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Dwell Angle for KLC

Your old Chris-Craft electrical system can be a challenge. If it runs on "juice" pose your questions and offer your advice here.

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Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by [email protected] » Sat Jul 06, 2019 9:48 am

Hi all, I have been adjusting the dwell angle on my KLC trying to solve an bogging issue at high rpms under load (4 people in a ‘56 Holiday, can’t get over 2200).

Three questions for this august group:

1) I’m shooting for dwell = 35 degrees based on what research I’ve been able find. Sound right? How precise should I shoot for? +/- ?

2) I have an odd phenomenon where I clip my dwell meter to the negative post on the coil and the readings go all over the place (nonsense readings like >100). BUT if I clip it to the post where the negative line enters the distributor (ie, the other end of the same wire) it reads fine. Anything to worry about here? The resistance on the coil (flamethrower II) is in range (.7 ohms) but seems odd so wondering if something is amiss.

3) That all said, when it bogs, if I take the throttle down and go back up again, it will pick up then slowly drop again, which makes me think my high speed jet is too lean, but I want to get the Ignition dialed in before I tweak that. Sound right?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

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drrot
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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by drrot » Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:07 am

All the manuals I have give a gap of .022" No conversion to dwell. Possibly too new of a measurement.
I'd replace the coil to distributor wire, or bypass it with a jumper lead. See if it helps.
Remember after setting points you have to set the timing again :D
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by [email protected] » Sat Jul 06, 2019 2:02 pm

Thanks, Jim! 35 degrees resulted in a .22 gap, so that all checks out. Still trying to figure out the wonky readings - will try the jumper idea!

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by Bilge Rat » Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:47 am

I had an issue with using a Flamethrower coil on a breaker point distributor. Odd power loss issues. Replaced with a standard "no ballast resistor needed" coil and no problems since. The fact that the Flamethrower was epoxy encapsulated sounded great but maybe not enough of a cooling function.
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by Tom Gruenauer » Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:45 am

You could remove the dis. cap, then rotate the rotor see if it moves and if it "springs back", That will tell you if the dis. is advancing.
My two cents.

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by [email protected] » Tue Jul 09, 2019 4:01 pm

Thank you both! Think I will swap the coil (at least I'll have a new one) and will check the rotor action as Tom suggests. Much appreciated.

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by jim g » Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:58 am

Pertronix used to have great coils. But about 5 to 6 years ago they moved production to China and they became pure junk. I went back to using NAPA coils.

You want an IC14 coil from NAPA. If you have a external resistor get rid of it. All they do is cause problems on boats. The NAPA coil doesn't need one.

Also the coil your using is to low of a resistance. It needs to be in the 3.0 ohm range.

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by George Emmanuel » Mon Jul 15, 2019 6:53 am

Jim, is the IC 14 a 12 volt coil?

George

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by maritimeclassics » Mon Jul 15, 2019 7:14 am

UC-15 is a 12V coil and UC-14 is the 6V coil.
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Ph# 231-486-6148

Restoration Projects:
1936 25' Gar Wood Custom
1947 Ventnor Hydroplane
1957 17' Deluxe Runabout
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman Twin
1959 19' Sliver Arrow Hull #75
1929 26' Chris Craft Custom Runabout
1937 25' Chris Craft Custom Runabout

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by drrot » Mon Jul 15, 2019 7:38 am

napabook.jpg
From the NAPA book. IC7 is the 6 volt version at NAPA
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by maritimeclassics » Mon Jul 15, 2019 2:49 pm

OK so that's super confusing. Standard brand part number CU-14 it says its a 6 volt and that's what I have on the shelf. I even went online and ordered from summit racing and came up with the same thing. But Napa a uses a IC-14 as a 12V So I guess it depends on the brand.
Family member of Chris Craft founder
Owner of Maritime Classics
http://www.maritimeclassics.com
Ph# 231-486-6148

Restoration Projects:
1936 25' Gar Wood Custom
1947 Ventnor Hydroplane
1957 17' Deluxe Runabout
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman Twin
1959 19' Sliver Arrow Hull #75
1929 26' Chris Craft Custom Runabout
1937 25' Chris Craft Custom Runabout

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Re: Dwell Angle for KLC

Post by [email protected] » Tue Jul 16, 2019 11:56 am

Fantastic - went with the Napa IC7. Thank you all for the help!

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