Saving Old Seagulls

Thanks everyone, you are helping me a lot
I'll just try the cleaning and setting today I can't find a socket to fit
ebay have them for a couple of quid
While I am here does anyone know if these are suitable coil replacements
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Villiers-Igni ... NAsBjBvuEw

It's been discussed before & John feels it has a positive effect, I don't, after all these things are only opinions & John & I differ on this one.

Nice to know you've read the FAQs, I once bought a cheap SD, that the owner couldn't get to start, only to find it had a coil that had died of old age, it was a pensioner so no surprises there, the surprise came when I removed the plug, to check & found Iron filings caught in the oily black stuff, when I removed the cylinder it contained a salt spoon of filings, the previous owner had tried the drill trick without leaving the fuel on for several minutes, maybe 15, maybe more, an expensive set back prop!

We did have a member who used an air impact drill as sockets fit straight on, he snapped the flywheel nut & the thread inside it, off the end of his crankshaft!

Try at your own risk!

My role as the grumpy schoolmaster moderator it to correct posts that might cause damage to the owner or the Seagull & to point out the "this might not be the best thing to do's"!

Thanks for clarifying Charles!

Cheers
BP

I put it back together double checked the points gap and have been looking to see if I have improved anything and no, no difference, I have noticed that the spark is intermittent, sometimes it sparks other times it doesn't, from the advice I have been given I imagine this means the coil and points/condenser box is on its way out, it is 61 year old and apart from these pieces I think it is in good nick

I just had a look through old posts and this one is what I was thinking mine was doing
2nd reply down
viewtopic.php?t=2554

If you have a half decent multimeter, an analogue meter is better, just test it.
You test them pretty much the some as other old coils.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT8rk5QWgS0

Tam pointed me in right way for multimeter
Ive ordered an annalog one with 1000 setting as per Kieth's video link

The problem with the old coils is that they are old when we get to play with them, I have had coils that work well, but have no resistance what so ever, but its just a matter of time until it stops working, so a basic test will tell you what you need to know, plus you can test other parts of the ignition system to rule out other culprits.

And you can even test your cooker. ..when you blow it up....

Been there done that, when working at Belling's.
Must have about ten meters about, from modern to military and 1920's meters.

Keith.P wrote:The problem with the old coils is that they are old when we get to play with them, I have had coils that work well, but have no resistance what so ever, but its just a matter of time until it stops working, so a basic test will tell you what you need to know, plus you can test other parts of the ignition system to rule out other culprits.

so the other culprits could be
Plug (it's new)
HT lead (ditto)
Points (already read that this could be the problem)
I should have a better idea when the meter arrives
Today I am going to rub down the drive housing, get rid of the rust, would you then paint it? Hammerite factory is or was about 6 miles from here

Clean & check the points again & check the wire that comes from the coil, where it goes through the side of the points box, it's known to short here & that could give symptoms like yours!

You could have something simple like an earthed out wire, a meter just makes it easier it diagnose, remove coil wire from points, it will make testing easier as well.

Charles uk wrote:Clean & check the points again & check the wire that comes from the coil, where it goes through the side of the points box, it's known to short here & that could give symptoms like yours!

Keith.P wrote:You could have something simple like an earthed out wire, a meter just makes it easier it diagnose, remove coil wire from points, it will make testing easier as well.

I did wonder about that wire, it does look very tired