The Magneto.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 2, 1 December 1908, Page 51

The Magneto.

If given a fair chance a good magneto is a most reliable instrument, but we must say that many magnetos do not have a fair chance. They are put in such a position that they are constantly bombarded with splashes of oil from the engine, flywheel, or gear, and very often, too, they are exposed to wet not only when the car is over-copi-ously washed, but when driving in heavy rain they are sometimes just in a position where they get quite a lot of it. Now, a little wet or a little oil does not hurt the magneto, but when the machine is constantly soddened with one or the other trouble is apt to arise ; in fact, it is sure to arise eventually, and it could all be overcome if the magneto were covered. Many cars have a neat, strong leather cover which completely envelops the magneto machine, and we certainly think this is a desirable precaution in the majority of cases. It is true that some magnetos are so placed that they are protected entirely, or almost entirely, from wet or oil splashes, but even these would be better for being covered up, as the cover keeps dust out of the machine, and that must tend in the long run to a longer life of the distributer and working parts generally.