12 volt coil ??

I"ve converted from a 6-volt negative ground to a 12-volt negative ground. I"ve also installed an electronic ignition (Pertronix). I"ve double-checked all the wiring before attempting to start. When I turned the key, everything cranks, but the motor doesn"t ever rumble.

It seems like I"ve read somewhere that if you"re going to do the electronic ignition to go ahead and change to a 12-volt coil. Did I read that right? Also, and if so, do I still need to use the resistor that came with the conversion kit?

I"m assuming that if I put in a 12-volt coil, that the red wire from the Pertronix goes directly to the positive side of the coil instead of directly to the resistor. Am I right?

Anything else I need to check? (Other than being a dufus for putting in an electronic ignition?)

Thanks in advance.

You write..... ."It seems like I"ve read somewhere that if you"re going to do the electronic ignition to go ahead and change to a 12-volt coil. Did I read that right? Also, and if so, do I still need to use the resistor that came with the conversion kit?"..... ....NO, using the 12v-to-6v converting resistor on a real 12v coil turns it into a weaksister 6v coil and NO SPARKIES. I always recommend using a real 12v coil when changing to 12v and NO RESISTOR. NAPA IC-14SB ($15, cheap) is a real 12v coil that NEVER NEEDS RESISTOR. Understand???

You write..... "I"m assuming that if I put in a 12-volt coil, that the red wire from the Pertronix goes directly to the positive side of the coil instead of directly to the resistor. Am I right?"..... ..uh? dunno.....

what used to go between the resistor and the coil??? 'nutter' wire?..... ..yes? then it should be intuitively obvious iff'n you ain't using a 6v coil, you don't need a 12v-to-6v converting resistor. And the redwire from Pertronix would go to the roundcan coil (+) without going thru the resistor. Simple, eh? ..... ..Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

Thanks for the help, and to answer your question about the resistor...According to the great wiring diagram that came with the 12volt conversion kit. One side of the resistor (IDR6000) was connected to the terminal block (the side not connected to the ammeter) w/an orange wire. A white wire was connected to the other side of the resistor to the (+) side of the coil.

According to the not so great diagram from Pertronix, the black wire went to the (-) post of the coil, and the red wire went to the orange wire side of the resistor. Clear as mud?

I guess if I don't need the resistor, then from looking at the 12 volt conversion kit, I don't need either this orange nor the white wire that was part of the wiring harness that appears to be dedicated to a lifetime connection to the 6-volt coil.

So, based on the above, and if I'm understanding you correctly, no resistor needed if I have a 12-volt coil, and I can just cut these 2 orange and white wires connected to the resistor out of the wiring harness. Have I got it right?

I'm a rookie in the tractor fixin' "business", and with an adoption process going on, I can't afford to screw this tractor up.

You write..... .."According to the not so great diagram from Pertronix, the black wire went to the (-) post of the coil, and the red wire went to the orange wire side of the resistor. Clear as mud?"..... ..yes, but NOT electrically understandable.

The external electronic module needs 12v to run. That is what the RED wire is doing connected to the ORANGE wire terminal post (thats the ignition switch ON BATTERY wire connection) which make sense. The Pertronix blackwire is the points trigger wire to fire the module..... BUT.....module gotta fire the coil (+) terminal somehow. Which is sofar NOT described by you. (at least that I understand)

You write..... ."I guess if I don't need the resistor, then from looking at the 12 volt conversion kit, I don't need either this orange nor the white wire that was part of the wiring harness that appears to be dedicated to a lifetime connection to the 6-volt coil. So, based on the above, and if I'm understanding you correctly, no resistor needed if I have a 12-volt coil, and I can just cut these 2 orange and white wires connected to the resistor out of the wiring harness. Have I got it right?"..... ..yes, I think you've gotter for straight 12v coil installation..... BUT.....there still is confusion about yer Pertronix installation.

More better description from you, or contact Pertronix. They have a excellent hot-line, and lousy installation instructions for the electrically challenged neubie..... ....Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

"Diagram 2" described as "Wiring Diagram Ignitor System without Ballast Resistor" shows the BLACK wire going from the ignitor to (-) side of the coil. It also shows the RED wire going from the ignitor to the (+) side of the coil, and wire from the ignition switch going to the (+) side of the coil.

As I'm typing this, I think I've got it figured out. I can ditch the ORANGE wire and the resistor. However, I need the WHITE wire to go from the (+) side of the coil to the same side of the terminal block that the ORANGE wire was connected to in "Diagram 3" (which also has another wire connected from there to the ignition key).

Does that sound about right?

And, thanks for the heads up on the 12volt coil (NAPA IC-14SB), my wife will be stopping by our local NAPA store on her way into town while I'm at work.

Thanks for the help.

Solid State smokes with "over" voltage or large spikes. Should last a lifetime, if you get it right

Sbray44, I am not familiar with Pertronix but RED
wires are normally "Vcc" and that means Battery.
It is wise to get away from the COIL or Resistor by wiring that directly to switched ignition on the Terminal Block. (Its the same point as in the diagram) That way you can change the Coil/Resistor without disturbing the Vcc to the Pertronix.

It is possible you now have it wired to the Wrong Side of the Resistor and you have low voltage to the Pertronix.

Just Curious:
What is the resistor? did it come in a MFD's box. The Ohm (Resistance) number is normally die stamped on one of the electric connectors. (one number on each side of the hole)

Hope This Helps,