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02-15-2021, 07:13 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sharon, Conn.
Posts: 114
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Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Hi Ford Barn Folks,
My 48 Mercury is still 6 volt pos. ground. It has the original dual point distributor. Before I got it, someone had removed the ignition resistor behind the gauges. So I am always getting a full 6 volts to the distributor. Will this burn out the points quickly? Should I install a resistor? Is there a 6 volt coil on the market that I could run without adding a resistor. Thanks for any advice! Bill in Connecticut |
02-15-2021, 07:23 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
I believe the later round coils have resister built in. Napa should have one,, yes 6 volts will burn your points
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02-15-2021, 07:41 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Are you using the original one Ford coil or round can, check the voltage coming out of your coil if you are around 4 volts than there is a resister in play
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02-15-2021, 07:43 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Melbourne Australia.
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Well it is difficult to answer any questions here because you did not mention which coil you have on your car and what is the coil primary winding resistance in ohms ? If you have the original bakelite FORD coil then you need the original FORD ballast resistor. You dont measure the volts at the distributor but measure the volts at the coil ignition feed terminal. An original coil should run on about four volts through the ballast resistor. The real test is to measure the current in amps that a coil is drawing with the ignition ON and points closed (about 4 amps) and then with engine running at idle (about 2 amps) More info needed. Regards, Kevin.
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02-16-2021, 09:28 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sharon, Conn.
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Thanks. Should have mentioned which coil I am using. It is a 6 volt round coil from a 51 Ford. 6 volt. I will check the voltages as mentioned in your posts.
Thanks! Bill |
02-16-2021, 11:45 AM | #6 |
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
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02-16-2021, 11:55 AM | #7 | |
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Location: Wichita KS
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Quote:
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02-16-2021, 02:55 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
I think by 48 it was moved out to the top of the coil
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02-16-2021, 03:25 PM | #9 |
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
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02-17-2021, 06:31 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sharon, Conn.
Posts: 114
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Thanks for all of the great input. Checked voltage during cranking this morning and it was 3.5 when the points are closed. I do have a 6 volt "can" coil on the car. I looked on the back side and it does say no external resistor required, just as Kurt said.
I have noticed that the engine was cranking over slower than it used to. I swapped batteries form another 6 volt car and the Mercury cranks faster and starts much quicker. I think my old battery was weak and the voltage dropped so low that I sometimes lost adequate voltage to the distributor making it difficult to start. I'm in good shape now. Thanks! Bill |
02-17-2021, 08:34 PM | #11 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Quote:
Check your charging system voltage before condemning the battery. Maybe that battery just never got fully charged. Should be about 7.2 volts at the battery terminals with the engine running about 1500. |
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02-18-2021, 12:36 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Hayward,CA
Posts: 513
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Some new round coils need external resisters and some have a resister buil in.
I have see thirties and forties cars running without a resister or bypassed. It shortens the life of the points though. |
02-18-2021, 12:58 AM | #13 |
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Union City, CA
Posts: 57
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
If you find you need one Napa Echlin IC7
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02-18-2021, 01:01 AM | #14 |
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Union City, CA
Posts: 57
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
that didn’t sound right, this coil has internal resistor
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02-18-2021, 08:25 AM | #15 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sharon, Conn.
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Thanks.
Will check my charging rate, also. Bill |
02-18-2021, 10:54 AM | #16 |
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Sorry, this is not correct information. The resistance of a coil is determined by the number of windings and the material it is constructed from. I'm sure you can find a coil built for some application that has the wrong resistance for a 6v system. But 6v volt coil (~1.5 ohms) do not use a ballast resistor and the ignition system is designed to work with this combination (we are talking "can" coils here, not the original OEM style of coils). In a 12v volt system, you can use the same coil coupled with a ballast resistor (~1.5 ohm coil + ~1.5 ohm resistor = ~3.0 ohms) OR a coil with a ~3.0 ohm coil without a ballast resistor. But on the 6v system use a 1.5 ohm coil no ballast resistor is use and putting with in the circuit can interduce problems.
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02-18-2021, 06:55 PM | #17 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sharon, Conn.
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Re: Not using an ignition resistor on my 48 mercury
Really good, interesting and informative information. I've sure learned a lot about coils in the last few days!
Thanks again. Bill |
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