Author Topic: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!  (Read 8366 times)

blairwag

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HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« on: December 29, 2003, 21:33:03 »
Hey Folks,
I've been gone for a while - driving and enjoying my SL. But now that winter's here, I'm back to my endeavor of replacing my existing ignition system with a true electronic ignition system. BUT, I've got some obstacles that I'm SURE many of you can help me out with.

My 1971 280SL has got a chopped up ignition system. According to my Dad (previous owner), the transistorized ignition module fried back in the early 1990's. The stellar mechanics a Brother-to-Brother Foreign car repair transformed the system to a more conventional Kettering ignition system where the full current and voltage passthrough the breaker points.

Now, I don't know what is what, which way is up, and where to go. I've read so many posts here, and other literature, the only thing I know is that there seems to be no definitive answer to my questions.

So, here's my plan:
1) Install the Crane XR-700 with the aid of John Hassel's doc.
2) Replace the existing ignition coil with the "correct" coil.
3) Replace the existing ballast resistor with the "correct" resistor.
4) Replace the ignition / spark plug wires with best repalcements.

I'm hoping someone out there, has a close year/model 280SL, with the XR-700 successfully installed and running (Cees, you there) can answer these questions for me, and take the speculation out of the picture:

QUESTIONS:
1) what *EXACTLY* model / part# Bosch coil are you using?
2) what *EXACTLY* impedance, manufacturer, and part# ballast resistor are you using?
3) what MB part# is your distributor?
4) do I have the correct distributor for my car?
5) what *EXACTLY* did you use for replacement ignition wires?
6) If I go with the "red coil", which is the correct ballast resistance for use with the XR-700: 0.6 ohms or 1.8 ohms (or other)????

Here's my current situation, incase any of you are interested:

The distributor is MB part# 0231 185 010.  Is that ok?

The ignition coil is a Bosch coil, but it's black. It's not red, not blue, not silver. It has a rust-orange top with the markings: "Bosch Germany IMPORTEDALLEMAGNE". I can't find any other markings like a model or part #. There is only 1 wire going to the (-) terminal. There is only 1 wire going to the (+) terminal. I have an unconnected green wire, comming up through a gromet below, along with the positive battery cable, with a round loop end, sitting right next to the coil. I suspect this wire is connected to the speed relay that is part of the emission control system, but am not sure.

The ballast resistance is in the form of a single ceramic resistor made by Beru. It bears the marking of "WZ09-02" on the resistor body, and the number 60 on it's mounting braket. I have no idea what it's impedance is. There is NOT 2 resistors like one would expect with a transistorized system.

Oddly enough, the car starts and runs pretty darn well. I want to install the electronic ignition because I want to eliminate this professionally hacked up ignition system. I'd like the consistency of the electronic system, and I'd like to eliminate the maintenance of the mechanical points.


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ja17

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2003, 00:35:37 »
Hello William,
It sounds like who ever switched things over used the correct coil and ballast resistor supplied on the earlier non-transistorized W113 cars. The blck coil with brownish top is that vintage. There should be a Bosch part number stamped on the bottom #0221 102 036.
The distributor number is a Bosch number and it  does not ring a bell for me. First check and see if the vacuume unit on the distributor points in a clockwise direction. If the distributor is from a carbureted car it will point off in a counterclockwise direction. I can supply more information or photos next time.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

blairwag

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2003, 07:51:36 »
Hi Joe,
Yea, a picture might help a lot. I'm not sure what you mean by "vacuume unit on the distributor points in a clockwise direction". Do you mean the vacuum hose that plugs into the diaphram? The diaphram is mounted on the side of the distributor, facing the driver side front head lamp.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

jeffc280sl

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2003, 09:19:42 »
Hello William,

I have a 1970 US 280SL 4 speed with an 0231 185 010 distributor.  I have installed the Crane XR-700 ignition in my car and it seems to work fine.  Do you have John Hassell's installation instructions?  If so, refer to page 23, figure 2-10 and the note at the bottom of the page.  If not, I can send it to you.  I clearly describes using the .6 ohm ballast resistor and a green/black wire which connects the negative coil terminal to the emission speed relay.  I'm using the blue Bosch coil which I may replace at some point.  Right now I'm struggling with the speed relay and it's input or in my case lack of input to the two way valve.  Right now my timing is retarded 100% of the time.   For some reason the speed relay does not trigger the 2 way valve at 2400 rpms to provide atmosphere pressure to the distributor.

Let me know if you have any questions.  I'll see if I can help.

Jeff

Jeff Clute
1970 280SL 4-speed

blairwag

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2004, 14:17:57 »
I got a little information, from the folks at SLTech (http://www.sltech113.com). They are MOST helpful people! I thought I'd share it with you all - incase anyone else may (ever) benefit.

the Distributor you have is a correct replacement for the original,
the black Coil is correct for the earlier set up and should be run
with one 0.9 ohm Resistor (gold color collar as well as 0.9 stamped
into the collar) the coil can be used with the crane but it would be
better to use the original coil for the later set up, this coil used
to be blue in color and was to be used only with the Factory
installed transistorized Ignition system, the current replacement
coil from Bosch is silver in color and can be run with the same 0.9
ohm Resistor.

I'm not sure I'll continue to use the 0.9 ohm ballast resistor (if that's what I have). I think I'll end up going to a 0.6 ohm resister as suggested in John Hassel's tutorial. But just knowing what is what in my car is most settling. :-)


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hands_aus

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2004, 20:23:13 »
Hello,
I need some part numbers for my 0231 116 051 Distributor

BOSCH NUMBER for the POINTS
BOSCH NUMBER for the CONDENSER

your help greatfully accepted

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
early 250 SL, RHD
Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL #114, auto, ps , 717,717
best of the best

blairwag

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2004, 16:33:12 »
I have almost all the info I need. I'll post a complete parts list once finished. I still, however, need the Bosch part number for the "RED" ignition coil, so, when ordering parts, I can be assured I'm getting the "RED" coil and not the standard blue coil. I can't seem to get any help off the Bosch web site, nor any of the after market parts suppliers.
Anyone out there have p/n for either blue or red (or both ;-) coil?


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

J. Huber

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2004, 17:35:29 »
Hey.

My "red" coil has the numbers 0 221 119 030 KW 12V on it. Be aware that the coil is now actually silver but has red/orangish labels on it.

Also, be sure to upgrade your resistor to 1.8 ohms.





James
63 230SL
James
63 230SL

Naj ✝︎

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2004, 05:45:35 »
Blair/Bob

Bosch part #s
Red Coil         0 221 119 030
1.8ohm Ballast   0 227 901 014

051 dist points  1 237 013 027
051 condenser    1 237 330 067

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL
68 280SL

blairwag

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2004, 07:58:04 »
Now THATS what I'm talkin' about!  Thanx naj!
Anyone out there have part numbers (coil/ballast) for the standard "blue" coil? - just for reference for any others that may read this thread.

Anyone have any advise on ignition wires? Go with Bosch pre-made set? Go to the speed shop and make your own?  Resistance?

BTW, this group IS THE BEST!


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

J. Huber

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2004, 16:58:46 »
Hey. I use the Bosch wires.
7MM Opti-Layer Copper Core Ultra-Premium. They get the job done.

James
63 230SL
James
63 230SL

hands_aus

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Re: HELP: distributor, coil, ballast, oh my!
« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2004, 05:05:53 »
Hey Naj,

Thanks for the numbers just what I needed

cheers

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
early 250 SL, RHD
Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL #114, auto, ps , 717,717
best of the best