magneto re-magnetizing

Hey guys,
I know it is possible to have a magneto re-magnetized when the spark gets weak. My question is simple -- can it be done at home without special equipment. I'd sure like to save the $$$ and time of having to send mine off, if it's possible.
It's a Wico X mag on a 2 cylinder Wisconsin engine.
I am also wondering about converting it to battery ignition. If I have it figured right, I should be able to run a switched power sourc to the "kill" terminal at 6v pos. grd and make her run. Any thoughts?
Good Luck and God Bless,
Tommy

It is unlikely that the permanent magnet is your WICO is weak. Furthermore, it takes a REAL magnet charger to make any improvement with such mag magnets. The typical "home brew" mag charger just won't cut it with those.

Dirty points, a bad condensor, or a weak coil are much more likely causes of a weak spark.

A conversion to Kettering ignition CAN be done by disconnecting the internal coil, then adding an external "round-can" coil. Mag condensors tend to be a little different value than "battery ignition" condensors, so it's a good idea (for long point life) to replace the mag's condensor with one that would have been used along with the external coil you choose, in it's original application.

Stop! Do not run voltage to the kill switch terminl as you will be going directly to ground through the points. At best you will burn up the points, but the wiring could catch fire before the ponts burn open.

Bought a horseshoe magnet for my Model E John Deere engine and the seller had a magnetizer that he used on it.Wirks fine.

On a 2 cyl wis, you will need a coil on each cyl unless it is an odd firing engine if you are to make it a battery ign system.

Your Deere "E" mag uses a steel magnet. His mag uses an ALNICO permanent magnet. QUITE a difference.

This is one of those jobs thats best left to some one who knows what they are doing.Mag parts are expensive and open coils are common.Old condensors develope leakage and change value.

Some rotors are never supposed to be not surrounded by a steel or iron ring when removed.Before disassembly have the piece ready to slide into or it further weakens the magnetic field.If the mag was disassembled for some time and the rotor was just laying on the bench or in a box they get weaker and may need a recharge but I would replace points and condensor with the right parts first.There is no substitute for OEM parts with mags as some of the aftermarket junk will cause weak spark.There is a reason the right points cost 25 bucks [tungsten surfaces].There is a book on building a recharger from Lindsay but you need wire with copper and iron in it and its better to have a mag shop do it.It[rotor] should be shipped with a steel band around it.

With a good magnet charger, it can be recharged in a few seconds. Best way to do it is with the magnet/rotor out - but it also can be done while the mag is all together. Problem is, when done that way, the impulse-dogs temporarily get magnetized and hang up for awhile. I've got an original magnet charger here - I bought out the contents of a magneto shop years ago. It's a big and heavy unit. All magnets get weak over time, but don't go completely dead unless stored "bare" with no metal near them. When a mag is together, the magnet is always surrounded by metal. But, if you take if out and let it sit by itself, it will go stone dead. A magnet that is out of the mag and charged needs a "keeper" attached to it. Any chunk of metal will do.

In regard to your Wisconsin, there are bolt-on replacement distributors for them - maybe you'd rather have that if battery ignition is what you want. There are stand-alone distributors, and also distributors coupled to generators (for battery charging). They directly replace the magneto.

If you wanted to convert your mag for battery use, you'd need an outside battery coil. A single "twin spark" coil works fine for TE and TF engines, and a conventional single coil works fine on the TJ two-cylinder models. Cheapest "twin spark" coils are available from Kohler or Onan. They have a single primary and dual secondaries.

That all being said, all the parts are available for either the Wico or the Fairbanks Morse mags used on the Wisconins and they are pretty reliable.