Rusty Coil
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=184300
Printed Date: 27 Aug 2025 at 8:35am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Rusty Coil
Posted By: Les Kerf
Subject: Rusty Coil
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2021 at 8:06am
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A little over a year ago I purchased a 12 Volt distributor conversion kit for my AC Model C which turned that little engine into one of the best-starting machines I own. Until two days ago.  My grandson uses this little tractor for doing his daily chores around their homestead. He is under strict orders to shut the machine down EVERY time he dismounts, no exceptions, which he obeys quite faithfully. This requires 12 or more hot re-starts every day. It typically fires up almost instantly. After a record-setting, long, hot dry summer, we are finally being blessed with some wonderful rain. Lots of it  Grandson wandered in all wet and muddy, says that Little Alice won't re-start and chores are only half done. Hmmmpf! I have lots of grey hair, grew up with breaker points, am a retired electronics tech/sawmill maintenance guy and do not fear old style distributors. Expected to find moisture inside distributor. Nope. Points looked okay but hey, you never know for certain. Pulled points and polished them with my EZ-Lap pocket model diamond knife sharpener (the best point file I have ever found yet). Re-installed and gapped, told Grandson I don't think that was the problem; I was right. It started briefly then died. Started again long enough to get it into the shop. Checked breaker point resistance with my Fluke 88 Automotive meter, they aren't the problem (this is for all of the naysayers who are going to tell me to replace the points anyway. Besides, I don't have a spare set on hand). Condenser bad? Don't have one of those on hand either, but tester shows it is okay (gotta get some spares bought though). Bad coil maybe? Pulled the coil wire from the distributor cap and connected it to my little spark gap tester which clips on to ground, then removed the wire from the distributor (the one connecting the Negative coil lead to the points). I have 12 volts to the positive side so now grounding the negative side and removing it should make spark, no joy. I do have Bosch Blue coil for my VW, swapped it in and away we go! I looked inside the coil terminal and it was full of rust. Dry, powdery, red rust I turned it over and rust particles literally fell out, lots of it.Remember, it only recently started raining here, and the little rubber boot was obviously doing its job as this rust was bone dry. My old Bosch Blue coil has a brass terminal, no rust. Whoda thunk it  I chucked an old rifle cleaning brush in my drill and scrubbed the rust out of the coil terminal, packed it full of dielectric grease and re-installed the offending coil; Little Alice once again fires right up instantly and Grandson is happily using it for chores. We'll see how long THAT lasts.  |
Replies:
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2021 at 8:16am
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Im with you... Thought they all had brass fittings.. Dont think i have seen a steel one ! ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2021 at 6:14pm
Lots of things that look brass or copper aint. Could just have been plated, and the plating wore off, and there you are. ------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2021 at 6:34pm
| I’ve seen lots of dist caps with bronze terminals that turned green over the years. Just did an old trans am with msd ignition that was fairly new. Always stored inside. Inside of dist was a mass of rust. Cap had multiple cracks and tracking. A real mess. I replaced the pickup coil. Cleaned up reluctor and body. Why? Don’t know. Owner says it has never seen weather!! |
Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2021 at 8:06am
Possibly. This coil is less than two years old, so if it was plated it wore off pretty fast. There was not even a hint of green corrosion, only dry, red rust. |
DiyDave wrote:Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2021 at 6:02pm
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Another thing to think about, steel plated to copper or brass, used in a electrical connection, a loose connection, and that plating gets sparked off in no time! ------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 9:53am
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Update: After another condenser failure I finally decided to join the 21st century and ordered a Pertronix ignition module for Little Alice. My 11 year old grandson did the actual install while I watched. I never cease to be amazed at the nearly instantaneous starting ability of that little tractor when it has good spark  |
Posted By: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 8:20pm
| Update from my post from a long time ago. Poor grounds were the problem. MSD got back to me but I had already figured it out. Added a ground from battery to motor- heavy cable. Grounded heads together at back of motor #10 wire and #10 to firewall. Worked great. Was barely running when it came to me. |