Testing vintage coils - link to many pics

[zoli 16ga.]

1951 Sportwin, no spark.

Ok, so I took my multimeter and set the dial to the 200 ohm setting and checked the primary windings (ground to condenser wire), and got a reading 1.34 (it reads 1 when I put the lead ends together). At the 200 setting I get no reading from the secondary windings (sparkplug cable to ground).

When I set the meter to 20k setting, and check ground to plug wire, I get a reading of 3.4 for one coil and 3.6 for the other.

did I do it right? Coils are good?????

Don

 

[nwcove]

Re: Testing vintage coils

Re: Testing vintage coils

Doug Penn has a good video on youtube, showing how, and what to look for.

 

[F_R]

Re: Testing vintage coils

Re: Testing vintage coils

1951 Sportwin, no spark.

Ok, so I took my multimeter and set the dial to the 200 ohm setting and checked the primary windings (ground to condenser wire), and got a reading 1.34 (it reads 1 when I put the lead ends together). At the 200 setting I get no reading from the secondary windings (sparkplug cable to ground).

When I set the meter to 20k setting, and check ground to plug wire, I get a reading of 3.4 for one coil and 3.6 for the other.

did I do it right? Coils are good?????

Don

Can we assume the coils are not cracked or leaking, and no holes burned through? If so, then you are good to go. But you are totally wasting your time if they are cracked, etc., no matter what they ohm out at.

EDIT: Wait a minute......1951 Sportsman, that has the center magnet magneto. That was before they knew how to make the "modern" coils that cracked and leaked. Yours are almost bulletproof. You may see a bit of beeswax oozing out, but ignore it.

Most no-spark problems with that model are dirty breaker points. Take them apart and degrease everything, and polish each contact individually. Do one set at a time so you have a sample for reassembly, and don't lose any of the many little insulators. Adjust gap to .020". I'll bet it will work.

 

[zoli 16ga.]

Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Testing vintage coils - many pictures

The coils 'look' to be in great shape (see attached photo link).

http://s984.photobucket.com/albums/ae325/Dolapsch/Sportwin/

I will clean and sand the points very well, and lubricate with lithium grease?

The center magnet still is 'magnetic' as metal will stick to it, not sure how magnetic it should be though?

I will try to get new condensers also. What are the chances of the condensers being bad?

The plug cables look to be in very good shape and well attached to the coils.

I will get new plugs also...just because.

There were two clips that held the ignition sytem down. when I took the one clip off a plastic 'T' type thing fell down (pic 9289), but I did not get a chance to see how it was in place before it fell. It looks like it should go back on as in picture 9288? The second one was all mangled up, pic 9279. I will make another one out of thin plastic I have, or are they special material?



Don.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Yea, the later style universal ignition system came out in 1951, but it was not used on the Sportwins, or the HD's and that's because Johnson and evinrude made this the last year of these two models. 1952, Johnson and Evinrude introduced the Lightwin and JW to replace the Sportwin and HD and these models had the newer universal ignition. All other OMC models had the universal style ignition in 1951, though.

 

[F_R]

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

I can see the scungy points in the pictures. Get those things degreased and cleaned up as I suggested. Yes, lithium greas VERY sparingly on the push rod.

Condensers will always have some (electrical) leakage. It's just a matter of how much can be tolerated.

The magnet never goes bad

Not sure about the platic thingys. It's been too many years and too many grey hairs.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Yea, those coils look good. I would run them. The best thing to do, is thoroughly clean up the mag plate assembly and re-lube the push rods on the gillatine point set-up and a small amount of grease on the point cam too. That motor looks to be in good condition and should do well for ya.

 

[zoli 16ga.]

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Re: Testing vintage coils - many pictures

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll let you know how it turns out.

Don.