Villiers Magneto problem

Recently bought a villiers mark 15 but I (in my infinite wisdom) forgot to check where the HT lead was. It was in the exhaust burning a hole in itself. Need to get the magneto off to replace the wire, but cannot and just turn the engine over with the ratchet does anyone know how to get the bloody thing off!!!

I'm guessing you mean you need to remove the flywheel. I'd advise NOT to jam anything in the fins to hold it, you'll more than likely break a fin off. On the MK15 I feed a length of cord into the cylinder with the piston at BDC and slowly turn the engine over until it locks up. The flywheel nut is it's own puller, as you undo it (conventional RH thread) it will go tight again as it draws the flywheel off the taper on the crankshaft.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: just re-read your post, if it's just the HT lead you need to replace you can (in theory) unscrew the bakelite ferule in the backplate, but it may just break up if it's tight. You need to get it out to replace the lead anyway.

I wrote my previous reply in a bit of a rush while snaffling my toast this morning, just to clarify you don't need to remove the flywheel to replace the HT lead, it comes out with the ferule in the backplate. It's retained in the ferule with a small screw that goes into the centre of the lead and also retains the contact spring.

Or you could just connect a new piece of lead on: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125476590873?hash=item1d36fcd519:g:Z-wAAOSwgHZYC1C1&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4IdTKwfRO3kI%2B%2BFsKqJK%2FdgJsI8gtH6MALTpZBLavhg7uHLaCMG%2BsaEcavAWp7cgKOePeL7pBheTZ65OGqDPMmWMQdl1UqfOYsHr1fx54wI074xeqzrvW9HKQ04AqwDTyDC%2BSGMJt3bwQKyz4hvCI1fyHbnAzdzOGoLr4%2FGqpyzWGEFIYD70V3i%2FYb%2Bh4OjLbKjr7wXW8Q2mScKDyRt7xqMSclmmC5Q4RTzI9eKngZFDh9tpG%2B7ApupOkt%2F5lnRUM%2FdvLs61VRT41BPVDNcEBETBpZsWH2ufdaXrKp01s5zQ%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7j378SIYg

I have a manual in pdf form that covers the MK15, PM me your email if you would like a copy.