Ignition storage?

[Bigbill]

I been taught or told to keep the magnetic flywheel on the stator so the unit stays magnetically charged?
We're not suppose to store them apart or separate during long term storage.

I figure you gurus could help me out here fact or fiction?

 

[2premo]

they come that way in the box can't see how it could hurt

 

[wrx]

shouldnt be storing them Bill . you should be putting them to use.

 

[Crashaholic]

Great question Bigbill. In the past I've wondered about the detrimental effects of storing several magnetic flywheels together. I found this 30 year old article that may answer your question. It can be found at: http://www.gasenginemagazine.com/gas-engines/recharging-magneto-magnets.aspx but Page 2 covers storage do and don'ts. I've copied it below.

The most common cause for these losses is that the magnets have been subjected to demagnetizing forces.
Investigation into how this happens usually uncovers at least one of the following:
1) Take the case of an engine enthusiast who wants to get the maximum performance out of his magneto. He removes the magnets, takes them to his local magneto service center for recharging, then puts them back on the mag. Now he gets a weaker spark than before. Why? Because removing the magnets subjects them to demagnetizing forces, the recharging restored the magnetism, but they again lost some of their magnetism upon removal from the charger. What's the right way to recharge them? Charge them on the magneto as an assembly. Removing the magnets from a magneto causes them to lose some of their magnetism.
2) Don't pile several magnetos together in a heap or pile. Having magnets close together can cause them to partially demagnetize each other. Keep magnetos away from each other by at least 3 inches.
3) Don't connect a battery to the terminals of a low tension magneto. The current can demagnetize the magnets and might burn out the coils. If you want to run a mag-equipped engine on a battery and coil, make sure the mag lead is disconnected so battery current will not demagnetize the magnets.
4) Don't remove the armature or rotor from a magneto because the magnets can be weakened. The rotor can be safely removed by first installing a 'keeper' across the end of the magnet poles. Leave the keeper in place until the rotor is replaced. The Wico EK mag is an exception to this rule and the armature may be safely removed and replaced without using a keeper.
5) Magnets which have been exposed to a fire or excessive heat will frequently lose their heat treatment and hence their magnetic characteristics. Such magnets may never recover their magnetism even when recharged because the characteristics of the metal have been altered.
6) Don't attempt to recharge magnets by methods which produce inadequate energy to fully recharge them. Wrapping a few turns of wire around the magnets and 'flashing ' the wire with an automotive battery or arc welder frequently exposes the magnets to demagnetizing forces and may weaken them rather than improve them. If recharging is required, it's best to use a magnet charger specifically designed for the purpose.

 

[Bigbill]

Great another subject covered. We didn't need to contact the myth busters. Thanks guys.