First off the diagram shown in Mike's web site is wrong. The bottom contact is positive. The top one on the thin side is ground from the timer and the lower one is the high voltage to the plug. I use a toy train transformer to check them. If the transformer has an AC output I use that but DC will work too. Bend a piece of wire, say from a coat hanger, into a U shape about the distance of the 2 side terminals. Hook one end of the transformer wire, (or the neg side of a battery if you're using that) to the bent wire. Hold or tape the pos. side to the bottom terminal on the coil then hold the top terminal on the short side of the coil to one end of the bent wire. If the coil buzzes move the lower terminal towards the free end of the bent wire. You should get a high voltage spark jumping from the bottom terminal to the bent wire. Hold the coil by it's wood box and you won't get zapped. The Coil Man and the Coil Doctor are 2 re-builders with good reputations but I do my own. Long story but it's not hard to do at all. You Tube has some video's on the subject if you're interested. DO NOT hot wire the coil box in the car. There's a slim chance that you'll wreck the magneto if you send voltage into it via the mag wire. It would be a shame to ruin a (possibly) good mag. that way. There's a lot more to check but getting the coils to work on the bench is a good place to start especially if they were loaded with junk. You might just have dirty or compromised point sets. Ask questions.
