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| | | | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,611 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,611 | Hey all,
I was hoping today would be a day of joy seeing a 1958 235 run for the first time in decades... This engine is in a frame, but no other wiring is in place.
Twelve volt system with some parts of unknown provenance. I am getting spark from the coil wire.
After a period of cranking to get oil pressure up, I noticed the coil was getting very hot and the ceramic ballast resister (hot wired from a 12 volt battery inline to the positive terminal on the coil) began smoking!
Points were cleaned and they are opening and closing (with 0.016 gap), condenser is used but from a known running engine. The truck frame is in the sunlight so I can't really see a spark from the points as they close.
What should I check before something roasts?
Thanks in advance,
Paul | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | not sure about the coil, but a new ballast resistor will normally smoke at first, they do get quite hot, make sure you have it mounted to the firewall [heat sink], not just hanging on the wire
Bill | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 | Check the voltage drop across the ballast resistor with the points closed and battery power applied to the upstream side of the resistor. Measure from one terminal of the resistor to the other with current flowing through the points. If the voltage reading is much more than 3 volts, you have a coil with some of the primary windings shorted together inside the coil.
I have some other suggestions for diagnosis. Drop me a PM.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,611 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,611 | Hey all,
Well today ended very well. The 58 235 purrs like a kitten, great to hear fire breathing through an old stovebolt once again. Ran the engine for a 1/2 hour or so and changed out the oil and filter. Jerry thanks much for the primary ignition intel, it was spot on.
Paul | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,881 |
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | I'm glad you got it fixed and that Jerry was able to help.
Sad the complete discussion wasn't held in the forum for everyone else to learn from. (At least that's what it sounds like) Makes the thread and our forum less good overall. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 | Grigg, I for one appreciate HRL taking the discussion to PM's instead of the usual as he put it "Whizzing Contest" between him and a couple of other forum members. It usually gets ugly and offensive to many. I do understand the need for stored info for the search function but enough is enough. JMO
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
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