HCCT Trouble shooting

[Andy Loso]

I have a SSECO HCCT that I am having troubles getting the spark to jump the ring. It has a rebuilt Weston meter on it and will fire the coil and make the meter work, but it will not spark on the spark ring. By hooking up a test light to ground and then touching the spark ring it will 'spark' the test light. This is a SSECO HCCT, but the spark ring is of the type that in Patterson/Casica book, that is listed as an unknown manufacturer. I will attach a photo in a bit. Thanks in advance.

[Tim Moore]

Scuff the ring and pointer with abrasive and set gap. Common problem I have also had.

[MKossor]

Surprising but oxidation on the spark ring and/or pointer can impead or prevent arcing between electrodes. This is the first thing you should check when experiencing a coil with missing sparks before concluding the coil suffers from irreparable internal arcing. Any good handbook HCCT operation should cover this fundamental operating detail.

[BE_ZERO_BE]

5.10

[Andy Loso]

I have glass beaded the ring, pointer, and the socket the pointer installs into. Check out the photo.

[jab35]

Have you verified the Ford coil being tested is fully functional? If so, have you checked the 'spark' circuit, the ring to frame insulation, and the ring to coil secondary connection? And the coil box bronze spring terminals and wiring connections. Thanks for sharing photos, you will have this fixed in no time, jb

[Ron Patterson]

Andy
Give me a call.
Your problem is common to this particular type HCCT.
Ron Patterson

[namdc3]

Andy, it is an Service Station Equipment Company (SSECO) unit, as well - just a later version than shown in the HCCT handbook SSECO section. It appears your spark ring might be grounded to the frame via the two mounting bolts. That needs to be isolated electrically, preferably by standoffs that don't have a through hole.

[J1MGOLDEN]

Congratulations Andy!

You have identified the Service Station Equipment Hand Crank Coil Tester displayed on Page 63, as an unknown manufacturer, in the HCCT Handbook, by Bob Cascisa and Ron Patterson and that was the one I had the most trouble with, at the time.

I still have that heavy coil ring, as I replaced it with an Allen Coil ring that Ron had available.

[Andy Loso]

I have it figured out. With some good private messages, several emails, and a chit chat with the Coilman, the solution was found. The spark ring was grounded to the frame. I made some new standoffs out of some delrin, making sure there was no thru hole. One side holds the delrin to the frame and the other held the spark ring to the delrin. Now I can finish the restoration. I'll post a photo when done.

Thanks again.

[RajoRacer]

I turned Delrin stand-offs for my Standard HCCT - worked perfect.