Re: [ihc] Reverse Polarity (coil "Q")

["Ryan Moore" <baradium@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

So exactly how do you have the coil wired?  Is this a prestolite points or
electronic dizzy?  If electronic, I can compare to mine...

Here's the kicker, from reading your post it sounds like it used to run fine
set up the way it is and it suddenly got worse.... sounds like that shows
the coil must be wired correctly...

I'm sure you're aware that wires can arc under load even if they wouldn't
arc normally.




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T.R.E.Jr." <T_R_E_Jr@domain.elided>
To: "IHC-Digest" <ihc@domain.elided>
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 23:07
Subject: [ihc] Reverse Polarity (coil "Q")


<snip>
>
> ---I have the 304 w/Prestolite dizzy in front of a T19, $650.50 in wiring
> (complete re-wire including new fangled ground system, relay for the Delco
> starter, new coil, alternator, battery, cap, rotor button, 6 year old
Bosch
> Platinum plugs, 2 year (or so) old Bosch high tension wires, new intake
> gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets and rebuilt 2300 carb w/manual choke.
What
> else did I forget? I don't know, but this `73 Scout II is now a `73 Scout
> IIK. Darn near new IMHO. I start up fine when cold, a little more cranking
> than ever before, a little more choke than before, but she fires up, idles
> smooth, and then, when under load, she hesitates, sputters and almost
> backfires even. From what the manual has taught me, I need to try the
pencil
> test. I don't know how my polarity could be reversed, but the spark color
is
> weak blue (tested off a good Autolite plug). If the coil is hooked up
> properly, what other sources of confusion could there be? How do I fit my
> thick skull between the inner fender and the engine to view the spark
during
> the pencil test?
>
> ---BTW, the wife was having a blast while I read to her from the manual.
She
> was learnin' somethin' too. Heh, she even asked if it were possible that
the
> coil was hooked up wrong while I was trying to crank it after it stalled
out
> on our way to the library. Battery cranked normally for a while, had spark
> in rhythm on all 8 plugs. What gives? Any insight as to what else could
> cause reverse polarity besides the coil? I will check it, but I can't see
> how I go wrong with a brown and red wire at the coil and a red wire for
key
> switch?
>

Points?  I seem to remember three wires from the module for the
electronic...

possible your coil is labeled incorrectly?  Trace back where the wires are
going, to be sure that they aren't colored wrong.  That or just put a
voltmeter on them to check to see what they are...

If points, possible you somehow got carbon tracking in the cap causing it?

I'm sure you thought of most if not all of this stuff already, just spouting
off ideas in an attempt to find a solution...

In order to, uh, verify you remember the pencil test correctly, why don't
you share the process with the group?  (ok, ok, I have no recollection of
the event in question and don't know what you mean by "the pencil test"
other than that it probobly has something to do with a pencil.

-Ryan

> ---Thank you,
> -T.R.E.Jr.
> -`73 Scout II (StoneThrower)
> -`51 Farmall H (Heinz)
> -`49 IH fridge (presently unnamed and in need of a compressor)
> -`49 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-door Sedan (Papapalooza)