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Magnetos

Magnetos

Morris FMZ Magneto
Morris FMZ Magneto
An economic way to equip your vintage IOE Harley-Davidson and other 45° V-Twins with a more modern and reliable Fairbanks-Morse type magneto. Actually it is a tried and trusted Morris mag merged with the Bosch ZEV style base mount. Driven by the stock magneto gear which is also available and mounted with 3/8”-16 bolts to the crankcase. Comes with MRA advance-retard system. An easy conversion at a great price and OK'd to be used as an ignition for Motorcycle Cannonball cross country races.
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Wico XV1922 Magneto WR
Wico XV1922 Magneto WR
The year 1903 not only marked the founding of our favourite motorcycle company, it also started off the Witherbee Igniter Company, which later evolved into the WICO Electric Company with the primary mission to build quality ignition systems. In the 1940s WICO produced the "X series" magnetos, which were extremely reliable and very repairable, so it is no wonder that they became highly popular on farm tractors. All John Deere tractors at that time were equipped with WICO magnetos. When Harley-Davidson came out with the special WR racing version of the 45” Flathead in 1941 they first equipped them with Edison-Splitdorf magnetos, but soon after the war switched to WICO XV1922 mags and kept them until the end of WR production in 1952. Especially during long distance races like the Daytona 200 the WICO magnetos proved superior.
Original, working WICO XV1922 mags are hard to find these days, so we are all lucky that Nassau, NY enthusiast Andrew Johnson decided to reproduce them. Incredibly accurate, meticulously machined and flawlessly working. There are no shortcuts whatsoever, these mags are perfect. Period. They install, adjust and function just like the period conterparts. Besides being replacements for WR race bikes all Flathead 1937→, all K models and Sportster →1970 can be equipped with them, where they install en lieu of the stock battery-based ignition system. XV1922 mags feature a distributer rotor so your bike will be converted to single fire (each cylinder gets its own spark).
Admittedly, a WICO mag is quite an investment, but always remember: the quality will remain long after the price is forgotten (H. Royce).
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Morris Magneto MM74E for OHV Big Twins 1936-1969
Morris Magneto MM74E for OHV Big Twins 1936-1969
These genuine Morris classics are for purists and feature a simple built-in auto advance and manual retard to prevent nasty kick-backs. Easy installation without fin grinding or smashing in pushrod covers. An O-ring on the drive shaft tube prevents oil leaks.
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Morris Magneto MM3 for Sidevalves and Sportsters →1970
Morris Magneto MM3 for Sidevalves and Sportsters →1970
Genuine classics for purists. Feature manual retard and - if correctly adjusted - advance automatically after starting.
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Morris Magneto Model G5 for OHV Big Twins 1936-1969
Morris Magneto Model G5 for OHV Big Twins 1936-1969
Owners of older Harleys can now have a magneto ignition that'll out-start as well as out-spark any other. The G5 features a recoil spring which stores energy during cranking. Once the bikes starts this system drops out and the timing automatically advances. The offset housing makes installation easy with no interference from pushrods and relay mount.
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Morris Magneto Model H5 for Generator Style Crankcase
Morris Magneto Model H5 for Generator Style Crankcase
Like on the H-D factory XR race bikes, this magneto mounts to the generator port. Intended primarily for alternator/generator motors, since the generator port is not used on these engines, but of course it will work on all generator engine style custom bikes who run without a battery charging system. It features the fully automatic recoil spring for easy starting with kick or electric starter. Installation may require engine case modification. Magneto can be mounted in various positions.
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Morris Magneto Model M5 for Big Twin 1973-1999
Morris Magneto Model M5 for Big Twin 1973-1999
Features a special spring loaded device for a hot starting spark even with a slow turning engine, making kick-starting a breeze.
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Accessories
Accessories
Replacement Parts
Replacement Parts

Related Topics

A magnet, a set of breaker contacts and a coil: ignition can be that simple

It was a Swabian inventor who brought the first functioning magneto high-voltage ignition system onto the market. An engineer at Robert Bosch's fledgling company combined a horseshoe magnet from a low-voltage igniter with an armature wound as a transformer, plus a breaker contact and spark plugs - et voilà: The part worked really well! The invention of this device, which produces its own current, reliably transforms it into high voltage and conducts the voltage to one or more spark plugs, actually gave internal combustion engines a real boost within a few years, starting in 1903. This was because the rechargeable batteries or batteries that were otherwise used for ignition at the time were not always reliable, quickly discharged, and were thus a constant source of discontent for the early motorcylist.

Because of their compact design, Bosch magneto ignition systems quickly became popular on the other side of the pond. With the 1909 model year, Harley-Davidson also offered magneto ignition, as an option for single-cylinder engines and as the sole ignition for V-engines until 1914.

Magnetos were significantly improved again in the 1930s. In the Bosch design, the coil rotates in a stationary magnet. The electrical connections must therefore run partly through sliding contacts, which are of course wearing parts. If instead the coil is placed firmly in the housing and the magnet is allowed to rotate ... Edison, Fairbanks, Wico, Morris, all magnetos used in V motors since the 1940s have this crucial improvement!

How does the magneto work?

The magneto is connected to the camshaft via the shaft and a gear wheel. On the shaft sits a magnet and a cam. When the shaft rotates, the magnet induces a current in the coil. At a certain position of the shaft, the breaker is opened by the cam, the current is interrupted and the high voltage is generated at the spring contacts of the coil. The high voltage goes through the ignition wires and to the spark plugs.

By the way, the magneto on the shaft generates alternating current. That is why a magneto must never be connected to the battery in the motorcycle. When DC current flows through the magneto coil, the magnet on the shaft is demagnetized. A magneto only makes the current for the ignition. The current for lights and horn must be generated conventionally by a generator or come from a battery.

Do I need to tune a magneto?

Morris magnetos are adjusted at the factory for proper contact spacing. Important: The mechanic who checks the contact distance does this with a feeler gauge, which must be absolutely free of grease and oil, so that the magneto still works after the check. If oil gets on the contacts, you have cause for a more thorough cleaning.

When installing the magneto, the ignition timing is adjusted. The easiest method is still the old fashioned way with a thin piece of foil or cigarette paper. Both also please without grease or other residues. There are instructions online for each of our magnetos.

Have any questions?

Our service team will be glad to help out: Mondays - Thursdays 08:00-17:00 CET, Fridays 08:00-16:00 CET, Phone: +49 / 931 250 61 16, eMail: service@wwag.com