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3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives?

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Ron (Ind)

10-19-2001 05:14:20




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I have a 50 N, converted to 12 volts before I bought it. Alternater has internal reg, I am going to buy another coil this morning. 3rd one in as many months. Is there something I am doing wrong? I bought one at $39 bucks from NAPA it lasted as long as the $13 one. Thanks for all replies. Ron




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Ron (Ind) Follow up

10-19-2001 19:56:32




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 Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to Ron (Ind), 10-19-2001 05:14:20  
My 50 has a side mount distributor, I thought all '50s did. Ron



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according to . . . Dell (WA)

10-19-2001 21:33:58




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 Re: Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to Ron (Ind) Follow up, 10-19-2001 19:56:32  
the book 50 8N s/n started at 245637 - 363592 and the sidemount started at 263843, which some claim is about March sometime. You didn't even hint that your 50 8N was a side mount. Doesn't really matter, I flunked mind reading, just ask my ex-wife of 32 yrs. (grin)

Never-the-less, same comments really hold for using a 6 volt sidemount ignition coil on 12 volts. You gotta have a 12 to 6 volt converting resistor between the ignition switch and the coil terminal. If'n it ain't there, yer gonna burn out your 6 volt ignition coil operating it on straight 12 volts..... ...Dell

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ah, yes . . . Dell (WA)

10-19-2001 11:24:44




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 Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to Ron (Ind), 10-19-2001 05:14:20  
Ron..... ...12 volt conversions, if done correctly, are generally very reliable. So 3 coils in 3 months tells me that someone who was electrically challenged did the conversion.

You are burning out your frontmount 6 volt ignition coil by trying to run it on 12 volts.

To successfully convert, you need a 12 to 6 volt converting resistor INADDITION TO the infamous "ballast resistor" mounted on the backside of your dash. A good partsperson will know what you are talking about.

The 12 volts for the coil from the ignition on switch must go thru BOTH the 12 to 6 converting resistor and thru the ballast resistor. The 2 resistors must be connected in series like flashlight batterys. Do it like I have just told you and everything will work properly and your frontmount ignition coil will last a long time..... ..Dell

P.S. as a double check, if done correctly, you should have about 3.5 volts (2.5 min, 4 max) at the coil terminal with the ignition points closed and 12 volts with the points open.

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GerryC

10-19-2001 07:41:47




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 Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to Ron (Ind), 10-19-2001 05:14:20  
I too am in the middle of the same problem. I don't have the answer but am looking. I have the resistor in line and still have gone through 4 coils. I can't afford to put a new coil on every time I use the tractor. Do you know if a heavy duty resistor or a higher voltage resistor would work? Gerry



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JerryU

10-19-2001 06:02:06




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 Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to Ron (Ind), 10-19-2001 05:14:20  
I agree with Claus. A lot of the 12 volt coils come with a disclaimer that anything over like 13 volts needs a resistor. Well, when a battery is discharged, the alternator will raise the system voltage. I have a 9N that I have had for about 6 years with the same front coil. I kept the resistor and have not had a coil problem. Only thing different about mine is I switched to a "puller" fan from the "pusher" but I doubt that has a lot of effect on the coil.

With regard to a 12 volt conversion in general, if it is done properly, all connections are tight (just like Dell says on the 6 volt), and everything is up to snuff, it should not give you a bit of problems.

JerryU

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Claus

10-19-2001 08:04:41




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 Re: Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to JerryU, 10-19-2001 06:02:06  
I would use the original ballast resistor in series with the 12 volt coil. This would bring it into the 8 to 10 volt region in a static environment. (engine not running and points closed.) I know that some think that that is a little too low. Keep in mind that when the engine is running, the coil current drops in half from the static value. This of course reduces the current through the ballast and since it is a positive temp coefficient device, the dropping voltage of the resistor decreases.
Happy Motoring
Claus

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Claus

10-19-2001 06:54:31




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 Re: Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to JerryU, 10-19-2001 06:02:06  
This is what actually happens as the battery charges. As the energy is replaced in a battery, the charging voltage will increase. Delco claims that the voltage regulators are set between 13.5 and 14.5. The ones that I have tested, always come out to be closer to 14.5. Generally, equipment that is designed to run in automotive environments are designed to run at 13.8 volts nominal. To design a coil to run at that voltage, you would have to get the primary resistance up. If you do not do this with a resistor, you would have to increase the turns of the primary. This would also increase the secondary turns by a hundred fold the increase in turns of the primary. This would also increase the resistance of the secondary. Coil rise time and current would be affected by this. Not a good thing...
Happy motoring
Claus

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Claus

10-19-2001 05:29:41




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 Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to Ron (Ind), 10-19-2001 05:14:20  
Do you have a ballast resistor? Some people think that if they get a "real" 12 volt coil, that they do not need one. IF this were the case, then how come automobiles had them? The exeption was American Motors for a couple of years when the ballast resistor was in the bottome of the coil. (This was not a better idea.)
Happy Motoring
Claus



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Tom A

10-19-2001 05:26:57




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 Re: 3rd coil in 3 mouths, what gives? in reply to Ron (Ind), 10-19-2001 05:14:20  
Most frequent cause of coils going out prematurely that I'm aware of is leaving the ignition key on when the engine isn't running...causes the coil to overheat and eventually 'burn' out.

So I'm guessing that if that isn't the cause, perhaps whoever did the 12v conversion didn't put a switch in the right place to cut off the current to the coil when the engine is turned off. So, you might look at that as a possible cause.

good luck,
Tom

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