Magneto rebuild questions

A wallowed out rotor notch on distributor (mag.) drive gear forced magneto rebuild. Received the kit today and started the rebuild. Unfortunately, the kit didn"t come with any instructions. I have two separate issues.

1. The metal bar stock that goes through the magneto coil, by which it is mounted to the magnetic posts, is cemented solidly into the old coil, and the new one doesn"t have this steel central shaft. How do you get the metal bar out of the old coil? Burn it out? Drive it out? Or use some sort of solvent? And what kind of cement is used to cement it into the new coil? Something like Red Hand two part epoxy? The old stuff is black in color and hard. I assume the cement is necessary to keep the coil from slipping and turning on its axis under engine vibration.

2. My second issue is on removing and replacing the Distributor drive gear. The gear is brass, with a plastic extension with a notch, which drives the rotor. I encountered resistance when trying to lift the old gear out. I haven"t used any force (yet). The question is, is it supposed to simply slide off of a solid shaft, or is it press fitted onto a little rotating shaft of some sort? It turns easily, of course, but doesn"t want to come off easily.

A second question on this same item, is: is there a fool-proof way to make sure the gears are meshed properly with regard to the position of the main magneto drive shaft?

While the Distributor drive gear won"t come off easily, the little gear that drives it, and slides onto the "d" shaft of the Mag., came out very easily "accidentally" while I was putting the distributor body temporarily back onto the the mag. I can"t be sure that when I slid it back in place, that it went back into the same mesh it was originally in. Any way to be sure it"s right before putting things back together and trying to fire the tractor up?

Many thanks to anybody who can help. Bill

The shaft thru the coil will or at least should push thru and it is to be used over. I remove mine by putting a piece of pipe or a socket over one end and squeeze (push) it out. A press would work great. I am sure there are other ways, just my 2 cents worth. jim

By squezzing it out, I meant between the jaws of a large vise.

2.) Cut the old coil off of the laminated core with a hacksaw.

1. You can drive the steel core out of the coil with a punch and a piece of steel against the core to prevent maring it, or press it out between the jaws of a vise. I don"t think you have to cement the core in place. I just installed a new coil in a mag for my brother, the core was loose, but once it is fastened in place as well as the coil ground strap, it will not move.

2. The large gear should just slide off. There is probably old, dried grease that is preventing it from comming off easily. As far as properly meshing the gears, on the small gear there is one tooth with a corner missing, and on the large gear there are two lines down the side of the plastic and an "L" & an "R" on the top. The clipped tooth on the small gear should line up with the "R" on the small gear for righthand rotation mag, or "L" for lefthand rotation mag. Unless you have a diesel tractor or a W9, just line up with the "R".

Many thanks to all, particularly Kirk. I think I"m on the right track now. Also received a helpful email from Gene Bender. Going out to look for the clipped gear and marks on the plastic.

Rebuilt the magneto today, and was rewarded with success! She runs!

Thanks to all for the great help! Bill