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The ignition - nothing works without it

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Created on December 1, 1983

Text:

Jakob Drach

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

1

Balz Schreier

1

Michael Alschner

1

Archiv

8

Daniel Reinhard

1

Balz Schreier

1

Michael Alschner

1

Archiv

8

The ignition distributor in the BMW 303 (1933)

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Marchal (1954) - Advertisement from 1954 - Spark plugs

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The ignition distributor in the Fiat 500 C Topolino (1949)

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Impressions from the Grossglockner Grand Prix 2013 - Spare spark plugs

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - ignition head, ignition distributor, alternator coil and starter are exposed for maintenance work, the oil filler neck is easily accessible

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Schematic - Magneto ignition

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Schematic - electric battery ignition

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Centrifugal and vacuum adjusters from Bosch

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Components of the Bosch magneto ignition

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Components of the distribution head

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Components of the ignition distributor - interior view

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Summary

The most frequent breakdowns in cars are caused by defects in the electrical system, which was the same in the past as it is today. How does the ignition work in historic cars? Which components need to be considered and how do you maintain the system? This report takes you through the secrets of the ignition and explains how to deal with it, with a focus on older cars.

This article contains the following chapters

The ignition solenoid
The ignition distributor
The ignition setting
The spark plugs

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Whether battery or magneto ignition: Faults in the ignition system are one of the most common causes of breakdowns on the road. All "modern" motor vehicles are equipped with battery ignition, so let's first take a closer look at the ignition system that generally dominated classic cars up to the 1925-1928 model years: magneto ignition. Invented by Robert Bosch in 1902, the high-voltage magneto ignition is a small machine that generates alternating current. The main components are the magnet, armature, interrupter and (in multi-cylinder engines) distributor. The current generated in the armature winding (also known as the primary winding) is interrupted every time the armature rotates halfway - the magnetic field changes and transfers a current to the secondary winding, which is also located on the armature, which then jumps over to the spark plug as an ignition spark.

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