Name: Kevin McWhorter
Company: McWhorter’s Antique Iron Repair
Location: 32391 Olympia Rd., Minier, IL 61759
Contact: (309) 303-2634
Profile: I started McWhorter's Antique Iron Repair in 2005. I’ve shown antique engines since 1998 and always had problems with the magneto. I came up with the idea of mobile magneto repair in late 2007 and started in 2008. I attend about 15 shows annually. In 2010 I repaired 196 magnetos at show sites and brought 56 back to the shop for more intense repair.
The idea behind the mobile service is that I can save the customer shipping plus build trust by meeting them. I repair their magneto while they enjoy the show. My trailer is 8 feet wide and 16 feet long. I am self-sufficient; I have a bed, fridge, microwave, heat and air conditioning in the trailer. Once I arrive on show site I stay until the show is over. It’s been working great!
I repair about 375 magnetos per year and have about 1,200 cores in my core bank. I offer service parts and rebuilds. Another benefit to the customer is that I take used parts, bead-blast them clean, inspect, and offer these reconditioned parts at half price. People seam to love it.
A little history on myself, I was in the trucking industry for fifteen years prior to 2005. The first eight years I was a truck technician, the last seven I was in parts and my last year was spent as an outside salesman for a Freightliner dealership. From 2005-2007, I repaired anything from mowers to semis, welding anything to survive. Since starting up the mobile trailer in 2008 I only repair magnetos for a living.