I have an original ( I think) Electrolok coil. Is there a way
to test a coil other than when I'll try to start the car?

Also, the coil wire with soldered on ends I got with my wiring harness doesn't seem to want to fit in that screwed tip on top of the coil. I see that tip has a hole in it. It that for the lead in the coil wire?

What year is the electrolock????

1934 Master.

Here's what the tip looks like. A regular coil wire with the brass end wouldn't contact anything in there the way it is. Looks like it will accomodate a probe shaped end on the coil wire.

Try using a multimeter across the terminals. On a 6V coil, you should read between 1.43 and 1.58 ohms resistance. If you read zero resistance, you have a short in the coil.If you read infinite resistance, there is a break in the windings. I have never had the need to try this, but have been told It works. Let me know what you find.
Richard

Richard, there are three terminals. Are you talking about the two that go to the distributor?

Pat
The readings Richard gave would be across the primary (ignition key and points) terminals. The distributor cap terminal will have a higher reading (at least 3000 ohms) sometimes to the case and others to the key terminal.
Tony

Am I missing an insert in here? (Third photo) Bakelite isn't a very good conductor.

The coil is an Autolite. It has markings CE-6V 5A. I checked it as Richard suggested above and it shows 1.2 ohms across the two terminals. One picture shows that tip partially inserted.

Pat, since It is an Autolite coil and obviously a replacement for the original coil could the tip be an adapter of some kind?
Richard

I wonder if an adapter would be threaded like this tip. Joe I. thinks it might be a military application.

It may also allow for the Lucas type lead that has a tube nut to secure the lead in place (about the only sensible thing Lucas did).
Tony