Brightspark Magnetos

The 'Quick Snip' condensectomy

Special tools/materials required

• Soldering iron (50W preferably) and solder

• Adhesive-lined heat-shrink sleeving

• Heat gun or other suitable heat source for shrinking the sleeving

• Fine long-nosed pliers and/or fine side-cutters

Procedure

In the case of a Lucas K1F, K2F or KVF instrument, place the armature on the bench or in a vice with soft jaws with the drive-end to the left, the CB-end to the right, and the HT wire that goes from the bobbin into the boss on the slip ring furthest away from you (hidden underneath).

At the top of the gap between the bobbin and the brass drive-end end-piece, you should see a wire sheath coming out of the end of the bobbin. There are two wires inside the sheath, and they are connected to the live side of the existing condenser. You may be able to see the condenser, or it may be potted in a lump of resin.

If you can get at the soldered connection to the condenser:

• Unsolder the wires from the condenser. A 50W soldering iron seems best, and a pair of fine long-nosed pliers may help.

• Twist the ends of the wires together and solder them together.

If, however, the wire sheath disappears into a lump of resin:

• Snip the sheath with a pair of fine side-cutters as close to the resin lump as possible.

• Cut back the sheath by about 1/4" to expose the ends of the two wires inside.

• Remove any insulation from the exposed ends of the two wires.

• Twist the ends of the wires together and solder them together.

Now fit a layer of heat-shrink insulation sleeve, preferably adhesive-lined, so as to insulate the ends of the wires from everything else.

Poke the wires back into the space between the drive-end end-piece and the bobbin, and if possible tuck them in so that there is no risk of them flying out again as the armature rotates.

That completes the 'quick snip.'

If it turned out that there there wasn't enough room to perform all of the above steps, then you will now need to disassemble the armature as described in the 'complete works' section.