WD Magneto with external coil?

If the magneto is mechanically worn out and is converted into a distributor then it will function just like a worn out distributor.

If the magneto is in acceptable mechanical condition but electrically dead, then converting it into a distributor is a whole bunch less expensive than buying a re-conditioned distributor and will last just as long. My neighbor (now deceased) converted a John Deere "A" more than 50 years ago, his son still has it and will likely never wear it out either.

If you do purchase a re-conditioned distributor kit be sure that the vendor doesn't supply a coil that has cheapo steel/iron secondary terminals like the one I paid good money for; it rusted so badly within a year that it failed to function. I didn't think I would be "throwing good dough away" by dealing with that vendor, but I did "wind up spending twice the money for the fix in the long run" when I put a Bosch Blue Coil (with brass terminals) on it. Oh, and the condenser failed within six months too.

Let the buyer beware.

Fix it right or save your sheckles and swap it over to a Distributor. Doing things half a$$ doesn't last to long and you're throwing good dough away. People who are cheap, wind up spending twice the money for the fix in the long run. Seen it happen over n' over... JMHO

Steve@B&B

Dont sound like a long term fix, but it will work.

Dont know if your impulse works.. Will you have any spark advance...half of "old mag failures" are due to a bad Condenser.... lots of questions on that old mag.