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Old 11-11-2020, 11:34 AM   #21
katy
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Have you tested the readings across the terminals ?
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do I need to disconnect the wires on the terminals?
You'll have to disconnect at least one of the low tension wires.

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There is no apparent way for me to stretch my wires to reach the coil terminals if I turn the coil right-side-up.
For a trial run, get a piece of stranded wire (8 - 10 inches long)and put a ring terminal on each end, use a small machine screw (#6 or #8) to connect one end of the wire to the wire that came off the coil, tape it up. put the other end on the coil, simples.
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Old 11-11-2020, 04:56 PM   #22
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

I removed the oil filled coil this afternoon, and the ohms tested within spec cold. It’s rainy today; so, I didn’t take the car out to get it hot, and I didn’t want idle it a lot in the garage.

While I was under the hood, I swapped in my brand new oil filled coil to see how it will work. The car seemed to start okay cold (but the previous oil filled coil usually started okay cold too), and I plan to drive it a few days after the rain stops. If I’m going to have trouble with this coil, I’d like to have local car trouble, rather than out of town car trouble. If this coil gives problems, I can revert back to my original (to me) Ford script coil.

I plan to buy an epoxy filled coil next time.


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Old 11-11-2020, 04:57 PM   #23
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Originally Posted by katy View Post
You'll have to disconnect at least one of the low tension wires.



For a trial run, get a piece of stranded wire (8 - 10 inches long)and put a ring terminal on each end, use a small machine screw (#6 or #8) to connect one end of the wire to the wire that came off the coil, tape it up. put the other end on the coil, simples.

Thanks for the idea. I’ll keep this in mind.


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Old 11-14-2020, 04:42 PM   #24
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

Over the last several days, the car has gotten harder and harder to start, to the point that it would not start today. This afternoon, I put the original (to me) Ford script coil back in the car, and it would not start. I reinstalled my original (to me) condenser, and the car would not start. It didn’t look like I was getting much spark; so, I checked the points, and the point gap was off from where I set it a few weeks ago. I reset the point gap, and the car started great.

The lock screw (for lack of a better term) seemed to be tight on the point set screw. I wouldn’t think the rub block would have worn that much in 300 miles or so.

Does anyone have any ideas about why point gap would appear to “slip?”


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Old 11-14-2020, 05:44 PM   #25
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Over the last several days, the car has gotten harder and harder to start, to the point that it would not start today. This afternoon, I put the original (to me) Ford script coil back in the car, and it would not start. I reinstalled my original (to me) condenser, and the car would not start. It didn’t look like I was getting much spark; so, I checked the points, and the point gap was off from where I set it a few weeks ago. I reset the point gap, and the car started great.

The lock screw (for lack of a better term) seemed to be tight on the point set screw. I wouldn’t think the rub block would have worn that much in 300 miles or so.

Does anyone have any ideas about why point gap would appear to “slip?”


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It probably didn't slip, it probably wore. It depends on the quality of the points and whether the block was lubed. Greasing it correctly is very important.
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Old 11-14-2020, 07:10 PM   #26
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Originally Posted by Patrick L. View Post
It probably didn't slip, it probably wore. It depends on the quality of the points and whether the block was lubed. Greasing it correctly is very important.

I definitely keep it greased.


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Old 11-14-2020, 09:50 PM   #27
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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It probably didn't slip, it probably wore. It depends on the quality of the points and whether the block was lubed. Greasing it correctly is very important.

Patrick,

I’ve been using Lubricam from the previous owner, but the tube looks a bit old. Would Lubricam lose its strength over time?


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Old 11-14-2020, 10:19 PM   #28
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Originally Posted by mass A man View Post
If you decide to get a new coil, try the Pertronix 6 volt, epoxy filled "Flame Thrower" coil. Got mine from Summit Racing, very happy with it too! The part # for that particular coil is:40111. It is the 1.5 Ohm coil for the Model A if you still run 6 volts. They do make one similar for ones that changed over to 12 V.

Thanks for the part number. I saved it for a later purchase.


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Old 11-14-2020, 10:21 PM   #29
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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I've had 2 of those coils fail on me in short time. Not a good option, IMO.
I run any old oil filled coil now but mounted with terminals up. As has been said, you would need to get a longer HT lead but I've had no trouble since.

Hmmm... it seems that folks either love or hate the Pertronix coils. I wonder why folks have such different experiences with them.


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Old 11-14-2020, 10:31 PM   #30
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Have you checked your point gap ? Maybe they are wearing ? Just a thought and easy to check!!!

When I responded to you several days ago, I had only driven 300 miles or so after setting the point gap with this tool.

https://www.brattons.com/quick-set-p...ting-tool.html

I had no idea point gap could change that much that quick, and I had no idea how much it could affect the way a car would run. It eventually got to the place that the car would not start at all. When I reset the point gap, the car started like it used to start—usually on the first crank.


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Old 11-15-2020, 11:34 AM   #31
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Patrick,

I’ve been using Lubricam from the previous owner, but the tube looks a bit old. Would Lubricam lose its strength over time?


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The quality of points today varies greatly, the expensive ones are usually the best. The rubbing block wears quite quickly at first. The lube needs to get between the cam lobe and rubbing block. The wear should slow once readjusted.
Point gap controls coil saturation time as well as changing timing.
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Old 11-15-2020, 11:54 AM   #32
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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The rubbing block wears quite quickly at first. The lube needs to get between the cam lobe and rubbing block. The wear should slow once readjusted.
I call that the 'Break in period' and I check the point gap often when new points are first installed. Once 'Broken in' they don't wear as fast. I don't know why this is.

As Patrick says keep them properly lubed.
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Old 11-15-2020, 12:24 PM   #33
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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I call that the 'Break in period' and I check the point gap often when new points are first installed. Once 'Broken in' they don't wear as fast. I don't know why this is.

As Patrick says keep them properly lubed.



The cam and rubbing block just need to get used to each other. They'll wear into each other after awhile.
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Old 11-15-2020, 03:26 PM   #34
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Default I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Originally Posted by Patrick L. View Post
The cam and rubbing block just need to get used to each other. They'll wear into each other after awhile.

These are not new points. They have been in the car for over a year and several thousand miles, which is why I was surprised at the gap “movement” over the last 300 miles or so.

Last edited by shew01; 11-15-2020 at 08:27 PM.
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Old 11-15-2020, 03:38 PM   #35
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Default I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Patrick,

I’ve been using Lubricam from the previous owner, but the tube looks a bit old. Would Lubricam lose its strength over time?


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I greased the distributor cam again today, using Vaseline. I don’t know if it that will wear any better or not.

Would a different type of grease be better? Maybe white lithium grease?

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Old 11-15-2020, 04:30 PM   #36
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

I didn't think we were aware the points had been around for awhile.

Maybe something has 'slipped' or maybe the points are just poor quality.

Vaseline has been used for decades, its been a multi-purpose lubricant for many many things.
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Old 11-15-2020, 08:03 PM   #37
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

After tightening the adjustment screw see if the point contact itself is tight. The adjustment block is die cast metal and will stretch causing the contact to not be secure but the lock screw will be tight because the block has deformed and bottoms out.
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Old 11-16-2020, 11:14 AM   #38
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Default Re: I’m wondering if my coil is going bad

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Does anyone have any ideas about why point gap would appear to “slip?”
Check the distributor cam's surface, it should be extremely smooth, if it's the least bit rough the point's rubbing block will wear down quite rapidly.

I had this a couple of years ago, I had put a new "B" cam in the distributor and never thought to check it's surface. The point's rubbing block wore down in less than 50 miles. I took the cam out and polished it w/crocus cloth, it's been fine since then.
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