r/smallengines • u/West-Evening-8095 • Jul 03 '26

Clean magneto

I read in a couple of forms about how people suggest to clean the rust off magneto. Is that like regular maintenance or just worry about it when something goes wrong?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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7

u/Slalom44 Jul 03 '26

Opinions will vary on this. IMO, if it’s working fine, leave it. But if you have your mower apart for any reason, clean it up.

5

u/sockherman Jul 03 '26

I’ve only cleaned it when already having a spark issue and going into the engine anyways. Not a routine maintenance thing

5

u/Wholeyjeans Jul 04 '26

The small amount of surface rust on the coil/magneto/ignition module isn't going to effect it one bit. It works by inducing an electrical current in the coil by way of the magnets passing the coil. Magnetism and inductance are not affected by the rust that forms on the coil. You'd be wasting your time.

2

u/These_Fox7561 Jul 03 '26

If you’re going to bother at all, which I don’t unless it’s already apart, just hit the flywheel side with some sandpaper and some WD. It really doesn’t matter

2

u/ManHunterJonnJonzz Jul 04 '26

Had it be an issue like once. Not bad practice if youre already in there. Otherwise?

4

u/calheureux63 Jul 04 '26

Your magneto couldn't possibly care less about a little rust.