Synchronizing coils

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Synchronizing coils
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Monday, November 19, 2012 - 06:03 pm:

I just wanted to add some info on an experiment I tried. I pulled the coils "just to have them checked" from my car that has been running pretty good. Well, they tested great on the Strobo spark. The one condition noted was that one of the coils reading was a tad lower than the other three. This is what I have been chasing as I felt one of the coils was either early or late of the others. Anyway, we (I watched) as the fourth coil was adjusted to the same setting as the other three and I finally got a chance to run the car yesterday. The feeling of one coil out of time was gone. The car ran smoother and definitely wanted to run faster than I was going to let it. None of us thought the small amount of difference in amp setting would make a difference but it did.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Monday, November 19, 2012 - 06:57 pm:

I will have my first "coil car" in the semi near future. This is great info!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Kossor on Monday, November 19, 2012 - 10:26 pm:

Optimal engine performance depends heavily on ignition timing so it only makes sense minimizing coil to coil ignition timing variation improves engine performance.

Accurately measuring coil ignition timing was not a simple task back in the day so coil current was used as in indicator of ignition timing. Simple "buzz box" coil testers were used for this purpose but vulnerable to providing seemingly good readings when in fact, the coil timing could be firing far too early due to a weak spark firing too soon followed by a second weak spark firing within the same time interval as a properly adjusted coil. The dreaded "double spark".

The Hand Cranked Coil Tester (HCCT) was devised to validate the coil current reading represents a single hot spark by displaying the number of sparks generated as the crank is turned. But again, coil current is only an indicator of coil ignition timing so significant coil to coil ignition timing variation may still exist causing less than optimum engine performance.

The Electronically Cranked Coil Tester (ECCT) is a new device currently under development which allows the operator to specifically adjust coil points for the same ignition timing by precisely monitoring coil dwell time necessary to fire a spark. You can learn more about the ECCT project at www.modeltecct.com


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