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A recent post about an ignition issue im having is what this post relates to. I read through the service manual for my kawasaki engine and it says I could be experiencing a demagnetized flywheel. Anyone know how to fix that?

crazyoldtractor said:

A recent post about an ignition issue im having is what this post relates to. I read through the service manual for my kawasaki engine and it says I could be experiencing a demagnetized flywheel. Anyone know how to fix that?

Click to expand...

Apparently these magnets can be recharged if not replaced. What type of engine are we dealing with?
Might be cheaper and easier to replace the flywheel. I wouldn't think that a magnet charger or polarizer is something that you would want to buy as you probably wouldn't use it very often.

Charging Flywheel Magnets - SmokStak
How to recharge flywheel magnets?

It is a kawaski fb460v 12.5hp. It's in a wheel horse lawn tractor. I read the recharging the magnets forum page you posted. I think I will try that. There is just one problem. They describe 2 magnets on the flywheel. My engine only has 1, it has 2 Philips screws that hold it in place on the fly wheel. Where should I place the magnet to recharge the flywheel?

Ive never herd of a flywheel demagnetizing - most my tractors are 20 plus years old still running original flywheels.

I did have a curious issue that sounds similar to yours on my 90 murray - cranks but will not start- cleaned the carb, nothing.

Pulled the flywheel shroud and i noticed the magneto actually slid forward and was rubbing the flywheel - so pulled it off, cleaned the mag ends with sandpaper, cleaned the flywheel edge up, remounted and air gapped the mag and STILL nothing- not even a cough. Changed the plug for a new one, put my fingers on the coil end and still got what seemed to be a decent shock- nothing. Unhooked the mag kill wire- still nothing, cranks with no hint of starting.

At this point i was frustrated, to say the least - with the voltage i figured it was enough, so as a last resort i went and dug thru my parts bin and found another good used magneto.

I put it on, set it, cranked the motor and it coughed to life. Even tho the old mag shocked me- must be wasnt enough to ignite the fuel .

Try replacing the magneto and see if that cures the issue . Make sure it doesnt have points either ( if its that old) - wire would run under the flywheel from the magneto.

Older magneto systems were primarily used to generate a spark and that is about all...
As electric starters,, lights, electric clutches and other electric loads were added.... bigger demands are placed on the rotating magnetic flywheel... larger alternators will, over time, deplete magnetic force ... especially if the magnets are parked over the iron part of the magneto or alternator during long periods of storage...

The magneto and alternator iron cores should not have any residual magnetism ... but they will build up 'some' with use.... and the more they get, the less effective the flywheel magnet will be... :smile:KennyV

crazyoldtractor said:

It is a kawaski fb460v 12.5hp. It's in a wheel horse lawn tractor. I read the recharging the magnets forum page you posted. I think I will try that. There is just one problem. They describe 2 magnets on the flywheel. My engine only has 1, it has 2 Philips screws that hold it in place on the fly wheel. Where should I place the magnet to recharge the flywheel?

Click to expand...

Why not just remove and replce the magnet?

I called someone at a local engine and they said the Kawasaki engines generally have an "igniter". I have no clue what this is. Could this be the issue.

I've never seen a magnet go bad on a flywheel however anything is possible. Try holding the tip of a screwdriver close to magnet if it pulls screwdriver to magnet then it is ok. A lot of Kaw's do have an igniter it would be a small metal box (about the size of a sugar cube) attached to the side of the engine usally with one wire coming out of it going to kill switch. They do often go bad. I assume you have no spark at spark plug is that correct ? Post all engine #'s and we will see if it has an igniter.