Help needed with starting 1913 Studebaker - Magneto problems?

[mbstude]

We dug the '13 out of its corner today and made an attempt at getting it running. The car was last run over a decade ago, and at the time would always start on the first pull of the hand crank.

 

We cleaned out the gas tank, disassembled and cleaned the carb, and we are getting fuel into the cylinders. We removed the cover off of the magneto, filed the points, yet we don't seem to be getting any spark.

 

Any ideas are welcome. 

 

 

[mbstude]

We figured it out. Some dummy (me) bypassed the magneto switch thinking the switch was bad, not realizing that closing the circuit is what turns off the magneto. 

[nvonada]

You are way ahead of me.  On a magneto ignition the switch grounds the magneto to prevent the plugs from firing, so you OPEN the switch to run the car (or plane, or lawnmower ).  Glad you found the problem.

[nzcarnerd]

Looks odd for a 1913 Studebaker.

[trimacar]

Here's a 1913 Studebaker Model 25.  Doesn't look like the same car.

 

 

[mbstude]

It's a 1913 Model 25 chassis. The "body" is homemade, who knows how long ago, and there's no telling what the fenders are from. There's also a 1911 Flanders, and a 1916 4 cylinder touring car in the collection, both restored. The 1913 is fun to drive around the pasture and give rides in without fear of damaging anything. Sometimes an old beater is pretty fun too. 

 

 

 

[trimacar]

That explains that!  Yes, beaters are fun......thanks for explanation....