Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-08
SIMPL|F|ED AUTO LESSONS
EXPERT EXPLAINS TROUBLES
WITH lGNlTAON SYSTEMS
Guerrlich Gees Int" Details TO One
.5,- Well-known Nnkr-QucstionS'
and Answers.
ny FREDERiCk ctEHRLICH, NJ. L!
W III

The ignition system OF the Ford car
varies greatly from that used or al!
other makes OF cars. The Ford sys-
tenn requires a coil for each spark
plug. and the spark is enc of srea,
frequency, that is. there is really a
While. with the distributor system.
only one coil IS required, and there
is but ono single spark AT the plug.
/ might say. however. that a Few
vibrating coll Win separate battery
FOR starting, but only one coil. rhia
NIL be found TO he The case on some
81 the pelCo systems.
Let Us see how 10 go about hunting
Tor The cause OF trouble in the Ford
system. First OF al we must know
what the SiFcuit OF tho current from
IS. ms IL as follows:
magnetic watch is bui!t mo the ny.
wheel, from which 1t goes TO the mag
neto current collector plug, called the
magnetic contact, from snere to the
magnetic terminal on the coil box
thence 70 the switch, then the buss
oar by which II is distributed to the
;our coils trom each OF the coils il
goes through the vibrator and then
oy Il wire 10 tlte commuiRtor. or timer,
and then through the metal OF the en-
sine and SO back 10 the magnetic.
The high voltage secondary starts
on the col! for each spark plug. goes
10 the plug and returns through the
metal OF NE engine TO the primary
through this wire back TO the coil.
How to Determine Trouble.
In the event OF the engine failing
to start o. stopping suddenly, be
FIRST determine which units in the sys-
tenn and which wires arc common TO
all four cylinders. as If the unit or
wire is connected TO one cylinder only,
"a n Il ,l.s
that particular cylinder. We find that
only the mdsncto. the wire to tho
magnetic terminal on the coil box the
switch and the motor Of tho comnluta-
TOT are common 10 all the cylinders.
ih0s for sudden stopping or failure
TO start these are the units which must
oe investigated.
The magnetic seldom gives trouble
IL not abused Sometimes. however,
wires from hattcry are Incorrectly
connected to the system so as TO
draw the magnetism from tho mag
nets. This means that magnets must
DE remasnetiDed. or what viii often
prove 10 cost no more, q new set or
magnets installed.
me voltage generated by the mag
neto varies with the speed OF The en-
CINE, and At crank!ng speed is extreme
~ low, some times not being sufficient
TO start the engine. For this reason
Tor starting. This can be easily done.
rs all that is necessary is 10 connect
one wire from ah,ut five cells in series,
20 the metal of ftxe car, say the trans
mission cover ami the other wire to
The vacant binding post y, as shown in
The illustration. The mistake OF con-
binding post tBl IS often made. Do
ing this Will probably weaken the mag
nets OF the magnetic.
Watch Vibrator Points.
II the vibrator points of the coils arc
burned or poorly adjusted, starting
VIII be made more d,thcult. II is a
good plan TO watch them, especially in
cold weather.
The magnetic contact will often CAUSE
trouble by not making proper contact
AS rule, cleaning is all that is ncces-
sary.
The switch will also sometimes cause
trouble ny being short -circuited or not
max nS contact. This, however. il not
though with some of the earlier mod
els il was often SO.
ConSeaicd oil or water in the commu-
sometimes failure to start Again
cleaning is tho remedy
a way to tell II the magnetic. switch
or commutator is the cause OF the en-
slhe stopping, is to take the magnetic
wire OF the binding post on the coil
oox and 10 substitute therefor a wire
from battery OF dry cells Che house
the other battery wire being CONNECTED
TO the ground. II the engine starts,
the masneto. magnetic contact or mag
l., L
engine does no, start. take a wire OF
the commutator and touch IL to the
ground. II coil buZzcs and there is
a spark. the commutator is to hjame.
whiie. II the coil fails to buzz then
ether the Nibrators are not propcr,v
set or the switch il at fault.
a fauit OF the vibratorS coInmutator
wire connected TO the commutator
spark plug or spark. nius wire. will
cause a miss in tho engine
Ascertain Missing Cylinder,
-. IN ia
CINE misses i-.- find which cylinder
Is missing. To do this hold down me
vibrator points one after the other. Tho
one which causes no change in the
running OF the engine is connected IN
the missing cylinder
Having determined which cylinder "a
missing. change around the coil with
another coil. If the miss follows tho
coll, then tho coil, probably its vibrator
points. Is al fault. H. however. tho
miss continues in the same cylinder,
then the coils are a.! right and can be
forgotten Tho fault being due TO the
spark Plug. o: It's wire. or 10 The wire
going TO the commutator, or TO the
commutator
The above assumes. OF course. that
the other two essentials. namely, com
preston and mixture, which are ncccs-
sary Tor the proper running OF the
engine. are ali right
To tell If the spark has failed. take
out plug, lay IL on the engine with
tho wire attached. and crank the en-
CINE. II the ignition is all right there
Will be spark at the plug, and either
compTc"s!on or mixture IS At fault