Home Forum Ask A Member 1946 elgin 1.25hp coils keep burning up

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  • #297164
    MHarrington
    Participant

      US Junior Member

      Hello everyone,

      I have a 1946 Elgin 1.25hp outboard that my grandfather restored a while back and couldn’t get it running due to a engine failure, He gave it to me where I got it running a couple months ago.  I replaced the engine and put a new to me coil on it.  The original coil had spark and made it for days until I put the new engine on and it bit the dust.  I consulted a member and got a coil from them and it ran flawlessly, ran it for a hour probably.  I let it run out of gas in the bowl and put it in the rack in the back of my shop and it has sat util yesterday, I pulled it out and it has fried that coil as well(this time so good that the multimeter wont even pick up a connection between the secondary).

      Any ideas on what could cause this motor to fry 2 coils?

      #297169
      crosbyman
      Participant

        Canada Member

        are you testing the coil by itself or from the plug boot ?

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        #297174
        MHarrington
        Participant

          US Junior Member

          I have tried both at the boot and at the coil itself.

          #297201
          joecb
          Participant

            US Member

            Sounds like something is stressing the coil… causing higher than normal voltage buildup.  What could do that ?? high resistance in the secondary circuit caused by…

            • way too big a spark plug gap
            • carbon core SP wire
            • real bad connection in the SP boot
            • real bad SP
            • maybe a resistance core SP
            • a combination of the above
            • I’m running out of ideas here… Help !

            Joe B

            1 user thanked author for this post.
            #297209
            crosbyman
            Participant

              Canada Member

              High  coil burning voltage  is always  looking for the shortest path to ground which we assume  would  be the SP but…

              check your installation in the dark to see if HV is jumping  were it it is not suppose to.

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              1 user thanked author for this post.
              #297295
              MHarrington
              Participant

                US Junior Member

                It has the spark plug the manual calls for and I bought it new a when I got it running, also replaced the spark plug wire with 7mm wire they have on the shelf at napa.

                #297296
                crosbyman
                Participant

                  Canada Member

                  7mm metallic  conductors… not carbon fibers  hopefully    if not NAPA   motorbike and lawnmover shops usually use metallic  wires

                   

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                  #297311
                  jeff-register
                  Participant

                    You want hi voltage fine stranded wire. It can be bought at your local neon shop, called G.T.O. wire good for 15,000 volts. Get hi flex GTO if they have it. It’s for moving signs & works great with magnetos, all I ever used on my mags.
                    What is the resistance on your secondary wibding from ground to spark plug terminal? Too high, look for a blow out on the coil, tiny burn mark caused byleaving the plug wire loose while spinning, The coil makes electrical energy & if disconnected it may blast a hole in the insulation & may have only a carbon connection in the windings.
                    Another overlooked item is the condenser, actually capacitor, the other is slang term & incorrect. Dielectrics fail in old caps, that is the insulating value correctly called dielectric value or how well it insulates, anyway old (condensers) caps go bad from insulation failure. It should be replaced but must know how many microfarads is used with your motor. HELP GUYS
                    look at the points using a magnifieing glass at the contact area. Look for build up or pitting, sure sign your cap has failed.
                    Check all connections with a ohmeter for non resistive connections.
                    I had problems with a mercury magneto, drove me nuts. I added a ground wire from the mag plate to engine block & it fixed it. A losse fitting mag plate to block does not have a good electrical connection.
                    & know I’m long winded.
                    Jeff

                    #297319
                    outbdnut2
                    Participant

                      US Member

                      Was that replacement coil used?  or very old, new stock?   If so, the insulation may have degraded with time and been ready to break down with the hour use you gave it.

                      Dave

                      #297322
                      MHarrington
                      Participant

                        US Junior Member

                        The secondary’s don’t register as being there if I check…  The condenser is good, and I have removed the points to thoroughly clean them.  The coil I believe was used, but not much.  I don’t believe I have a neon sign shop near by but I’ll look.

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