Ballast Resistor Time - L Jet

eludvigs

eludvigs

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So got the 74 running and she puuuuuuurrs. But I smelled burning plastic and fount the ballast resistor and wires were frying.

The only thing I've changed is a new starter. So maybe I've wired up the red/black wire incorrectly?

Green wire is providing 12.4v

Resistance tests were a bit weird ... wonder if this thing is totally fried.

Anyways, thoughts on how to proceed?
 
Forgot pics ...

IMG_1555.jpg
 
So I'm wondering if the resistor is just toast. It shows .8 ohms at the 0,4 position and 1.0 ohms at the 0,6 position.

When I turn the ignition on the thing goes white hot right away. Like dangerously hot. Is it supposed to get this hot??!!

I ordered another one (expensive) and will see if issue persists.

Black/Red is wired to the starter at 12 o'clock position. Black ignition wire at 6 o'clock. This should be correct. Green wire to distributor is getting full 12 volts.

Am I getting too much voltage? What would cause all the heat?
 
When I replaced my starter several years ago I used the always hot terminal and not the switched terminal and the resistor was cherry red, not good. I had the resistor, not the resistor wire, and it only gets current when starter is activated. You can always skip the resistor entirely and use a Blue Bosch coil instead.
 
Yeah I think it has to do with the new starter. Tested the red/black wire and its getting a negative voltage reading when ignition is set to on.
 
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