Old Ford coil, can I fix it?

[dbsoundman]

I have this front mount coil, which I assume is an original 6 volt coil. It’s actually marked “Ford” which is cool. It measures in at 1.5 ohms if I recall correctly, so it seems to be good. Only problem is the brass stud on the top is broken and there’s not enough thread to reuse it.

Is there a decent way to fix it up to use it? I was thinking of drilling out the stud but then I saw what looks like a wire lead sticking out so I don’t think I want to risk drilling it. If nothing else I could probably gut it and use it for a side mount coil conversion but I’d rather not take a perfectly good coil apart if I can repair it.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

You can buy a new coil here on YT for a very affordable price. Fix or replace; your choice.

 

[dbsoundman]

You can buy a new coil here on YT for a very affordable price. Fix or replace; your choice.

I’m aware of that, thanks. This coil is a spare for me anyway, I just wanted to know if I could make use of it somehow despite the broken stud.

 

[Hobo,NC]

I have this front mount coil, which I assume is an original 6 volt coil. It’s actually marked “Ford” which is cool. It measures in at 1.5 ohms if I recall correctly, so it seems to be good. Only problem is the brass stud on the top is broken and there’s not enough thread to reuse it.

Is there a decent way to fix it up to use it? I was thinking of drilling out the stud but then I saw what looks like a wire lead sticking out so I don’t think I want to risk drilling it. If nothing else I could probably gut it and use it for a side mount coil conversion but I’d rather not take a perfectly good coil apart if I can repair it.

Work the 4 pins pins out are pry around the top of the cap till you can grab the pins they are twist in pins twist to the left to get out. I quit gutting them as it does not resolve the other issues of a square coil. This is the only photo I could find it looks like I used a putty knife to work the top off. I must have already cut the wire off. This is a newer coil epoxy filled.

 

[olddavid]

It might be possible to solder the ignition power wire to the post assuming continuity was measured to the post and not the wire sticking up. You should have some previous soldering skills. Clean the connection to bright brass color. Use 63/37 or 60/40 ROSIN core solder. Use a moderately high wattage soldering iron or gun (no torch) that can heat a small area quickly and try to do it as quickly as possible to avoid damaging the plastic. No guarantee of success as the plastic might crack or melt.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

What olddavid said. Go to hardware store and get a male spade connector that has a stud hole on the other end. Won't be original but will save the coil.

 

[dbsoundman]

Why didn’t I think of soldering…great idea, thanks!

Just to confirm, I can use a 6volt coil on a 12volt system as long as I use the OEM ballast resistor plus an additional external resistor, right?

 

[Non-farmer]

I can use a 6volt coil on a 12volt system as long as I use the OEM ballast resistor plus an additional external resistor, right?

Yes, almost certainly. When I converted my N to 12 volts, it refused to start with the additional resistor in the circuit. I removed it, and it fired right up. It later turned out the extra resistor had too much resistance - 3.5 instead of 1.5 ohms. In any case, I ran it with just the OEM resistor for a decade before I changed to a 12 volt coil. And that 6 volt coil still works and is on a shelf in the basement as a spare.

YMMV.

 

[Jim L WA]

I can see why you are thinking of trying to save it, because it says, Ford on it. But you could go to all that trouble and then find that it fails after getting warm in service.

 

[560Dennis]

I think you can fix it .
Should heat up if bad with 6 volt supply .

 

[dbsoundman]

I can see why you are thinking of trying to save it, because it says, Ford on it. But you could go to all that trouble and then find that it fails after getting warm in service.

I have it and it was free to me, so I figure it’s worth a shot, and some simple soldering is no biggie.