pfrederi 17,114 #1 Posted January 26, 2023 (edited) Picked up a pallet of small engines at auction for $15. This was one of them, K181 battery ignition (spec # is "Basic"). Based on big mounting bracket was runnnin a pump of some kind?? Also there was a spring setup to always run at full throttle. What is interesting is the only external wire to a battery has a big momentary switch. There is a toggle switch that is wired so it cranks when you push the momentary button and feeds the coil from the solenoid. However when you release the momentary button (like when it starts running) the coil is feed by the output of the regulator. There is no path for battery voltage to get to the coil... and the regulator doesn't see any battery voltage when the momentary button is released but it must make power... (I sort of thought regulators only worked when they sensed some battery voltage even if low...guess I was wrong. I have had it run for a few seconds on carb cleaner... Edited January 26, 2023 by pfrederi 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,630 #2 Posted January 26, 2023 Pump or a log splitter comes to mind. 31 minutes ago, pfrederi said: I sort of thought regulators only worked when they sensed some battery voltage even if low...guess I was wrong. Same here... I know you shouldn't run a 520 with no battery but different animal there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,808 #3 Posted January 26, 2023 Maybe some sort of CDI ignition? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 15,870 #4 Posted January 26, 2023 I've run S/G engines like that, no battery except to get it started. Testing them on the bench and used a jump box, then disconnect it. But never tried it yet with a gear start type with rec/reg like that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,114 #5 Posted January 26, 2023 28 minutes ago, squonk said: Maybe some sort of CDI ignition? Nope Standard coil and points... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick3478 370 #6 Posted January 26, 2023 Sure, depends on what's in the "regulator". Circuit requirements are actually simpler if you don't have to limit voltage and current to charge a battery. Not that much different from a magneto, which just puts all the pieces in one box. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelHorse_of_course 99 #8 Posted February 24, 2023 Generally speaking I would expect yes. This was definitely the case with older cars, though they have alternators that put out current in excess of what the ignition system would need. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
