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Dual mags
- Thread starter AirAg
- Start date
marshmaster pat
Well-known member
Not the expert here, but here is what I understand.
The dual ignition is used to ensure complete combustion of the gas in the chamber. One spark on the top and one on the bottom make a more uniform burn and better performance.
In aircraft engines I imagine that it is a fail safe mechanism, if one set's points carbon up, mag get wet, capacitor lead breaks, or any other problem the other mag keeps you in the air. Some aircraft engines had one set, but most Lycomings 360 and 540 (big 4 and most 6 cylinders) have dual mags. The GPUs didn't need to worry about falling out the air.
In my opinion (for whatever that is worth), having a second set functioning is worth the cost just in performance. Do a mag check at about 2400 RPMs and watch the drop of in RPMs (performance). The best set of mags has a RPM drop of about 25 and they are allowed to be run in aircraft with up to 150 RPM drop off. Ussually you can still get the engine up to prop max with just one mag, but it will run sluggish.
They are not real complicated, but if you look around there are a few guys that overhaul them and do an excellent job and last for a couple years. Versus me doing the repairs and they run like Junk very quickly.
The dual ignition is used to ensure complete combustion of the gas in the chamber. One spark on the top and one on the bottom make a more uniform burn and better performance.
In aircraft engines I imagine that it is a fail safe mechanism, if one set's points carbon up, mag get wet, capacitor lead breaks, or any other problem the other mag keeps you in the air. Some aircraft engines had one set, but most Lycomings 360 and 540 (big 4 and most 6 cylinders) have dual mags. The GPUs didn't need to worry about falling out the air.
In my opinion (for whatever that is worth), having a second set functioning is worth the cost just in performance. Do a mag check at about 2400 RPMs and watch the drop of in RPMs (performance). The best set of mags has a RPM drop of about 25 and they are allowed to be run in aircraft with up to 150 RPM drop off. Ussually you can still get the engine up to prop max with just one mag, but it will run sluggish.
They are not real complicated, but if you look around there are a few guys that overhaul them and do an excellent job and last for a couple years. Versus me doing the repairs and they run like Junk very quickly.
kb27_99
Well-known member
I agree with Pat, its worth its weight in gold to have both mags in working order. Not only for performance but if a mag trashes out on you in the middle of no where you can still make it in on one.
I purchased a mag synchronizer from chief aircraft a while back and it too is worth thousands when it comes to synchronizing these things. You don't have to guess at it with a timing light, and it is all done with the engine not running.
The part # is EE E50
here is the site:
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin/ai ... rvice.html
Kevin[/img]
I purchased a mag synchronizer from chief aircraft a while back and it too is worth thousands when it comes to synchronizing these things. You don't have to guess at it with a timing light, and it is all done with the engine not running.
The part # is EE E50
here is the site:
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin/ai ... rvice.html
Kevin[/img]