my coil has only one wire.... there is a small copper tab that sticks out of it on the side that contacts the cap in the center, should I figure on that being one of the "wires" ? The thing that really bugs me is that I don't know for sure that the mag is making any power.... and how does it send that power to the coil? there are no wires coming out of the inner part of the mag, only the wire from the coil and the kill wire along w/ the wire to the condenser to the pts.... so how is the power getting into the coil? I thought of using an auto coil and a small twelve volt cordless tool battery at least that way I'd know there was power there....

Yes, the metal tab and wire from the coil is the circuit you want to check for resistance.
Power is generated by the rotating armature and the stater and supplied to the coil.

It is possible to wire in a conventional battery powered coil and use the existing points if you so choose. Requires drilling hole in cap for wire access for a permanent installation.

Hi,
there should be two wires-- a short wire going to earth--usually onto one of the coil hold down bar screws and another insulated wire going to the points. Also as noted is the high tension spark output copper tab going to the cap.

If you are missing a wire then that is likely broken off close to the coil winding insulation and barely protruding/noticeable.

The two wires and tab are visible in OM's picture.
The points wire is sticking straight up on the left of the coil, and the earth wire is hard to see pointing downwards on the lower right of the coil in OM's picture.

Google usually finds testing procedures, BUT, watch a few and it should become evident which ones are worthwhile--an example below for the method. Shows readings for good and bad coils.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Hi edb,
Some have the wire and some have a metal strip to ground to the housing. The picture I put up uses the metal strip/clip.

Hi OM,
you see I learn something new everyday as with all the mags I have done I do not recall two tabs only one tab and two wires--one can be a double wire to the screw clip, many variants i guess just to keep us confused.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

This is the more common version with two wire.

"Neil" wrote:

I had my RC-2H done up by a mag shop and it looks brand new. He did condensor, cap, rotor - coil was good. You can definitely keep it stock.

Hey Neal,,, may I ask what it cost to have your mag rebuilt? May be the way to go...thanks Doug

But like someone else mentioned, go back and update your profile, there maybe a fellow member just down the road from you that's willing to help!

Ok so I took an automotive coil and a twelve volt battery along with a new auto condenser and installed the coil and condersor external from the mqgneto. removed the kill switch wire, removed the wire to the points and ran hot lead from the battery to the bat side of the coil, ran a wire from the coil negative or dist side to the points along with a wire to the new condenser from the points attached the condenser to the cowel thus grounding the condenser, then ran a solid core high intensity wire from the contact point in the cap to the coil output whereby I would be using he distributor portion of the mag which should energize the dist/rotor from the esternal coil which is getting it's power directly from the twelve volt battery which is grounded to the body of the cat..... basically setting up the system as an automotive one. didn't work.... how's come.... is this a positive ground mag ????? what am I missing here...????