Hi All...
Sorry for the maybe dumb question...but I figure only dumb if i don't ask...
Can i bench test a coil? If not, if truck is running, can you test it?
Do they either work or don't?
And lastly, can I use a 12V coil on the 6volt system? Have been reading a few posts, just looking for a clear answer. I have some what i think are 12v lying around, just don't know the condition which is why the bench test question. Oh, and do they have a 6v or 12v designation anywhere?
thx again
Rick

 

I would just slap them in the truck and see if they work. Not much to lose, they are dirt cheap new. You can bench test them; ground the case to whatever ground they are designed for, hook up the terminal that goes to points to the same ground. Put a coil hi-tension lead in the coil terminal with a known good spark plug in it. Ground the case of the spark plug. Now connect the hot wire for a second or two, then remove it. If the plug doesn't fire, the coil's bad.

(I was real tempted to say put your tongue on it... )

 

can't answer the 6 vs 12 volt question, but only way I've ever tested a coil is on the car, pull the wire from the distributor, and locate the tip near the block while cranking to see it if fires regularly

Sam

 

Well you can read their resistance...... one meter lead on the centre post the other to the ground terminal...... should read around 7-9 K ohm... then from the positive terminal to the ground terminal should read around 1 ohms.... resistance varies with different coils though but if you get resistance high one way and low the other it is good..... however they are known to fail when they get hot.
Also if you run the 6 volts direct to the 12 volt coil, as in no ballast resistor, it should work fine.... the 12 volt coil usually operates at 7-9 volts when the engine is running.
Hope that helps.