Ignition Coil Question

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Getting everything together to work on my K181 (gaskets, spark plug, points, condenser, air filter, S/G Belt).

 

One thing I'd like to check out while I'm at it, is the ignition coil. I will have 2 (one from the old motor, one from the newer). I'd like to test them and use the better of the two. I know the one on my old motor works, but I dont know if these go bad, or degrade over time.

 

Or, is it worth it to buy an upgraded aftermarket? Tractor is just used for plowing and mowing, not pulling or anything crazy like that.

 

Thanks!

[ebinmaine 72,675]

I don't know what they are off the top of my head but there are resistance values listed online.

 

Most folks would say that as long as all of your components are in decent condition you should have no problem but there is clear-cut evidence that an aftermarket coil will make a difference in ease of starting and also possibly fuel efficiency.

I want to say there somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 to $60. Is it worth it? Not sure I could answer that. I guess you'd have to.

 

[pacer 3,177]

FWIW - for what its worth -- In my LONG years of fooling with these small engines I have found that ign coils are one of those parts that has a reputation for LONG life. And for the newbie a quick check is If it will show a easily visible spark at the spark plug its probably OK. Points/condenser need a bit closer watch, Points gap can change or get a glaze and give problems and a condenser more likely to fail than the coil.

[squonk 43,821]

I built a coil tester when I worked at Napa. Mainly for the Ford folks. We didn't sell many coils. But we sold a ton of Modules! 

[71_Bronco 1,072]

Thanks for the advice! I know the one currently in the tractor is good. I'd assume the one from my second motor is good, as the previous owner said the motor ran.

 

I did read about testing the resistance using a multi-meter (have one of those), so I just need to look up the correct resistance range for them.

 

Thanks!

[Goldnboy 1,030]

Since we are on the subject... nowadays many of the individuals at the parts counter in my area will not assist  with a replacement  part unless you tell them what vehicle. It appears  that no one knows how much less will look in a "book" for these. Is there a car/truck  model and year that we can mention?  I currently  use 1979 F250 for my 4 post solenoids....great 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

14 minutes ago, Goldnboy said:

Since we are on the subject... nowadays many of the individuals at the parts counter in my area will not assist  with a replacement  part unless you tell them what vehicle. It appears  that no one knows how much less will look in a "book" for these. Is there a car/truck  model and year that we can mention?  I currently  use 1979 F250 for my 4 post solenoids....great 

it's not that won't assist you but a generation of knowledge is now lost.  all the old timers who knew this would work with that, or if you change this and adapt this to that it are gone.  now your stuck with whatever the book or computer says it's has to be that .  I just went through this with an obsolete briggs coil that's nla, but I have one 200 bucks I will sell you

Edited June 9, 2020 by jabelman

[ebinmaine 72,675]

17 minutes ago, jabelman said:

all the old timers who knew******** are gone

 

I can't speak for every person in every state in every company but I was once one of those people. I can now make $12 to $14 an hour as a really good counter man or I can make nearly double that as a truck driver. Which one would you do?

It's just another layer that's been added to the disposable society that we are growing into more and more.

Nowadays your average Joe that has a half decent knowledge of a computer can find parts availability just as fast, or faster, then the people that are supposedly paid to do so.

 

To some extent I really do miss the research that I had to do as a parts counter technician. Not just a computer button pusher. I used to have paper catalogs. Some of that job was fun.

 

It's all good. Life goes on. Now I drive my forklift around or operate the crane instead.

[bottjernat1 2,194]

30 minutes ago, Goldnboy said:

Since we are on the subject... nowadays many of the individuals at the parts counter in my area will not assist  with a replacement  part unless you tell them what vehicle. It appears  that no one knows how much less will look in a "book" for these. Is there a car/truck  model and year that we can mention?  I currently  use 1979 F250 for my 4 post solenoids....great 

I feel ya should see the national chain parts stores i hit up when im bored and when i ask for my wheelhorse parts. Most of the time i get Whats that!! Most of the time if i cant find something online myself. I go to my local auto parts store that has been around forever its a local guy who his dad owned the business then passed it down to his son and that guys son works there to. They speak old parts to me! LOL My late dad used them and so do i no rookies or idiots that dont know there stuff. He can get me just about anything or most of the time he actually has the old stuff in stock. 

[Cvans 1,009]

There's another issue involved.   The software these counter people are given to work with is just about worthless for looking up lets say an external resistor for a coil or a 1/4" fuel filter. It's bad enough the people don't know what your talking about but their software won't help them by looking up an item from description.  NAPA's web site was terrible that way but looks to have recently been improved. 

[squonk 43,821]

I was a Napa parts man for 10 years. I still have tons of numbers in my head. I still have some of the old books too. I still have to walk into the store and give them the number I need. I have Napa Prolink on my PC and can cross many OEM numbers.

 

The internal resistance coil needed for our tractors is IC64SB

[kasey54 305]

Very good to know!

[WHNJ701 4,165]

the lady at the one napa got tired of looking part numbers for me so she gave a book to keep that way so I can look them up myself ahead of time