The Scientific Method
What it is: The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you observe. That's what google tells me anyway.
I bought a Pertronix coil some time back. I wired it in just to see if it worked. It did. I took it out, put it away for a later install date.
Just put the coil in today. Installed as instructed...bypassed the ballast. I have it mounted on the passenger side inner-fender flat. That's where my Acell 140001 has lived for decades.
Ran the car for a bit, checked the timing, hooked up a new diagnostic tach, did some carb adjustments.
That's when 'The Question' came up. I felt the Pertronix...and it was hot as hell!! 150º as measured with my non-contact IR gun. I didn't expect that...the coil having over TWICE the primary coil resistance the Acell has I figured it would sink considerably less current.
I patched the Acell back in, simply sat it a bit further back on the inner fender. I ran the car for the same amount of time I'd run the Pertronix. Checked the Acell; it was 120-130º. AHA! The Pertronix is just running too damn hot!
Here's the punchline: I happened to put my hand on the disconnected Pertronix. It was still/again too damn hot! Checked it with the temp gun...150º!
Huh?
Common sense would tell you that an operating coil would be warmer than a non-operating coil. Common sense MIGHT also tell you that if a coil ran cool under use but just happened to be sitting in a HOT place...you couldn't tell the difference between its operating temp and its 'just sitting there' temp!
And there 'ya go. What I observed told me that the Pertronix was running hot. That it was sitting adjacent to #4-6 header pipes (MUCH hotter than #2 or #8) didn't enter my mind. That's where the coil has been for many years.
Who cares about this silly story? It probably interests about zero persons. BUT...it should give the reader pause to consider how they observe things and the conclusions they come to. The Scientific Method did not work in this case. Why? Because I didn't follow it!!