[AT] grounded coil

[Chris Britton]

So Doug.. tell us.. how many antique tractors use this gm high energy 
ignition system with coil in cap?

I'd especially like to point out that we are talking about good old points 
based ignition systems, and not electroic modules.  I'd also like toy point 
out that the 3 terminal round can that all these messages are referencing 
back to is not a coil in cap setup.

Again.. I'm asking .. anybody got a schematic to an antique tractor using a 
normal points/distribuitor setup that has a coil that will not function 
without the case  of the coil being connected to ground, other than in a 
situation where the points are switching ground ??  i wouldn't mind seeing 
the schematic, and a pic of the tractor / OEM application.

Soundguy

>From: Doug Tallman <dtallman at accnorwalk.com>
>Subject: Re: [AT] grounded coil


>Ron, ever see a GM HEI unit with the coil in the cap? Ever wonder what the
>little metal strip is that goes in the cap and the coil sits on? It is
>designed to ground the coil. Years back, the head of the local school bus
>garage called and asked if I would come look at a bus that had burnt 5
>coils in 2 years. Checking the service records showed the first coil had
>failed about 90 days after a normal maintenance tune-up. Everyone had been
>telling him bad plug wires were causing it and they had been replaced twice
>in the time period. I stopped by to look and he was putting the new coil in
>the new cap without the ground strap. We looked in the old cap, no ground
>strap. He bought the ground strap and it was the last coil he put in the
>bus. Probably just a fluke, right?? The engineer that designed the system
>probably added the ground strap just to add to the cost and confusion?? NOT
>I wouldn't be too quick to think that none of us own or work on pre-WW1
>engines, I can prove you wrong again. OH, I forgot, I'm a nobody. Back to
>lurk mode.
>             Doug Tallman