Brightspark Magnetos

The 'Complete Works' condensectomy

Overview of procedure

We've tried to provide a lot of detail on this set of pages so that you can be sure of what you are doing. The procedure differs depending on whether the slip ring is at the contact-breaker end or the slip-ring end of the armature. In summary the procedure is:

Armatures with slip ring at contact breaker end
(e.g. Lucas K1F, K2F & KVF)

Armatures with slip ring at drive end
(e.g. Lucas MO1, N1 & MN2)

(click on picture to enlarge)

(click on picture to enlarge)

• Remove inner race of bearing at the CB end, possibly some shims, the oil flinger disc and the slip ring.

• Undo the two long screws holding the armature together, and ease the end piece of the armature at the drive end away from the bobbin to reveal the old condenser.

• Electrically disconnect the condenser and remove it, while

  • maintaining the connection of the earth end of the LT winding to the drive-end end-piece, and

  • maintaining the connection of the live end of the LT winding to the link wire that passes through the bobbin to the nut for the CB centre screw.

• Remove inner race of bearing at the drive end, possibly some shims, the oil flinger disc and the slip ring.

• Undo the two long screws holding the armature together, and separate the end piece of the armature at the CB end from the bobbin to reveal the old condenser. 

• If the old condenser is an original Lucas item:

  • Electrically disconnect and isolate the earth side of the condenser,

  • connect the earth end of the LT winding to the CB-end end-piece and

  • maintain the connection of the live end of the LT winding through the can of the old condenser to the integral nut for the CB centre screw.

• Otherwise:

  • Electrically disconnect the old condenser and remove it,

  • maintain the connection of the earth end of the LT winding to the CB-end end-piece,

  • maintain some form of nut for the CB centre screw, and

  • maintain the connection of the live end of the LT winding to the nut for the CB centre screw.

Reassemble everything and check the straightness of the armature.

So taking that one step at a time, next: Splitting the armature