The Ford Barn

DANA BIZZELL · 08-23-2015, 11:28 AM

My: Coil is marked + & - which side does red switch wire connect to?
Thanks
Dana

Y-Blockhead · 08-23-2015, 11:48 AM

Depends on if you have + or - Ground.

1955cj5 · 08-23-2015, 11:53 AM

Someone posted this earlier and I copied it...maybe it'll help..

My coil is marked + and - and the red wire is on the - side, and goes to the ignition switch..I am wired + ground

It is not necessarily correct, but it works....

Mitch//pa · 08-23-2015, 12:00 PM

On a positive ground system the red wires goes on the pos side of the coil

1955cj5 · 08-23-2015, 12:30 PM

Mine is backwards.....as Mitch has pointed out...

I was reading in Les Andrews book and he agrees with Mitch..

I'm going to go change mine right now!

Mitch//pa · 08-23-2015, 12:34 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 1955cj5

Mine is backwards.....as Mitch has pointed out...

I was reading in Les Andrews book and he agrees with Mitch..

I'm going to go change mine right now!

I don't agree with everything he says lol

1955cj5 · 08-23-2015, 01:16 PM

Well, I did say that he agrees with you..

Just went for a little drive, I think it runs better!

I did read that for a spark plug to work as designed, that the current must flow from the center electrode to the ground....has to do with temperature and probably a thousand other things....

Tom Endy · 08-23-2015, 02:07 PM

Bratton's (as well as other suppliers) sell a little device that temporarily plugs into the top of the distributor. By running or cranking the engine it tells you with led lights if the polarity of the ignition is correct or reversed. The part number is 17140, cost $25.50.

They have been around for years, I bought one about 20 years ago when they were about $15. I took it to a club event when I first got it and found about half the cars had their ignitions reversed and the owners were not aware of it.

Markings on coils and colors of wires will not always tell you if you have the ignition polarity correct.

I carry this little device with me in my Model A and when ever working on someone's car I make a quick check of the ignition polarity. If it is incorrect the easy fix is to reverse the two primary wires on the coil, regardless of what color they are.

There is also the old pencil trick that has been around forever that auto shop teachers like to demonstrate, then hand the pencil to the class clown and have him do it.

Tom Endy

DANA BIZZELL · 08-23-2015, 02:42 PM

Thanks Mitch: Mine is + ground and was wired right, had read some were it would give about 15% more on top end.
Thanks Everyone
Dana

1955cj5 · 08-23-2015, 02:58 PM

I tried "the old pencil trick"....guess I know where I stand....

Mitch//pa · 08-23-2015, 02:59 PM

i have the polarity tool it works nicely

JRHASZARD · 08-23-2015, 07:15 PM

On my Piper Cub, I always move the plugs so that the current flow is reversed every year at annual. There are two mags and two plugs per cylinder so the wear is more even over time. I didn't realize the direction of current flow through the plugs was that critical. I'll be ordering the little unit from Walt Bratton and check my Tudor. I could alwys use some improvement. Thanks for the tip.

08-23-2015, 11:28 AM	#1
DANA BIZZELL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: FRANKSTON TX Posts: 117	Red wire on coil My: Coil is marked + & - which side does red switch wire connect to? Thanks Dana

08-23-2015, 11:48 AM	#2
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Red wire on coil Depends on if you have + or - Ground.

08-23-2015, 12:00 PM	#4
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Red wire on coil On a positive ground system the red wires goes on the pos side of the coil

08-23-2015, 12:30 PM	#5
1955cj5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,578	Re: Red wire on coil Mine is backwards.....as Mitch has pointed out... I was reading in Les Andrews book and he agrees with Mitch.. I'm going to go change mine right now! __________________ Early '29 CCPU that had a 4-speed, but not any more.......in the family since '62

08-23-2015, 01:16 PM	#7
1955cj5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,578	Re: Red wire on coil Well, I did say that he agrees with you.. Just went for a little drive, I think it runs better! I did read that for a spark plug to work as designed, that the current must flow from the center electrode to the ground....has to do with temperature and probably a thousand other things.... __________________ Early '29 CCPU that had a 4-speed, but not any more.......in the family since '62

08-23-2015, 02:07 PM	#8
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Red wire on coil Bratton's (as well as other suppliers) sell a little device that temporarily plugs into the top of the distributor. By running or cranking the engine it tells you with led lights if the polarity of the ignition is correct or reversed. The part number is 17140, cost $25.50. They have been around for years, I bought one about 20 years ago when they were about $15. I took it to a club event when I first got it and found about half the cars had their ignitions reversed and the owners were not aware of it. Markings on coils and colors of wires will not always tell you if you have the ignition polarity correct. I carry this little device with me in my Model A and when ever working on someone's car I make a quick check of the ignition polarity. If it is incorrect the easy fix is to reverse the two primary wires on the coil, regardless of what color they are. There is also the old pencil trick that has been around forever that auto shop teachers like to demonstrate, then hand the pencil to the class clown and have him do it. Tom Endy Last edited by Tom Endy; 08-23-2015 at 02:17 PM.

08-23-2015, 02:42 PM	#9
DANA BIZZELL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: FRANKSTON TX Posts: 117	Re: Red wire on coil Thanks Mitch: Mine is + ground and was wired right, had read some were it would give about 15% more on top end. Thanks Everyone Dana

08-23-2015, 02:58 PM	#10
1955cj5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,578	Re: Red wire on coil I tried "the old pencil trick"....guess I know where I stand.... __________________ Early '29 CCPU that had a 4-speed, but not any more.......in the family since '62

08-23-2015, 02:59 PM	#11
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Red wire on coil i have the polarity tool it works nicely

08-23-2015, 07:15 PM	#12
JRHASZARD Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ophelia,Va. Posts: 219	Re: Red wire on coil On my Piper Cub, I always move the plugs so that the current flow is reversed every year at annual. There are two mags and two plugs per cylinder so the wear is more even over time. I didn't realize the direction of current flow through the plugs was that critical. I'll be ordering the little unit from Walt Bratton and check my Tudor. I could alwys use some improvement. Thanks for the tip.