New points

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2017: New points
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By tommy coffey on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - 04:38 pm:

I wonder if new points on my coils would help my new engine run even better. I removed the points and glass beaded them from the 4 good coils that I have and replaced them. I have about 20 sets of new/old points that I bought at a swap meet. My coils don't sound the same when they buzz , possibly because I didn't get them all adjusted the same. I've read all that I can find on coils and points and it sounds complicated. I'm not sure that I can replace 4 sets of points again and get them all to function.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - 04:54 pm:

I wouldn't attempt it without some proper test equipment. Don't worry about what they sound like. Setting them "By ear" and having them run good on mag is a wives tale. Or someone got extremely lucky!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By tommy coffey on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - 05:29 pm:

I guess my main concern is not having them set so the life of the coils are shortened as I understand happens when not adjusted properly.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Harper - Keene, NH on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - 05:42 pm:

Hi Tommy,

New points COULD help, but properly adjusted coils make such an improvement compared to mis-adjusted coils.

And Hal is correct about adjusting coils be ear; it just doesn't happen. I have personally adjusted coils with an HCCT, a Strobo Spark, and the ECCT and when correctly adjusted there are few which will sound the same.

Adjusting coils is not really complicated though sometimes it can be tedious. The most important part of it is the requirement that you use a proper piece of test equipment, as Hal recommended.

Good luck with your project, Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Conger - Wyoming on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - 09:36 pm:

I will answer the question you should have asked. :-)

Rebuilt coils will most certainly make your engine run better than it does now. New capacitors are as important as properly gapped and tensioned points...or even more so...

Without proper test gear, I wouldn't suggest rebuilding them yourself (it's not hard to do, but getting them set right is key here). Spend the money and purchase a remanufactured set and you will never begrudge a nickle you spent on them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Duey_C on Thursday, October 19, 2017 - 12:16 am:

What Scott says! He's correct! :-)
I've fiddled with the coils in the 25 TT and it runs OK but not perfect. It cranks just fine.
I'm an AXXhole with an engine, it MUST run perfect!
I had a setup that tested the coils with the box for the TT, a battery and all tested out just fine on the fly... Yet...
The derelict TT still has a running miss. Pull on the throttle/under load and it picks 'em off just fine. Idling/light running? Not so much.

The 18 Runabout here ran nearly perfect and then I had a set of coils REDONE for it with a suspicious method.
Some new-fangled-electronic way to set up the T coils. ;-)
I closed the carb mixer one full turn on the 18. It runs so darned nice. True.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garnet on Thursday, October 19, 2017 - 07:01 am:

Everything between your ignition switch and the timer on the front of your engine needs to be in perfect order ... ignition switch-harness-coilbox-harness-timer and the timing plate cover. Any issue with either of these means less performance and a Model T that is going to run crappy. I'm not trying to scare you off but rather am saying there's much more to the ignition system than just coils or contacts that can cause problems.

Poor contacts give poor performance - they won't shorten coil life. New contacts are but one part of a successful coil rebuilding process Tommy. The coil itself needs multiple tests to ensure (as best possible) that it will give you a long service life but there are no guarantees how long one will last as they are already ancient now! Correct capacitor replacement is a must-do. Installing new contacts seems to be a simple job but in reality it's not. Correct alignment can be done by eye, but correct adjustment can only be done with a coil tester and Mike Kossor's ECCT is the best tester by far. Any dirt, filth or foreign material on the contacts will affect operation (especially the spring contact). They need to be surgically clean and kept that way as best reasonably possible. Do the job right and do it once - you will be amazed at how your motor will run but again, coils are just a part of the overall ignition system.

If you can successfully operate a garage door opener - you can adjust coils with a ECCT !

Regards,
Garnet


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Thursday, October 19, 2017 - 07:41 am:

You can do the rebuilding yourself as it's not rocket science as they say. The problem is the testing equipment as it's TOTALLY necessary to set them up properly. The difference in engine running/performance is almost beyond belief. I have a friend with an HCCT, (actually how we met) so I know what I'm talking about on that score. My '23 started dead cold on mag after he did a set for me. I've done about 20/25 coils and only 2 of them didn't need messing with on the tester. I was a buzz box guy prior to this but I learned. As some of the guys have said; replacing the points might help but the chances are kind of slim.


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