metallic silver permanent marker or paint marker so they can be reinstalled in the correct order. For magnets that's held in place with aluminum compression pins, simply use an 1/8" roll pin punch and a medium size hammer to drive out one pin toward the center of the flywheel, then all the magnets will be loose and can be removed from the flywheel by hand. For magnets that's held in place with glue, use a propane torch or an oxy-acetylene torch with a small flame to heat the cast iron part of the flywheel on the outer (glued) part of each magnet to soften the glue, and then CAREFULLY and GENTLY remove the magnets with a thin, sharpened steel putty knife or scraper and small hammer. Do not apply heat directly to the magnet itself, it could break! Due to the heating process, and to prevent from being burned, use a shop towel to handle each hot magnet. TO AVOID BREAKAGE, DO NOT COOL CERAMIC MAGNETS WITH WATER! Allow them to air-cool.

Internal flywheel charging magnets are of a very odd type. Charging magnets in the Kohler and Tecumseh flywheels do not have just North and South magnetic pole ends, such as the typical U-shaped or horseshoe magnets. There are a total of six magnets in most Kohler flywheels. Three are South-North-South on the inside curve and North-South-North on the outside curve, and the other three magnets are North-South-North on the inside curve and South-North-South on the outside curve. They are NOT North-South and vice-versa on the ends, no exceptions. Each magnet is like three magnets integrated in one. This is how the charging system generate so much voltage and amperage. Referring to the picture of the two magnets to the right, the magnet to the left side, South-North-South is on inside curve, and North-South-North is on the inside curve. And the magnet to the right side, North-South-North is on inside curve, and South-North-South is on the outside curve. If anyone tells you that there is no certain order the charging magnets are reinstalled or replaced in a flywheel, then they are wrong! If they are installed in the flywheel misaligned or not in the correct order, the charging system will NOT work. They MUST be reinstalled in the correct order with the poles (end of each magnet) opposite of each other for the charging system to work correctly. To identify which pole is which, from inside the curve of each magnet (not the outside curve), use another [strong] magnet with the magnetic poles identified and marked, or use a high quality portable handheld magnetic compass to identify the magnetic poles of each flywheel magnet. Always identify the magnetic poles from the inside curve of each magnet, and not the outside curve. By the way - When the magnetic North and South poles on a U-shaped or horseshoe magnet isn't marked or identified, to correctly find which pole is which, fasten a thin string or sewing thread to the middle of the magnet, and allow it to dangle in midair. It may take a few minutes for the string or thread to unwind so the magnet will stop spinning and come to a full rest. Make sure no other magnets are nearby. The ends of the magnet to be tested will attract to the Earth's natural North and South magnetic poles. When the poles have been identified, mark which pole is which with a Sharpie metallic silver permanent marker or paint marker for future reference. Dangling Kohler flywheel magnets by a string to identify the poles will not work. And use caution when handling ceramic (flywheel) magnets! They are very brittle and can break easily if mishandled. Do not allow them to quickly snap together or quickly attract to a large steel or cast iron object. Return to previous paragraph or website.

Before installing magnet(s) in the flywheel, clean both the flywheel and outside curve of the magnet(s) thoroughly with electrical contact cleaner, brake parts cleaner, cleaning solvent or paint thinner (these leave no oily residue). Then use soap and clean water afterwards to remove any dirt or debris. When installing the magnet(s), it's important that the north and south pole ends of each magnet is in correct alignment, with the pole ends opposite of each other. When the poles physically attract, they're in the correct alignment. Use Krazy Glue, Super Glue, Gorilla Glue, or any industrial strength adhesive. Make sure the magnets are spaced equally apart upon installation, too. Go here for more information on this subject: Flywheel Magnets (http://enginesandmagnets.com/id2.html).

[BESTDOGEVER 218]

I used clothes pins to even out the spacing shim stock will work cut a few at the proper size glue and clamp. I used high strength jb weld use a thin coat and clamp securely you have very small amount of clearance between magnets and stator

[chrisnjake9 0]

cant i stack the magnets that will attract to each other in the u position there should be three each then glue them in alternating one from one stack then one from the other

[BESTDOGEVER 218]

Yes that's the surest way to tell which one is which 

[BESTDOGEVER 218]

You should end up with 1 stack and just use them in order 

[R. L. Addison 299]

Are these magnets available any where for a Kohler? I have one with a missing magnet and need to replace it. I thought I would probably have to replace the flywheel at the price of the engine. Anyone else have a flywheel short on magnets that is willing to part with one?

Edited May 13, 2020 by R. L. Addison

[BESTDOGEVER 218]

Check Ebay there is usually someone selling a few.