I have finally gotten back to doing some work on my D8-1h after letting it sit for a a long while. I had to pull the mag and clean it out, and it has good spark, but I can not get the pony timed to save my life. I can only manage to get an occasional pop. when I last ran it a year and a half ago it started up just fine. I have followed the timing process described in the manual to a T with no good results. I am now wondering if I have an incorrect rotor on my mag. if you look at the pic the brass on the rotor goes to the right, but the rotor rotates to the left. I have a couple of parts mags and may have gotten the rotor mixed up (unfortunately I cant find the other rotors now). Does this look like the correct rotor for a mag that rotates counterclockwise when looking at the rotor? Thanks in advance for any input or suggestions. this is driving me crazy.

See if the rotor has a part number on the back of it. The clockwise number is 23292 and the anti clockwise number is 23185. I was hoping my Eisemann book would show both of them but it only shows one and does not say which one it is.

Where in northern Ill are you? I am in Buffalo Grove
Chuck C

I thought of that as well. I have the service handbook, but the picture is pretty fuzzy since its a repro. The only number I could find on the rotor is 175. I think it is a right hand rotor based on a picture of one on ebay. What I am not certain about is when the mag is referred to as clockwise or counterclockwise, are they referring to the direction the rotor turns, or the impulse starter. the rotor turns counterclockwise when looking at it.

Hi Chuck, I live out southwest of Rockford between Byron and Oregon. The D-8 has been in my family since 1961. I inherited it from my dad who used it to push open scrub trees for more farmland back in the 60s.

If I can remember when I get home I will look through my mag parts and see if I can find a left hand rotor. I have been sorting mags and parts the last couple of mornings before coming to work and I am at the RC and RTs right now. The rotation of the mag is off of the armature or impluse, not the rotor. Looking at the impluse end if the mag rotates counterclockwise it is a left hand mag, see the picture of a GV2Q left hand rotation mag that I have been working on. I have also attached the Caterpillar applications section of the Eisemann book. When looking at this please remember that it was published in April of 1941. Since the column headers are not there they are: Manufacturer, Engine manufacturer, Engine model, Magneto type, Magneto mounting U = basemount T= vertical flange mount and H = horizontal flange mount, Rotation R=Right hand and L = left hand, Spark F = fixed and V = variable, Lag Angle, Impluse or flange #, Lug angle, Drive floating disc #, Drive hub #, Mfg's part number, Eisemann part #, and Notes

Thanks for that information! I will take a look at that this weekend.

Got this off the internet....

Thanks. that is the opposite of the one I have which makes me think it could be the problem.

magneto rotation...check slot at "B"
and position of point rubbing block on cam