Waterproofing the K2F magneto

[BSA500]

Hiya,
 As in the subject, twice now the A7 has been caught parked in the rain. Started ok but within 5 mins spluttered to a halt. Took the pick ups off and found the gearbox side (lower one) full of water. Top one dry and where the HT leads screw in dry as well. So I assume the rain runs off the magneto body and past the pick up gaskets. What does everyone use to prevent this, sealant or something like vaseline etc. Riding in the rain is ok it just runs off the bike engine as its parked on the side stand(no main stand and no bike shelter at work)

[muskrat]

G'day BSA500.
Vaso would be my first choice above any type of silicon sealant.
Cheers

[BSA500]

That's what I thought

[sean]

doubt vaseline would stay thick with the engine temps .....maybe a bit of clear silicone or high temp grease  ...wouldnt hurt to spray your HT leads with WD 40 it displaces water .....back in the 60s we used to start the bike at night or a dark place and get a spray bottle  with water and spray the ign system , ht leads cap etc for stray spark leakage 

[BSA500]

I have some hivac silicon grease should be good for higher temps

[Billybream]

Always fitted an o ring to the points cover, although to be fair now tend to avoid rain

[chaterlea25]

Hi BSA500,
Are the rubber boots that cover the acorn nuts on the pickups fitted?
If it has manual advance, apply the silicone grease to the cable at the handlebar lever
Also rubber boot over cable going into the mag,
John

[BSA500]

John,
 Yes I have some nice tight fitting boots over the acorns and that part of the pick ups are bone dry. All the water collets in the bottom pick up around the carbon brush bit. So its either getting past the upper pick up gasket and running down or the lower gasket or both. Its an automatic magneto and the points housing is nice and dry.

[Triton Thrasher]

There are drain holes in the base of my magneto.

[berger]

triton thrasher they are ventilation holes not water drain holes

[CheeserBeezer]

The new pickup gaskets available from the usual source (!!!!Grrrrr!!!!) look like fibre but actually are plastic with a red coating. They don't work because they are not soft enough to form a seal between the pickup and the mag body. The originals were cork or cardboard or thick fibre mat. They need replacing every couple of years. I make my own out of cork sheet.

[Triton Thrasher]

triton thrasher they are ventilation holes not water drain holes

They’re drain holes when water or oil gets in.

[BSA500]

Problem is they are at an angle and tiny

[8iggles]

Best policy on the open brass screw terminals at the top of telegraph poles was to clean all traces of corrosion and dust, cobwebs even bumblebees occasionally then dry and spray with silicone spray. Really get rid of anything that will absorb moisture and cover with a slippery coating that also acts as a barrier for air too. Don’t really want anything sticky that catches dust then gets damp?
Some of the sprays for repelling moisture we had were really effective and they didn’t have oil in them so evaporated, you could connect your mega and watch the needle, it was like insulation in an aerosol.
Everything gone Idc these days, although connections are grease filled to keep the air and moisture out! ( no open brass screws)

[berger]

well as i understand it they were fitted with felt and allowed the mag to breath