Coil questions

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Coil questions
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 12:38 pm:

I recently stuck a rebuilt coil in #3, the old one came with the car when I bought it last spring and it had always been a bit wonky, burning points and not firing unless mixture and temperature was just right. Anyhoo. I had never been able to start on mag before, but after changing the one coil, it starts rather nicely on mag, and the morning starts above 40° do not require jacking up the back wheel (it was 27° this morning, and I tried a couple of pulls, it did fire but did not start with the cold temps, and the crank was a bugger to turn due to the cold oil)
My question is can a bad coil rob power from the other three? I can not understand how one bad coil would keep the car from at least firing on the good ones when on mag, I can understand why it might not run in marginal conditions, but until I replaced the one coil, I could not even get it to fire.
Best
Gus


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Whitaker on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 02:00 pm:

I suppose that it IS possible, but very unlikely. What timer are you running? And have your coils been rebuilt with new points, condensers, and the like, and adjusted properly?

Now if your engine has 20 horsepower (for sake of simplicity), and it has a dead cylinder, it won't rob you of just 5 horsepower, it will be more like 7 or 8 due to friction and everything.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 02:15 pm:

Hey Cameron,
the other thee coils are ones that came with the car, I have replaced the points on one, and they function well, so I am running them at this point. The timer is a roller timer.
I am aware that horse power drops significantly with the loss of power on one cylinder, but the thing that puzzles me is the total lack of spark on the other three cylinders when the bad coil is installed.
I just tried again, with 4 good coils the car starts easily on mag, but with the bad coil installed #1 this time there is no fire at all, and with only three coils, there is no fire on any cylinders.
Best
Gus


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tman - Right Coast on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 02:18 pm:

imagine if you change the other three


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 02:51 pm:

When you change points on the coils are you setting them with a stroboscope or a HCCT. I'm curious if one works better than the other.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Whitaker on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 03:42 pm:

If you weren't getting spark at all on the other cylinders with the bad coil installed, the problem could be in your coil box. It's unlikely, but from my all my years in electronics/electrical work, I have learned to never rule out anything no matter how unlikely it seems!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 06:39 pm:

Hey Tman, Yes, I am thinking that way now.

Mike, I change the points with a little wrench and my eyeballs, I think this may be referred back to Tman's comment

Hey Cameron, I am looking at the carb now, as I have been told 80% of electrical problems are related to the carburetor

Best
Gus.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Patterson-Nicholasville, Kentucky on Thursday, October 04, 2012 - 07:28 pm:

Gus
Give me a call and I will let you try a set of my loaner coils and you will astounded at how well your Model T will rung with properly set up ignition coils. You are only obligated to pay the postage and return them when done.
Ron the Coilman
859-881-1677


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 12:07 am:

My guess would be that the "new" coil is coming up as first or second when you crank and the better spark is giving it that added kick to get going.
I am with Ron Patterson on this.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 12:14 am:

Hey Ron and Wayne
I think that you are right, one good coil could spin the engine well enough for the others to be able to pick up. I think that spring time will be a good time to put four tuned coils in the box.
The T is an amazing machine, it can be coaxed to run with a bit of tinkering. It is a fun machine to work with.
Best
Gus


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 01:17 am:

My purpose for wanting to know is I dropped a couple of my coils a week ago and I've got an opportunity to have them checked, adjusted with a stroboscope or a HCCT. I thought you could give me an idea if one showed better results than the other. You said you had put a rebuilt coil in with the other three and I guess I just assumed rebuilt also meant adjusted on some form of coil tester. Forgive me if my assumption created any hard feelings. I was just curious.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 09:45 am:

Hey Mike,
To be honest, I do not know how it was adjusted, I was a bit dubious when I first looked at it as the gap was big enough to drive a truck through, but it sure works. I talked to Ron, and he suggested having all four adjusted the same, and that make sense, as if all four cylinders are firing the same, the car is going to run better. Currently, I am just using the car on the farm as a run about to get to my work, and if I have to walk back to the house, it will not be a big deal, but before I do any real traveling with it, I am going to follow the advice I have been given.
Best
Gus


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 11:09 am:

If a coil is inserted that has a primary short it will short the power buss so no other coils can get juice to fire. Just a thought.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 11:50 am:

Gus, my next question is; Did you build the ambulance? Not that it's important but I can't help but think that would be the most fun vehicle on a club tour. It's definitely an attention getter. Good luck getting your coils figured out, your definitely dealing with the right people.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 01:46 pm:

Hey Mike,
Yes I did build the ambulance. It is a fun machine. The visibility out the back is not the best, but as long as one keeps the back tarp rolled up one can see pretty well. As far as touring, the back makes a great place for an air mattress and sleeping bags, and the driver does not look out of place with a Colt M1911 .45 on his belt. The ride in the T ambulance is rather smooth too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Friday, October 05, 2012 - 03:14 pm:

I've only re-built about 12 coils. When they were HCC'd 2 out of 12 needed no adjustment at all. I'm going with the general consensus here. Your coils are off and the one you used to replace #3 was spot on.


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