Paul,

 This item is apparently  a small magneto.  It says it works up to
 15,000rpm.  Perhaps it might help in powering the 555 system.

 http://www.pccmotor.com/inner-rotor-kit-crf50-crf-50-ignition5050.html

 Doug in Japan

 Looks exactly what the doctor ordered for carb or 555 EFI.

 Good work Doug. Thanks. Cheap too.

 Paul Lamar

 Paul, Doug -

 I was interested in the "magneto" that you just brought up.  (See link
 below in original message.)

 Noting that "PCC Motor" was nearby in Pomona, CA, I stopped by today
 to have a look at the unit.  PCC Motor looks to be your standard
 Chinese import company that'll import anything they can resell.  (Just
 my impression.)

 In discussing and examining the unit there with Aaron Chen
 (909-469-2454) he informed me that this was an inexpensive version of
 the Japanese "Kitaco Inner Rotor Kit".  I found the Kitaco's all over
 the internet, but here is an quick link to just one outfit selling
 them:
 http://tboltusa.com/store/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=16&products_id=33&osCsid=a4542c0cd0a7721c3785160aa20534c7

 The Kitaco looks identical to the PCC Motor unit I saw today.  I'm
 going to guess that it's the same manufacturer as Kitaco's unit, with
 the very-ethical-Chinese-manufacturer modus operandi of selling the
 exact same production units on the side.  And at $45 vs. $180, it's
 quite the deal.

 Here's some notes for whoever wants to consider this further:
 - The unit is small.  I'd estimate the mounting disk to be about 5-6"
 in diameter
 - The unit is easily disassembled.  Someone could easily remount the
 coils on a new plate, say, on the old 13B distributor stalk  :)
 - The rotating magnets (pictured in the center with the keyed shaft-
 hole) have a TAPERED shaft-hole
 - The unit's features include a "stop switch" ... handy
 - Timing is adjustable (but it only looks to be SLIGHTLY adjustable)

 The talk on the internet is that these are harder to start due to
 slower magnet speeds, but are fine at running speed.  Also, they are
 great for taking rotational momentum off the crankshaft for faster
 revving.

 I could pick one up if anyone wants to play with it (or you could
 order direct).  At $45, it is a cheap experiment.  At least it's
 readily available, and easily modifiable.

 Back to the PWM EFI Pump Controller ...

 -Vince Orton

 I was thinking if the magnet were made larger in diameter it might
 work
 better at lower rpm.

 Paul Lamar

Paul -

Yes, it would.  The POINT of THIS unit is to reduce rotational mass to
rev faster.  You might consider the ORIGINAL unit with a larger
flywheel-mounted magnets.  Maybe cheaper.  Maybe not.

Do you want me to drop by PCC Motor again to see what else they're
importing with larger flywheels?  They mistakenly showed me another
model before bringing this one out. This is a standard Chinese
importer, with instructions in Chinglish and the whole nine yards.

I like this unit BECAUSE it is plentiful, cheap, and small, but I'm
not married to it.  If we can't START on it due to low power, maybe we
can use conventional means for starting, or a different larger-
diameter unit, or just use it on the leading (lower, "L") plug as a
power-out ignition system.  I don't know ... just thinking here.

(Sidenote: My way of remembering the plugs: L=Leading=Lower;
T=Trailing=Top)

Another observation ... the coil only takes up 1/2 of the outer
diameter around the spinning magnets.  We could mount two coils 180
degrees apart around the spinning magnets to double density.  What to
do for triggering is another issue.  That's what testing is for.  At
least the unit is simple to assemble and disassemble.

I think it's use as a "magneto" built on the distributor stalk is
still the most interesting application.

-Vince Orton

Do you have a schematic of how it works? Is the small device on the right
a trigger of some sort?
Maybe some one could come up with the equivalent of an impulse coupling.
Did the Model T have a vibrator or something like that for starting.

Paul Lamar