MTFCA Forum

I'm rebuilding my 1915 CenterDoor engine. It currently has a distributer and slingers. It also has a Warford, High Compression head,
& Model A Carb.
I know Distributers and Mags don't go together, but is there an advantage to having either magnets or slingers?
Your humble opinions are desired.

Dave

Having seen what happens when magnets break, I use slingers. There's also less weight on the 3rd bearing. One thing I did notice was the lighter flywheel made doing hill starts different but it didn't take long to get used to it. However, the slinger design is important since some types will break off. Also, the bolts securing them must lock tightly. Mine have been in the car for 11 years with no problems.

It's your choice. If you do not plan to ever use a magneto, the slingers should do just fine for distributing the oil. It will also allow you to run the engine at higher RPM without the danger of slinging a magnet. However, If you carefully inspect the magnets and use new brass screws and set them to the proper level from the flywheel, it is unlikely you will break one. If you use magnets without a magneto coil, the magneto will not work anyway, and you would have to pull the engine and transmission to install one in the future. So the choice is this: if you don't plan to install a magneto now or in the future, leave it as it is. If you want to use a magneto in the future, install the coils and magnets now, then you won't need to pull the engine again.
Some people like the originality of the magneto and coil type ignition system. But since you use a high performance head and Model A manifold and carburetor, you don't have originality anymore anyway.
Some people like to tinker with modifications which either increase power or speed. In that is what you want, then the slingers are fine.
Just a word of caution, the rest of the drivetrain is made to handle the original power of the engine, and if you increase it too much you run the danger of breakdown of the rear axle parts.
Norm

Hi Dave,
Looks like you are having fun.
Our car does not have any magnets or slingers on the flywheel to splash oil. Only the bolt heads that attach the starter ring gear. I do have and recommend the accessory oil supply that attaches to the left side of the hogshead and feeds oil to the front of the engine.
Our engine has a stroked Scat crank and a Z high compression head. The rest of the engine is stock with an NH Holley carburetor and a New Day timer.
I've had no troubles with the car other than that the brass always seems to need to be polished.

Give Nancy our regards.
Art (and Gail)

Slingers usually break, regularly too leaving bits of metal around the trans. At least when they break it is rarely 'catastrophic' and they have little weight so you probably won't notice them gone.

Magnets tend to break if not checked first (for cracks) and not installed properly.

Am I setting myself up for failure here? Do the brass screws fail without the magnets?

R/Roger.

"Am I setting myself up for failure here?" I am going to say yes. There is a LOT of centrifugal force being applied esp when you add the oil to the mix. Even just having the teeth on the ring gear moves a lot of oil around.

I would say "yes".

Are the screws new? Don't use old ones which will be work hardened (brittle) and prone to break.

Having them sit out like that will flex them, which will make them brittle which will break them. There is a LOT of force when they spin around and smack into the oil.

Slingers (as much as I don't like them) would be a better solution.

Maybe fold up your own slingers using heavier gauge steel plate?

Cheers, Adrian

I'm using spools on my speedster, only one per screw. They move a lot of oil.

These are the only slingers I install - manufactured by a well respected T guy !!!