voltage to the coil

[jim]

Can someone tell me how to test the voltage to the coil, and how to bypass the resistor wire if necessary?
I haven't been able to find that information lately.
I understand we want 12 volts and the resistor wire may limit it to 6.

[jim]

Using a volt meter find a good ground for the black lead and put the red lead on the coil's positive terminal. Turn the key to the on position and see what the reading is.
Do you have the larger distributor cap and 8 mm wires?

Yes.

[jim]

I have a high-powered Flamethrower coil.
I get 8.9v at the coil with the switch on.

I wasn't able check while cranking.  I didn't have enough hands to hold everything, and it's getting a little late.  I'll try that again in the daylight.

"I wish Jurjen's write up was still here."
Me, too.   He has just returned from vacation.  Maybe he can be persuaded to do it again.

[jim]

I'm not aware of doing anything to bypass the wire.   Maybe I did it accidentally.  That seems to be how I do most things, anyway.

[mudkicker715]

8.9 reallysucks.. My msd gets it all. Should be full voltage from battery.

[AMCKen]

Unless the ignition system (coil, computer) is Supposed to _run_ at 12 volts you should keep the resistance to stop overheating.

[jim]

I can check the specs on my coil.
How do I bypass the resistor wire if I decide I need to do that?

[Gil-SX4]

If you think your coil is going bad, I recommend just change it, since the coil might check out OK but give you intermittent problems once it gets hot.

[jim]

I'll do that, Peter.  I'm sure I have a good coil.  I'm just confused about bypassing the resistor wire.  I don't see how it could have been bypassed because I don't know how to do it.  I fully understand about not getting 8.9 through it.

[jim]

Thanks.  I'll check it out.  I found the specs on my coil.  It's 40,000v, 3.0 ohm.

[jim]

I'm printing the instructions.  I'll look at this sometime this weekend.
I appreciate all the help here.

[jim]

Checked again.  This time it showed 8.3v in run, 12 when running.

[jim]

I definitely did install the hotter coil and other parts.  It originally had an Accel coil.  I just recently put in the Flamethrower after I had the problem with it not starting when hot.

[ammachine390]

A good test would be to turn the key to the on position, and put the probes from an ohmmeter to the positive of the coil  and to the positive of the battery. With the flamethrower, the resistance should be closer to 0. From the pics you provided, it doesn't look like you have bypassed the resistor.

[jim]

A good test would be to turn the key to the on position, and put the probes from an ohmmeter to the positive of the coil  and to the positive of the battery. With the flamethrower, the resistance should be closer to 0. From the pics you provided, it doesn't look like you have bypassed the resistor.

I get much lower voltage going from the battery + to the coil +.  I don't remember what it was exactly, but I think 2 or 3.


I understand the arguments.  What is so weird is that I absolutely have not bypassed the resistor wire, and it looks to like it hasn't been done.   That's why I posted the pictures. 

Another point:  I have decided that I'm very happy with the way the engine performs.  I don't plan to cut/splice any more wires unless there is a specific reason to do so, like to prevent damage or whatever.