What Is This Ugly Thing?

[Natman]

I found this yesterday in an old neighborhood near a fence..I have no clue as to what it is.

At first I thought it was a nice heavy bell..the plastic bottom is broken out, revealing some kind of electrical connectors..the shaft is threaded and appears to have a gear at the end.

Any help appreciated.

Nat

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[TheSleeper]

Most single cyl engines have neither a mag nor a dist.

They are fired by a pulse induction/amplafier system under the flywheel/cooling unit.

A mag if u look inside has a commutator and brush assm it acts like an older generator per 50`s early 60`s pre alternator.

This looks like what is called a hit an miss governor, the flyweights rise up contacting the small copper or brass tab mounted on the top cap or plate which shorts out the elec to the ign system thus controlling the engine speed.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[cheese]

It could be a governor, although I don't recall seeing an aluminum one. I'm not an expert on hit and miss engines though and you may be right.

I am, however, an expert on small engines. Few small engines have an ignition system like you desribed under a flywheel. They don't have mechanical magnetos either, but many of them used to. Here's a pic of one similar to what I have in mind. I can't find one exactly like the one in question, but there are so many different ones. You may be right though...with the threads on the housing, it may not be a magneto.

Are they actually threads rather than ridges?

 

[DEMON]

like i said need photo of inside

 

[49er]

Differently a small bike light generator. There was a clamp that would attach to one side of the front fork with a small latch when released would pop over and make contact with the tire. A small wire ran from the generator to the lamp that would create enough voltage to lite a lamp attached to the handle bars. Only draw back was when you slowed down the brightness dimmed down.

49er