MTFCA Forum

For half a century, members of the Rose City Model T Club have had access to Hand Cranked Coil Testers (HCCT) to tune up Model T coils. Nearly two decades ago, the club invested in a Strobo-Spark and it was a game changer. Today, the Electronically Cranked Coil Tester (ECCT) is available, which tests coils using dwell instead of amperage.

The Stobo-Spark was leaps and bounds advanced over the HCCT.

How does the ECCT compare to the Strobo-Spark? Does it provide the same leaps and bounds advancement over the Strobo-Spark as the Strobo-Spark did over the HCCT?

I would like to hear experiences from people who have used all three testing systems, and in particular, the differences between the Strobo-Spark and the ECCT.

Thanks,

Keith

: ^ )

Keith .... All three platforms are there to adjust coils.... To compare all three is like comparing apples, oranges and watermelons ... Some say they all have pits , but that's besides the point, haha.... Customer satisfaction from adjusted coils comes from the "seat - of - the -pants" satisfaction of a smooth running engine. .... As long as there are clean and bright metal electrical connections in the coil box and coil terminals how is it even about an ignition switch internals and magneto connections.... Not to mention correct commutator initial setting, cleanliness inside, and proper spark lever position at given speed and terrain.... Again, not to mention proper spark plug cleanliness and gap.,.... As you see, one depends on the other for a properly running engine. I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.... For many years I did use the hand crank coil tester, but now the last 10 years has been strictly the ECCT .

ECCT is not the leaps & bounds improvement over the strobospark, but it is a big improvement IMHO.
We had a local coil re-builder tune with a Strobospark. They were ok. This was before the ECCT existed. The strobo was considered the best testing unit @ the time. I was not running coils @ that time in my personal T's, but did use them in customer cars. I did not do comparison testing. (sounds like a future project) However it was discovered that the meter on his unit was out of calibration & set the amp draw too high.
I have seen the exceptional results from ECCT tuned coils. It's the best tuning device IMHO & experience.

You guys are way ahead of me! I still use an original coil tester. I made a box for the 1913 KW Coils however in addition to the original.

I'll go and make me a bowl of pop-corn!

(Can't be long before Mke Kosser cimes in...)

I have tried all three, a simple 'buzz box' and the FACT. And I have compared results from them

My summary and scores out of 10

Buzz box__________3___it will get you running on 4
HCCT_____________6___Heavy and somewhat clumsy to use but a big improvement
Strobospark_______8___Still a good piece of equipment. Can adjust while sparking
FACT or ECCT______9___Time to fire and peak current are the right parameters

Why no 10/10? Setting up is still somewhat of a 'black art' skill that you develop with experience.

Model T coils are usually many decades to a century old, or more, and they may not have been 100% consistent from one to the next when new. Modern era reproduction coils do not have a good reputation.

Hey Mike D. ..... You make the popcorn, I'll make the martinis, and that should get us through the cartoons before the main show..... Seriously, getting a goal for coils to fire at the same piston position makes for better running efficient engine.

Those original coils always have a bad capacitor.

The StroboSpark identifies when an original capacitor has been replaced sometime in the past and is still useable.

The ECCT also identifies when the capacitor is good.

Both systems are an improvement over the HCCT that only identifies the current draw.

Unfortunately, the StroboSpark has not been available for several years.

The last one I saw sell sold for $650 plus shipping.

That was a real bargain!!

I have recommended several times that if you don't have money to buy an ECCT, at least buy a capacitor tester. They are available on the internet for about $20. With this, you will least know when a capacitor is defective. All except one of my 20 coils needed a new capacitor.

Art Mirtes

In my experience grading testing equipment must be a two-fold process. What is a “best” option today may not prove to be the case over the long haul. I still own a hcct only because it will likely be serviceable long into the future. I recall when my friend John Regan introduced the strobo-spark and the advantages over the boat-anchor hcct were clear, especially while on tour. Unfortunately the product did not make a smooth transition into legacy support which is often the case for electronic products. Many of the parts used in them are now unobtainable. The incremental improvements made in the design of the ECCT may prove to mean it will fair better in the years beyond our lifespans since it has fewer discrete components. The true-fire ignition system was a prime example of a modern electronic product that disappeared quickly when the support from the inventor ceased. I will probably sell my boat-anchor soon since the ECCT has had an excellent track record over an extended period and has real performance advantages. I also own a strobo spark that i inherited and will likely let that go as well in favor of an ECCT for the reasons mentioned above.

I have acquired one Wilson hand cranked coil tester, one motorized Wilson coil tester, a StroboSpark, and an ECCT, over the years and have spent considerable time rebuilding and then checking a number of coils on them. I agree with what has been posted and am convinced that the "time to fire" method of tuning produces a smoother running engine, not necessarily a game changer but clearly an improvement on older technologies. The head scratch-er for me is with the multiple spark test. While there is general agreement among the various machines I have found a few coils that measure "excellent" on the ECCT but show a shower of sparks on the other machines and I have no idea why. It seems to me that seeing is believing and that in those instances the older machines are telling a truer tale. For what its worth, I have done several hundred coils and have yet to find one that didn't require a new capacitor.

KWTownsend wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 15, 2026 3:34 pm

For half a century, members of the Rose City Model T Club have had access to Hand Cranked Coil Testers (HCCT) to tune up Model T coils. Nearly two decades ago, the club invested in a Strobo-Spark and it was a game changer. Today, the Electronically Cranked Coil Tester (ECCT) is available, which tests coils using dwell instead of amperage.

The Stobo-Spark was leaps and bounds advanced over the HCCT.

How does the ECCT compare to the Strobo-Spark? Does it provide the same leaps and bounds advancement over the Strobo-Spark as the Strobo-Spark did over the HCCT?

I would like to hear experiences from people who have used all three testing systems, and in particular, the differences between the Strobo-Spark and the ECCT.

Thanks,

Keith

: ^ )

Interesting question. Lets do some testing.
Last nights T party we compared results from Strobo-spark tuned coils & ECCT tuned coils.
Tuned coils to the prescribed 1.3 amp draw on the strobo then on an ECCT.
The ECCT check showed a wide variation of firing times resulting in "poor" results. Wide variations. Tweaking both lower & upper points was required.
Got a tune to excellent & 96-7%, with a sweet, crisp clacking spark.
For fun & giggles, we rechecked on the Strobo. To my surprise, the amp draw on the ECCT was lower - a consistent .9 amp draw.

My conclusion is the strobo is/was an affordable HCCT equivalent machine.
The ECCT is indeed a "LEAPS & BOUNDS" improvement.

What happens when you set a coil to the .9 with strobo and then check it with the ECCT?
Inquiring minds want to know?

The test results above indicate to me that current draw is NOT an accurate way to synchronize time-to-fire among a set of coils.
Correcting current draw will prevent damaging the timer and would likely prevent undue stress on the coil points and double-sparking.

No matter what method you use to adjust coils, a good result can only be obtained with coil units that are in good condition and both physically and electrically stable, without intermittent shorts/opens, worn out points, off-spec capacitors, etc. The vibrator point assembly and its mounting must be physically stable.

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 8:41 am

What happens when you set a coil to the .9 with strobo and then check it with the ECCT?
Inquiring minds want to know?

Why not?
Stay tuned.
There is not going to be a direct correlation with just setting the amp draw to .9 amps with the strobo.
The key is knowing how & which part of the points need adjusting.
With a strobo or HCCT its a lot of guess work with no feedback as to being optimally set other than that strong clack spark.
The ECCT test tells which part & how to adjust it.
Takes much of the guess work & magic out of getting the coil tuned.

I've suggested a comparison too but it's more an academic question than anything now that Strobospark is no more. Personally, I have never had a coil that I rebuilt and carefully set up on Strobospark fail any of the ECCT criteria, but again, it's 'academic' at this point in time. And don't forget 'Fact', undoubtedly the most rigorous coil evaluation and set up tool of the whole lot. Respectfully, jb

I too have set up quite a few coils on all of the test apparatus and have been fascinated sometimes by the similarities of outcome and sometimes by the differentiation. I am currently experimenting with my "Franken-Tester" where I can install a coil in an operating engine/magneto/timer environment and check the timing with an inductive timing light and index marks on the flywheel. The benefit is that I can vary the speed from idle to about 1500 rpm and check consistency from coil to coil.

Moxie26 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:02 pm

Keith .... All three platforms are there to adjust coils.... To compare all three is like comparing apples, oranges and watermelons ... Some say they all have pits , but that's besides the point, haha.... Customer satisfaction from adjusted coils comes from the "seat - of - the -pants" satisfaction of a smooth running engine. .... As long as there are clean and bright metal electrical connections in the coil box and coil terminals how is it even about an ignition switch internals and magneto connections.... Not to mention correct commutator initial setting, cleanliness inside, and proper spark lever position at given speed and terrain.... Again, not to mention proper spark plug cleanliness and gap.,.... As you see, one depends on the other for a properly running engine. I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.... For many years I did use the hand crank coil tester, but now the last 10 years has been strictly the ECCT .

....... Accept any way of adjusting your coils, but don't end up comparing one method to another and discounting its attributes.

A good feature of the FACT tester is that you SEE the current waveform, with its peak current and time-to-fire, and any follow on sparks.

Congrats to those on this forum that developed it.