Rebuilding the coil box

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
ModelTMitch
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2019 6:58 pm
First Name: Mitch
Last Name: Taylor
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Ford Model T touring
Location: https://www.fordmodelt.net (Manning Valley, NSW, Australia)
Contact:

Rebuilding the coil box

Post by ModelTMitch » Sat Jun 22, 2024 4:38 am

Over the past few weeks, I noticed old Liz was starting to develop a misfire, which at first, I thought was one of her coils beginning to fail. However, upon testing each coil myself, and taking them to visit a fellow Model T enthusiast with his 1914 Touring, running his car on my coils, revealed that there was nothing wrong with them. Still, to be on the safe side, I bought some additional coils from him, so I had some spares!
Fast forward, I've been busy replacing (and cleaning) the coil contacts where needed, and while I was at it, replaced my rather shabby looking porcelain insulators.
re-connecting everything back up, and .... well you'll have to wait and see! :D

๐ŸŽฌ https://youtube.com/shorts/GRq0yq74m3Q?feature=share


Rebuilding my Model T coil box
Rebuilding my Model T coil box
Last edited by ModelTMitch on Sun Jun 23, 2024 9:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
โ˜†โ˜† ModelTMitch โ˜†โ˜†
Manning Valley, NSW, Australia

โ˜… Website: https://www.fordmodelt.net
โ˜… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModelTMitch
โ˜… Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/modeltmitch
โ˜… Car Club: https://www.glhac.org


John kuehn
Posts: 4433
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas

Re: VIDEO: How to rebuild your coil box

Post by John kuehn » Sat Jun 22, 2024 10:04 pm

Did you clean up the coil insulator bolts? My experience was
I did and reused the originals but my T still had what I thought was a less noticeable skip. I bought the new coil box bolts and there was a noticeable difference in the way the car ran. Just my experience for that one coil box but the new bolt hardware made a difference. Maybe not someone elseโ€™s experience though. Maybe each coil box is a little different!๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ˜

User avatar

Topic author
ModelTMitch
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2019 6:58 pm
First Name: Mitch
Last Name: Taylor
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Ford Model T touring
Location: https://www.fordmodelt.net (Manning Valley, NSW, Australia)
Contact:

Re: VIDEO: How to rebuild your coil box

Post by ModelTMitch » Sun Jun 23, 2024 8:23 am

I did more than that :D I've got the full video coming very shortly!
Safe to say that clean electrical contacts make a world of difference! :geek:
John kuehn wrote: โ†‘
Sat Jun 22, 2024 10:04 pm
Did you clean up the coil insulator bolts? My experience was
I did and reused the originals but my T still had what I thought was a less noticeable skip. I bought the new coil box bolts and there was a noticeable difference in the way the car ran. Just my experience for that one coil box but the new bolt hardware made a difference. Maybe not someone elseโ€™s experience though. Maybe each coil box is a little different!๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ˜
โ˜†โ˜† ModelTMitch โ˜†โ˜†
Manning Valley, NSW, Australia

โ˜… Website: https://www.fordmodelt.net
โ˜… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModelTMitch
โ˜… Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/modeltmitch
โ˜… Car Club: https://www.glhac.org

User avatar

TWrenn
Posts: 3743
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Wrenn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
Location: Ohio
Board Member Since: 2019

Re: VIDEO: How to rebuild your coil box

Post by TWrenn » Sun Jun 23, 2024 9:12 am

ModelTMitch wrote: โ†‘
Sun Jun 23, 2024 8:23 am
I did more than that :D I've got the full video coming very shortly!
Safe to say that clean electrical contacts make a world of difference! :geek:
John kuehn wrote: โ†‘
Sat Jun 22, 2024 10:04 pm
Did you clean up the coil insulator bolts? My experience was
I did and reused the originals but my T still had what I thought was a less noticeable skip. I bought the new coil box bolts and there was a noticeable difference in the way the car ran. Just my experience for that one coil box but the new bolt hardware made a difference. Maybe not someone elseโ€™s experience though. Maybe each coil box is a little different!๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ˜
Re Mitch's comment at top of this....I've always been a proponent of clean contacts, ever since my first T with the Tru-Fire especially. A friend of mine found this out recently on his '23 all stock ignition too. I remember telling him a coupla years ago of my experience and he put it into practice and car runs like new. Amazing how contacts get gunked up "just sitting there" :lol:


jab35
Posts: 1001
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:28 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Bartsch
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 Coupe
Location: Dryden, NY 13053
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Rebuilding the coil box

Post by jab35 » Sun Jun 23, 2024 10:23 am

Hardly a 'rebuild', more of a cleanup of cosmetically unappealing parts that would be part of regular maintenance. Likely helpful as others note, but showing how to loosen/tighten bolts is disappointing video when the title promises much more. Replacing that delaminating plywood with a Funprojects-type kit and replacing broken/missing contacts is more in line with 'Rebuild'. Respectfully, jb


Moxie26
Posts: 1863
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:20 pm
First Name: Robert
Last Name: Jablonski
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: New Jersey
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Rebuilding the coil box

Post by Moxie26 » Sun Jun 23, 2024 11:03 am

Developing a Miss in engine firing constitutes a lot of things................. Could be a worn out timer/commutator, a dirty commutator, a loose wire, worn coil points, dirty coil points, Maladjusted coils, worn and dirty and improperly gapped spark plugs , coil box wood carbon tracking, wet and dirty coil box contacts, corroded metal contacts, improper spring tension on coil box contacts,..... Just to mention a few items to check....,......... Coil box wood can be replaced with plastic or new wood offered by our suppliers that should be treated with boiled linseed oil to seal the wood, wire brushed and cleaned metal parts should be followed along with soldered terminals on the coil box bolts. .......... Respectively.


jab35
Posts: 1001
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:28 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Bartsch
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 Coupe
Location: Dryden, NY 13053
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Rebuilding the coil box

Post by jab35 » Tue Jun 25, 2024 10:36 pm

Coilbox Restoration article from MTFCI: https://nebula.wsimg.com/dd5992ef3b0d5d ... oworigin=1


Daisy Mae
Posts: 348
Joined: Mon May 06, 2024 9:32 pm
First Name: Kurt
Last Name: Andersson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring
Location: Panama City Beach, FL

Re: Rebuilding the coil box

Post by Daisy Mae » Wed Jun 26, 2024 5:12 pm

I was told by the prior owner Daisy had a bad mag... but iwas going to validate everything regardless. In testing continuity I found I had no power to the coil box. Using a battery on both bat & mag posts (yes mag wire disconnected), neither switch setting was sending juice. Taking apart the switch I found the common lead had corroded at the switch post.
So just rebuilt the entire box...ain't nuthin like clean contacts and solid connections!!
Call me anything you want...just so long as it isn't "late for dinner"

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic