Electronic Ignition Going Bad??

TomH in PA · Aug 21, 2010

I replaced the points on my H with electronic ignition a few years ago. Today it started acting up, would start but stall out after a few seconds. Getting plenty of gas, pours out of the bowl when I remove the plug. I've always thought electronic either works or doesn't work, does this sound like a module going bad? Maybe I'll put the points and condenser back in tomorrow...

Janicholson · Aug 21, 2010

Check the ballast resistor if it has one, it may be opening when it begins to warm up. If none, I would put a test light on the hot lead going into the module, and watch it for staying lit. If it goes out, it may be the ignition switch. Jim

TomH in PA · Aug 22, 2010

The coil has an internal resistor, but I'll try a different coil today.

This morning it started right up and ran fine for about 30 seconds, then stumbled a couple of times and quit. Can't be too serious a problem.

John T · Aug 22, 2010

Id rely on Jims method and put a test light at the high input (NOT to distributor) side of the coil IT MUST BE STRONG AND BRIGHT (full battery voltage) at allllllll tiems when ignition is on. If its dim (voltage much less then battery voltage) I also suspect an ignition switch problem which is easily diagnosed by simply hot wiring the coil using a jumper wire from any hot battery voltage source which by passes the ignition switch i.e see if she runs when you hot wire the coil???????????

To test elec switch operation next place the test lamp over on the coils low output (to distributor) terminal turn her on n crank her over and while cranking the lamp should flash on and off. You could pull the coil wire out of the distributor and place it to within say 1/8 to 1/4 away from tractor steel so it can still spark but she wont start up when doing this crank test THE LAMP SHOULD FLASH ON AND OFF OBSERVABLE AT CRANKING SPEEDS IF THE ELEC SWITCH IS WORKING

A coil can work at first but later go bad once its up to temp, if all else shows okay

John T

Anonymous-0 · Aug 22, 2010

Tom, pos or neg ground system? Trouble shooting will be different.

TomH in PA · Aug 22, 2010

Well, tried a different coil. Per John's advice I checked the voltage - kind of low. Worked back to the battery terminals which didn't look very good. Cleaned them off and ran engine for a few minutes. Put the old coil back on and ran it for a few more minutes. Seems like the problem was bad connections at the battery, but will try it for a longer run before I trust the coil completely. Thanks for the help.

Electronic Ignition Going Bad??

TomH in PA

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Janicholson

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TomH in PA

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John T

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Anonymous-0

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TomH in PA

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