Oh No! Not the coil!

[Noisyspeedbird]

Hi all,
I've recently got a Minor jointly with a friend, with a view to halving the costs (and skinned knuckles). However our tinkering so far has been a mixed success (at best) and despite me telling my friend that it is 'never' the coil, it seems a new coil might be in order. However, before I commit this sin, I'd like to ask how repairable the coil is; mainly the king lead connection. I think this has somehow been broken during our ignition timing refurb.
Does anyone have any pictures or advice on the king lead spade connector please?

Unfortunately I'm away from the car so can't look at the problem until Friday.
The car is a late 1962 948cc Minor 1000, +ve Earth, Dynamo and pretty original I think.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Hello.

You must've been reading the forum quite a bit... but it's true it is very, very rarely the coil. If the king lead terminal has been knocked about and damaged you can hardly blame the coil, although I can't really see how this is possible on the coil itself as it is protected by the plastic end. A repair could perhaps be made but we'd need more details.

If you think you're up to tinkering with Minors then you should be able to repair a bent king lead plug.

[Noisyspeedbird]

Yeh, I have been lurking for a week or so! I took the old King lead from the old cap and pulled from the coil to inspect and clean. The rubber shrouding covers a copper spade connector and, on refitting, the electrical connection seemed a bit haphazard to say the least-seemingly waggling about in mid air inside the coil.
I guess the main question is what is the connector on the end of the king lead and what am I connecting it to inside the coil. Lastly, can I take the face off of the coil to have a look?!

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

It should simply plug in and be a snug, secure fit. Don't open the coil because it contains oil and you might damage the windings.

You might have to bite the bullet and buy new equipment if it can't be sorted out. Hope you get it running.

[Noisyspeedbird]

Hello again. Then plan is to confirm the connection on the new HT lead (in the post) and attempt a good fit into the old coil but, if it appears the breakage is inside the coil and a new one is required, I plan to go to the (local to the Minor) MG Owners Spares place in Cambridge and grab one. So, the new question is, which coil will be suitable? I understand a non-ballast, 12v with 3ish ohms across the terminals. Is this likely to be an MGB/Midget standard fit?
Thanks

[autolycus]

Have a look at Holden's web site. They're by no means the only supplier, but they have good photos. You'll see two types of HT lead connector: screw-in, and push-in. For a screw-in type, the nut that they show is slipped on the HT lead, then you bare about 1/8" of the lead, slip one of the brass washers (also shown) over the bare copper, splay the conductors evenly, and tighten the nut into the coil. The push-in type is often used with pre-formed HT leads already having a brass ferrule or sleeve crimped into place. If you're starting with cable off the reel, you'll need a rubber boot (Holdens call it a straight coil end cover) which slips over the HT lead, then you'll have to crimp on the connector as best you can with a pair of pliers, making sure it either pierces the insulation of the HT lead or that a few strands of conductor are bared and folded back to be trapped by the connector.

The push-in type should be an easy push fit into the coil, then sliding the boot over the coil turret holds it firmly in place.

Your low voltage leads could have ring terminals, or male or female 1/4" spade terminals, aka Lucar connectors. Some coils come with adaptors from terminal post to spade, or rob them from your old coil.

As you say, 12v, non-ballast, and should measure around 3.3 ohms across the LT terminals.

I know that early MGBs used unballasted coils, and late ones used ballast coils, and I know that early Midgets used unballasted. No idea what they did once they put Triumph engines in them.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here.

Kevin

[liammonty]

Regarding coils failing- I have experienced this, but (surprise surprise) it was an aftermarket one that the PO had fitted. Replaced it with a 40 yr old Lucas one (who would have thought that one day Lucas parts would be sought-after due to their reliablity?!) and it has been fine ever since.My point is that if you can get away without replacing yours with a brand new one of dubious quality, then do so. All the failures I've heard of have been 'pattern' coils, not original ones.

[Noisyspeedbird]

Thanks, both. I also feel that to keep the original is by far the preferred option, and will discover when I get lead and coil together whether this is possible. Thanks for the link to the pictures, it helps to ID what I'm looking at/for. No danger of too much or too basic information here, thanks for it all. I shall repay with a pic or two after Friday.

[Noisyspeedbird]

A quick update:
The coil connection was broken-somehow. No spark was forthcoming. New parts included a dizzy (knackered vacuum unit and the small difference in price between the vac and a whole new dizzy) coil, HT leads and some considered common sense meant that the Minor starts and runs a lot sweeter!
I know that with such a long list of parts I will be told it was not the coil, and I agree to a point. I'm sure the coil is fine, except for the connector inside. Come winter I may play with it again but for now I like the engine running!
Pictures as promised: [edit: oh bugger, they were fine in the preview! Off to resize...]






I'll start a new general thread soon to find out a bit more about the Moggie, it's original fitments and hopefully getting some advice along the way

[bmcecosse]

If the coil is physically damaged then obviously it IS the coil in that case. Just take care to get the correct 3 ohm replacement... And please move the Minor away from that pile of junk lying next to it.........

[Noisyspeedbird]

Thanks to the new coil I can move the Minor-else it would be staying put and the 'Pile of Junk' would be driven away