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Messages - Bghotrods

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Culver General Discussion / Re: 4AC-199 Franklin Engine Barn find
« on: March 21, 2012, 11:01:37 AM »
Wow what awesome help! Well we re-fired the engine after checking the timing and point settings on both mags. We cleaned up an original bendix scintiua type ED ignition switch we found when we got the engine and wired it to a panel on the engine stand along with a mechanical sun oil pressure gauge. The switch has positions for ( off, right,left,and both) I fired the engine on the left side position first and it started once it got fuel and ran very smooth and responsive, I switched to the right side position and the engine RPM increased a couple 100 RPMS, switching back to the left the RPM decreased by the same, switching to both there was a slight raise in RPM and the engine ran awesome. Shutting down the engine and re-starting it a couple of more times on the right mag it took right off. Oil pressure maintained 40+lbs. I may have the starter looked at by a guy I know that works on vintage starters to be sure the bendix is performing properly as it is still disengaging I think to early. Again thank you to all for your great support and to an awesome group of entheuists!

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Culver General Discussion / Re: 4AC-199 Franklin Engine Barn find
« on: March 20, 2012, 03:05:44 PM »
Hey there Paul, well it took a few minutes for it to sink in but I believe I have it now.. Both mags are firing at the same time.. Looks like they both click at just about 8 deg before TDC. I backed off the prop to 28 deg BTC and the points both have the required .001 clearance as read in your previous post. All that said I'm still where I started. I pulled the starter and bench tested it., bendix and starter are working as designed. I'm going to start it again on one mag then turn the other one on and vise versa to see if that makes a difference. Do you know off hand what kind if fuel pressure the pump requires? Will a new style electric one work on this engine? And what type of oil do these run?
Again thanks to everyone for all your help, couldn't do this without your support! BEN

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Culver General Discussion / Re: 4AC-199 Franklin Engine Barn find
« on: March 20, 2012, 01:29:23 PM »
Hi Paul, Thanks for the awesome input! After removing the mag covers we have determined that both impulse couplings are firing at the TDC mark on the prop flange the markings are UDC And a line with an "I" on the other side of the line. Assuming UDC is under top dead ctr. There is a nut on the sides of the mags.. I'll assume that I need to loosen the nuts and rotate the mags till they both fire at 28 deg before TDC then back the prop off slightly to 28 deg and set the point gap as suggested earlier.
If that sounds about correct I'll continue on and try to re-fire it. Thanks Again Ben

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Culver General Discussion / Re: 4AC-199 Franklin Engine Barn find
« on: March 19, 2012, 02:52:00 PM »
Hi Joe, yes there is a snapping that is consistent with the engine turning over. What is the best way to check the timing? And what should it be at? Not at all sure where or how to time it.. Don't have a book on it yet. Short term is to droll all over it.. But it is going to be for sale! Thanks. BEN

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Culver General Discussion / Re: 4AC-199 Franklin Engine Barn find
« on: March 19, 2012, 11:16:28 AM »
Hi Bill, thank you for replying. Is there any way to tell which mag is which? They both only have one wire coming off of them and they look identical. They are Eiseman aircraft mags, model number AM 4, right side is serial number P22693P and the left side is P36057P and both have the same symbols numbers and letters of RFJHDE25. Each cylinder has 2 spark plugs, one mag I'll assume fires one set of plugs on each cyl and the other mag fires the other set of plugs on each cylinder. If I were to wire 2 separate kill switches one to each mag, shut off one of the mags then try and start the engine do you think this would help? And if so is there any way of finding out which mag to turn off? Not sure if this is the way to proceed or not as I'm really not that familiar with this engine combination.. Put a 1700 HP blown alcohol engine in front of me and I can tune that! LOL! Thanks again. BEN

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Culver General Discussion / 4AC-199 Franklin Engine Barn find
« on: March 18, 2012, 09:51:14 PM »
Hello all, I am new to this group and thank you for allowing me to be a member. Recently I had the opportunity to pick an old barn that has been in a family for over 100 years. During this adventure I came across a Franklin aircraft engine 4AC-199 with the prop still attached. Being in the automotive restoration business for the past 35 years this item caught my attention and I knew it had to be rescued. It has dual mags. I wired the engine up in an attempt to fire it up on the stand it came on. I removed the prop. With the plugs out the motor turns over freely. I put the plugs back in, attached the mag wires to a kill switch, wired in a starter button and plumbed in a pulse fuel pump.  With a fully charged battery and all good connections the engine turns over about 1/4 turn before acting like it's kicking back. And the starter bendix disengages. Several attempts more and the engine caught and fired up.I only ran it for a moment and shut it down. It acts like it has too much timing at start up.. Or the starter has an issue.. My question is.. Do the mags require some type of retard at start up? Not very familiar with these engines.. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks Ben

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