MTFCA Forum

So, I’ve been told I should make the coil contacts for my hand cranked coil tester from phosphor bronze rather than use the contacts found in the standard Ford coil box. Well finding a small strip of that stuff isn’t so easy. Is there anyone out there who can tell me where I can buy a strip about 5/8” wide x 6” long x .030” thick? Or does anyone has some to spare?

Mark,


Check out Online Metals.

All the Best,

Hank

Yes, I looked there, but the smallest piece is 12”x12” for $50 plus shipping. I’m hoping to find someone who has the small scrap I need left over from their project.

I used to have a good sized piece of that somewhere - knew where it was until we retired & relocated 4 years ago - I'll look around.

Aren’t the contacts in the original Ford coil boxes made from phosphor bronze? I know the repop ones are copper plated steel and loose their springiness.

True, good used originals are phosphorous bronze, and Lang's sells exact reproductions in the exact material, bronze.

p/n 50001BCONBQ is the '26-'27 non staggered versions, with lower strip. Excellent quality. Have used many.

That’s what I thought and I have a box full of original contacts but Ron suggested I don’t use those. He said that the early testers made by Ford used them and that they corrode easily.

Goodfellow.com sells small quantities of metals and other materials. They have phosphor bronze sheets. I don't know about costs.

I cannot imagine they will corrode quicker on your tester than they did in the car for 90 years.

Hmm ... yeah, that’s what I thought. Maybe I’ll just use them. Easy to replace.

Did an internet search - results
Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper with 0.5–11% of tin and 0.01–0.35% phosphorus. The tin increases the corrosion resistance and strength of the alloy. The phosphorus increases the wear resistance and stiffness of the alloy.
Give the results I found went directly to K&S Engineering site . They only have the two sizes below http://www.ksmetals.com/30.html

K&S Precision Metals 16053 Phosphor Bronze Sheet Metal Rack, 0.008" Thickness x 6" Width x 12" Length, $7.39 plus shipping. Don't know what size you need.
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Metals ... 7593&psc=1

Phos Bronze .006" thick 5" x 7" Sheet of Bronze from K&S Engineering. $3.76 + shipping
http://www.hobbylinc.com/k-s-phos-bronz ... gI0p_D_BwE

Just to set the record straight!
I DID NOT tell anyone "the early (HCCT) testers made by Ford used them and that they corrode easily"
I simply explained, that original Ford coil box contacts were not designed for that type of service and would not stand up to the constant insertion and removal of coils in a HCCT.
I have restored over 75 HCCT's and when found Ford coil box contact are usually badly damaged. Many HCCT's (Allen Electric, Service Products) used very well made coil test box contacts that would survive that kind of service. I recommend fabricating new coil test box contacts from Phosphor Bronze sheet material when restoring a HCCT.

My mistake Ron. I misunderstood your message. I assumed you meant that the contacts were corroded on the Ford manufactured coil testers that used that type of contact. I said “early” Ford units because I thought they were largely superseded by other makers after awhile. You actually said “damaged.” Now I see you were probably implying that they get bent or broken. Sorry ... this is where reading something in an email that can be interpreted different ways is not as accurate as a conversation.

Hey Frank, Thanks for the sites that sell phosphor bronze .. but that material is way too thin for making the kind of contact I need for this application. I was hoping there might be someone here who has some scraps of what I would need for making these contacts.

Check with Ron Patterson. He's had more coil testers than anyone on earth!

Hi Ron,
Do you sell repair kits for the HCCT?
Thank you,
Erick