MTFCA Forum

Herm posted ; . Sure miss the Old Grump, he was wonderful asset to the hobby.

Bob.. I miss him too.. I believe he was noted saying hand crank coil tester should not be faster than 80 revolutions per minute.... the same speed as a Edison diamond disc record.

Bob,
I miss Herms comments also and I agree with his HCCT rpm too,....n

The main advantage of the constant speed voltage is the points can be more accurately set to have the spark happen at the same voltage level and time for a smoother running engine.

You can start slowly cranking an HCCT while watching the voltage meter, if there is one, and slowly increase the speed until sparks appear.

You will notice sparks will happen at 2 AC Volts on some coils and up to 4 or 4 1/2 AC Volts on other coils.

The points can be adjusted to make them all happen at the same voltage level.

The coils that spark at the lower level are great for hand crank early Model Ts to start easier.

James..... HCCT's set coil output in amps..... 1.3 steady average..... Rare testing units have an ampmeter and a/c voltage meters. Turning a HCCT at 80 rpms may produce 2 to 4 volts ac., and will activate coil function enough to set points for 1.3 amp function.

Robert, you got part of the picture correct.

The voltage required to set the 1.3 amps can vary from 2 to 4.5 volts.

That also determines when the spark happens and a different piston position when that spark does happen.

James.., coils are set by AMPERAGE....., not voltage, on a hand cranked coil tester with magnets and a coil ring as used in the engine . Spark is determined by the position of the commutator and is adjusted by lengthening or shortening the control rod.

Ford HCCT Booklet

Thanks, you are a true asset to the club.

What did you learn Bob ?, Who is right?, and Who is wrong. ...n

Neil:..... Any chance you could help Shawn Barnard getting his coils adjusted/rebuilt ?? Having someone in Austrailia will certainly help him save on postage and get them to him much quicker than overseas. Thanks for your consideration.

I find it interesting that the photo in the booklet from that link shows what I believe is one of the so called soybean coils. Jim

Photo from booklet ???. Please clarify.

The "Ford Agents Coil Unit and Magneto Test Stand" was introduced and offered to Ford dealers in Vol. 1 No. 3 (1919) of the Ford Service Bulletin.
Presumably the instruction booklet cited above was published about the same time.
This was approximately the same time the "Cast" wheat gluten with Asbestos as a binder ignition coil was being used in Model T production.
In my view, using a cast case ignition coil with the prominent Ford script logo in the picture depicting the testing device was a clever tactic.
This was a big event for Ford dealers and serviced station who, up to that time, had no way to functionally test ignition coils.
Ron Patterson

Robert... I do not know Shawn, and If he contacts me I will sure help him out,,,n