Morris Minor Owners Club

At the BCD today a number of "spectators" commented on Lucas electrics when they saw the various electrics on most of the cars. I have NEVER had a problem with Lucas electrics and I've worked on British cars for over 40 years! My reply, when people made horrific comments, was that if the connectors were MAINTAINED and kept clean and dry that they were never a problem. I pointed out, to one chap, that the original Lucas W/wiper motor, voltage regulator, headlight assemblies AND bulbs, trafficators (BOTH) were still functioning after FIFTY EIGHT years! I am certain there are a number of other Lucas electrics on my car that I haven't named!

True?

Absolutely - much maligned - for no good reason.

My mother's MGB GT seems to have an appetite for coils. About five/six years ago it started to give trouble and amongst other things we changed the coil. The new coil was faulty and I seem to remember so was the replacement for the replacement. In the end we fitted an Aldon Ignitor coil and that worked fine until yesterday. My parents are now stuck on the way home from Guernsey (Could have been worse; could have been on the way). The car is otherwise in good order, having done less than 50000 miles from new.

My 1974 MGB GT V8 has the original Lucas coil and it's only in recent years that we have had any coil related problems (I had one Lucas branded coil go on the Morris after only a year or so). My MG Midget has a Lucas coil that is over twenty years old and that's fine too. I can't help wondering whether these problems are caused by sub standard parts, where the suppliers know the vehicles are not used extensively and so the issue of failure, within warranty period, is unlikely.

I don't think it's just electrical parts. I've seen a few water pumps that were anything but good - nothing like the original Unipart or replacement Balco parts. Who is to blame is probably hard to say. Is it profiteering suppliers, miserly consumers who want everything for nothing or a combination of both?

Agreed, original Lucas electrics are very reliable, it must have been lack of maintainence/neglect by cheapskate owners that caused the bad image.

Lucas are fine! I don't buy the multi-coil failure though - there MUST be a cause. I have read that poor engine/chassis earthing can cause large current to flow through the coil when starting - may be worth investigating.

bmcecosse wrote:Lucas are fine! I don't buy the multi-coil failure though - there MUST be a cause. I have read that poor engine/chassis earthing can cause large current to flow through the coil when starting - may be worth investigating.

bm,

Very good point! I have a 52 MM with original coil.

Things that ruin ignition coils:

#1 Poor ground (earthing)

#2 A bad primary ignition condenser

#3 Ignition switch left "on" (overheats the coil)

#4 Any bad connection in the ignition secondary circuit. Spark plug wires, ignition coil center wire, worn rotor or distributor cap contacts, rain (lots of that over There I hear)

#5 Reversed polarity! POS earth battery / coil POS goes to the points. Vice versa.

Considering that any of those 1-5 could happen to a Minor and eventually damage the coil (plus physical damage) and points 2 and 4 could be beyond the control of even the most fastidious owner, is it any wonder that coils do fail???

You should always carry a spare coil!

well mostly the problem now is that although branded as lucas the coils you buy now are not lucas and are not good examples. Mostly they last 50 - 100 miles. Genuine Lucas ones are fine but i dont think you will find many of those around now.

Best thing to do with these replacement ones (other than throw them away) is to make sure you mount them with the terminals upwards and on the bulkhead or wing well away from the main heat sources.

Robert Stevenson

A-Series Spares