Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

Jim Williams from Van Wyk Southern Carolina sends photographs of the progress on his Eagle two seater Rapier engine and magneto. He asks if anyone has a 4 cylinder BTH Mag he could buy as a spare?

OK, Bernie, I am here with my first post to this thread. The pile of parts representing the magneto were assembled by me yesterday. I had disassembled the magneto because it was last serviced probably 50 or more years ago, and I feared that the bearing grease would be in poor condition. Good that I did so, as the grease was a hardened mass. I was careful to put a keeper across the magnet immediately after removing it. After assembly of all the cleaned parts, I got a good spark across a spark plug with a relatively easy flip of the wrist. Without a plug a swifter twist will produce sufficient spark to jump the safety gap inside the mag. The safety gap prevents excess voltage from damaging the windings if the magneto is operated without plugs to spark across. I expect that the magneto will be fine, but I would like to have a spare for touring. BGT-268 has been off the road, stored in a barn for most of the time, for more than 40 years. It has number three of the original Eagle bodies.

Jim

6-29-2012

Glad that you finally made it Jim, good to have you along. If you cannot find a BTH mag a Lucas GA4 is a handy substitute. The distributor cap varies so you would have to carry one complete with plug leads but otherwise one should bolt straight on. When inspecting your mag internals be sure to check that the windings are not "spongy" . The shelac insulation deteriorates with age and can melt, run, to the bottom of the case, then solidify when the engine cools down, locking up everything. Usually the rubber "Simms" coupling is the first thing to give when you attempt to start the engine next, hopefully saving the fibre timing gear.

Bernie J.

7-7-2012

Do not be shy this thread is open to all owners of Lagonda Rapiers and to anyone who either has previous experience or who admires these remarkable little (1100cc) extremely British sports cars. Why not log on and tell us about your Rapier adventures. 

Right now mine has just cost me another Aust $150 for "86 in an 80 kph zone". My mental calculations of MPH into KPH were just a trifle slow! ( The Rapier speedo is calibrated in MPH.) That and rapid changes of speed zones along an almost deserted country road, varying from 100 to 60 kph with minor changes in-between with 10 kph increments up and down over a five kilometre stretch of road. Our taxes at work, making our roads a safer place not to be. N/B. None of the money raised in this way will be spent on improving the roads. But some if not all go to making our Police Force the best paid in Australia (after bonuses).

Bernie J.