Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-14-2016, 06:14 AM   #1
31 RPU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 182
Default Coil melt down

What would cause a coil to melt completely down?
I was thinking maybe the ignition switch was left on?
It got so hot the guts fell out.

Thanks for any input.
31 RPU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 07:30 AM   #2
midgetracer
Senior Member
 
midgetracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bismarck ND
Posts: 1,189
Default Re: Coil melt down

Probably the switch was left on with the points closed.
midgetracer is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 12-14-2016, 07:45 AM   #3
3.6rs
Senior Member
 
3.6rs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Belgistan (formerly known as Belgium)
Posts: 573
Default Re: Coil melt down

Yes, ignition switch left on. (50% chance that it melts)
3.6rs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 08:07 AM   #4
1930-fordor
Member
 
1930-fordor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: nc
Posts: 97
Default Re: Coil melt down

Last year I was setting my points when I was called in for supper, didn't return until the next day.
Melted the coil
1930-fordor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 11:05 AM   #5
BILL WILLIAMSON
Senior Member
 
BILL WILLIAMSON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRESNO, CA
Posts: 12,560
Default Re: Coil melt down

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930-fordor View Post
Last year I was setting my points when I was called in for supper, didn't return until the next day.
Melted the coil
BOY, that was an expensive meal! I'm GLAD you have a COOK!
Bill W.
__________________
"THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"
BILL WILLIAMSON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 11:24 AM   #6
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,011
Default Re: Coil melt down

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930-fordor View Post
Last year I was setting my points when I was called in for supper, didn't return until the next day.
Melted the coil
I don't understand why the key would be on when setting the points.
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 11:35 AM   #7
gweilbaker
Senior Member
 
gweilbaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lindenhurst, IL
Posts: 792
Default Re: Coil melt down

Maybe timing with a test light.
gweilbaker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 11:46 AM   #8
Fullraceflathead
Senior Member
 
Fullraceflathead's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chillicothe, Missouri
Posts: 1,156
Default Re: Coil melt down

Be Thankful your car didn't catch fire and even burn your garage or house down.
__________________
"If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses."
-Henry Ford

"Primitive technology is not a design flaw"


1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup
1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor
1941 Willy's Pickup
1960 Thunderbird-For Sale
1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425
1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty
2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper
1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet
Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford
Engine Build up on DVD ask
Fullraceflathead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 01:18 PM   #9
Mitch//pa
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
Default Re: Coil melt down

It wouldnt hurt to open up the junction box, pull back the dash, to check all the wiring..
Two wing nuts and 4 screws

Last edited by Mitch//pa; 12-14-2016 at 01:28 PM.
Mitch//pa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 01:26 PM   #10
jfreddie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: anchorage, alaska
Posts: 117
Default Re: Coil melt down

I use one of those Pertronix 1.5 ohm epoxy filled coils available from Amazon.
Called a Flamethrower, puts out 40,000 volts.
I've left it on with the points closed several times. It got warm but not overly hot.
Really a good unit.
jfreddie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 02:37 PM   #11
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: Coil melt down

My repro ignition switch terminal once rubbed on the gas tank and kept the coil on full time. Luckily I just happed to touch the coil and feel it was warm, so I found the problem right away before the coil burned up.

BTW, this is a good reminder to always look at the ammeter when leaving the car to be sure it's on zero.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 05:10 PM   #12
31 RPU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 182
Default Re: Coil melt down

Thanks Guys, that is what I thought happened but wanted your input. I plan on replacing wires and the coils and probably the junction box. I won't know until I get in there.
Isn't the ammeter wired in series with the coil? You would think it would have burned the wiring out of it as small as it is.
It made a mess under the hood.
31 RPU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 05:55 PM   #13
1930-fordor
Member
 
1930-fordor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: nc
Posts: 97
Smile Re: Coil melt down

Quote:
Originally Posted by katy View Post
I don't understand why the key would be on when setting the points.
Yes, I was setting timming and points all together
1930-fordor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 09:11 PM   #14
DaWizard
BANNED
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Dizzyland Ca
Posts: 332
Send a message via AIM to DaWizard
Default Re: Coil melt down

Quote:
Originally Posted by 31 RPU View Post
Thanks Guys, that is what I thought happened but wanted your input. I plan on replacing wires and the coils and probably the junction box. I won't know until I get in there.
Isn't the ammeter wired in series with the coil? You would think it would have burned the wiring out of it as small as it is.
It made a mess under the hood.
Just be sure, if you get an aftermarket box, before installing it, put a wee bit of nail polish on the first nut thread and if the screws are through to the back of the box, slip a bit of caulking in the holes to keep any possibility of them touching the body and shutting down the car, and possibly burning up the wiring.

Experience is the best teacher, even better when it is someone else's experience.
__________________
New owner of '28 Tudor
Previously owned;
'30 Sport Coupe
'28 left brake ccPickup
'31 SW Town Sedan
'28 AA Stake Bed
'30 Cabriolet
'42 Super Deluxe 4door Sedan

"If it don't fit, get a bigger hammer.
If it breaks...... ya needed a new one anyway!!"

Doing a good job here is like wetting your pants in a dark suit.
It gives you a warm feeling, but nobody notices.

Never pass up a bathroom
Never neglect an erection
Never trust a fart
DaWizard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 09:17 PM   #15
JBill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 702
Default Re: Coil melt down

On the bright side, you know your battery is good!
JBill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2016, 05:05 AM   #16
31 RPU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 182
Default Re: Coil melt down

True,
And it looks like the battery survived the coil meltdown.
31 RPU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2016, 11:50 AM   #17
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,432
Default Re: Coil melt down

I left the ignition ON overnight and it damaged the Pertronix 40611 Coil in my Victoria. As a result, the car is very hard to start, and the engine runs rough at speed. I have a Bosch 00012 Coil on order to replace the Pertronix.
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2016, 05:54 PM   #18
Fred K-OR
Senior Member
 
Fred K-OR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stayton, Oregon
Posts: 3,806
Default Re: Coil melt down

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mitch//pa View Post
It wouldnt hurt to open up the junction box, pull back the dash, to check all the wiring..
Two wing nuts and 4 screws
This is a good point. I had my aftermarket switch connect one of it's terminals to the gas tank behind the dash. Found the coil heating up. Lucky I found it when I did. This problem caused the rig to quit while driving so the reason for working on it. So point being, check you wiring for shorts.
__________________
Fred Kroon
1929 Std Coupe
1929 Huckster
Fred K-OR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2016, 06:01 PM   #19
mshmodela
Senior Member
 
mshmodela's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,763
Default Re: Coil melt down

Always good to look at your ammeter before anything is turned on and then once everything is turned off, to ensure nothing is left on or maybe shorted on... --and a battery cutoff switch is good for peace of mind...
__________________
-Mike

Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy

I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A.

Cleveland, Ohio
mshmodela is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 AM.