Well this is the first time on the electrical forum....usually stay on the greasy side of the forum.

I have a variety of gasoline engines from Allis Chalmers WC 45 with 4 cyl. gas engine..... played with some 216 Chev and now a 261 rebuilt chev circa 1959.

The AC tractor cooked the old original coil.... the fact that it was old, bumped and deeply dented did not help. when I purchased a new 12 volt coil.... it says printed on the isde of the coil that it can be used for 6 volts or with a resistor it can be used for 12 volts.......

What did I buy a 6 volt coil that can be used for 12 volts and should I go back and look for a real 12 volt coil...???

Now I have just been starting the new rebuilt 261 and I am not using a resistor.......the 12 volt coil is from Accel.... High capacity of some kind..... will it need a resistor or will I burn the points like I did in the tractor....??

I can't figure out when and why you need to use the darn resistor.... they are cheap enough so the cost is not an issue.

I have a Pertronic kit for the 261 but have not installed it yet.... I have read on the forum that this would be a solution
but it will not answer my question of why and when to use a resistor.... do I need a special capacity resistor or just a run of the mill model similar to what Chrysler products use to have in the 70s.

Thanks for your patience and answers.

Bob C.

Bob C.
CMP Heaven
The Hammond Barn