Homelite Wico/Prestolite Blue Ignition Coil

2/12/2016

Who knows how many of these infamous "blue" coils have been thrown away over the years. The Wico/Prestolite electronic ignition coil was famous for having spark one day and none the next. In many cases, these coils can be returned to operating condition by baking at a moderate temperature. I know it sounds weird, but 12-16 hours in a toaster oven at 200' can bring these coils back to life. My personal theory is that moisture can work it's way into the coil around the lamination legs and eventually condensate and short out the coil. Baking the coil will remove this moisture and usually return it to operational condition. The few sellers on Ebay that have a Super EZ/XL-1 coil for sale are asking in excess of $200, so it's worth trying to fix your old one! The same is true of the Super XL & XL-12; while those coils aren't priced quite as high, the aftermarket coil from Stens has been discontinued, so what's out there is what we all have to work with.

If you have any of these coils laying around, please contact me as I will buy them and attempt to restore them. I'd like to make my store source for these coils at a REASONABLE price!

52 Comments

Ronnie link

4/12/2016 04:06:39 pm

Thanks for the informative blog. So many parts can be saved if you take the time.

Tom

2/11/2020 05:32:21 pm

Tried this today and it worked for me. Incredible.

Okie

10/19/2021 10:28:28 am

I've replaced them Blue coils of death with a sub coil for less than $20.

Lots more long term reliable than baking a coil.
Baking a coil is most likely not a permanent fix.
Probably just drying some humidity out of the coil windings where it's been carbon arcing and problem most likely will return. I'm speaking from experience trying to use the bake and re-seal method on outboard motor magnetos.
When you can do a more permanent fix yourself for less than $20 why even bother backing or paying big bucks for a NLA magneto that has manufacturer issues.

I've been doing the less than $20 Blue coil of death replacement magneto replace mods for about 5 years.

Christopher

6/28/2022 06:10:46 am

So... Wondering if you will share what substitute coil you have located that is compatible for $20? I and I am sure others would like to give it a try.

Have a good one,
Christopher

okie

6/28/2022 10:38:46 am

The less than $20 coil that replaces the BLUE COIL OF DEATH reliably is a Anzac.

Go to the Homelite site and search for info.
Two threads with all the info necessary.

Rod campbell

9/17/2016 10:47:51 am

Putting heat to it work
Thank you

Leon Crouch

9/18/2016 03:38:47 pm

Glad to hear it worked...I hate to think how many "good" coils were pitched over the years!

taylor

10/12/2016 08:39:20 am

hey leon cool site man. I have one of these blue coils on an XL 76. built in quebec canada. ut # 50150. very hard to find information on also im looking for the fuel line and grommets and also a rebuild kit for the carb. so baking this coil will not damage the blue insulating plastic? thanks man. taylor

Jeff Tolbert link

5/21/2020 04:56:57 am

Worked great after 10 hours at 200 in the oven.
Fired right up good spark after doing this.
Thank you for sharing this information.

Jim thorpe

1/29/2017 10:17:16 am

Read the above and decided to try. After 14 hours reassembled, had a week spark but, under compression, not enough. Went another ten hours at 200 and reassembled. Took right off as its old self, put it to the test, no problems. Put hight heat silicone around wherecover had pulled loose over time. Used crockpot for heat, wife's thought. Thanks

Leon Crouch

1/29/2017 05:22:24 pm

Glad to hear that it worked for you Jim and thanks for the heat source tip!

Robert

2/12/2017 05:11:18 pm

So I disassemble the coil from the laminations"legs" and then put it in a toaster oven or crockpot for 12 hours?My super xl has this coil with the Wico/Prestolite flywheel.Is the Prestolite flywheel will only with this coil?I find it hard to believe that would be the case,unless the coil is polarized backward or something but it looks a lot like a weedeater flywheel setup.I just wanted to know before I cooked the coil if there was a direct bolt up replacement from a weedeater,blower or other saw.

Leon Crouch

2/12/2017 06:48:11 pm

You've got the baking process down! There were a couple of Pioneer saws that used this coil, but I'm not sure of the model numbers. This coil was only used on the Xl-12 & Super XL Homelite saws. You may be able to adapt another coil to fit the coil lamination assuming the rotation of the donor saw is the same. You'd need to stick with Wico/Prestolite also, as the Phelon parts do not play nice when mixed in.

Robert

2/14/2017 05:12:19 am

Ive yet to try it,still trying to track down a toaster oven and/or old crock pot.Wife will not dare let me put it in our kitchen oven.I repair flat screen tvs also.What you propose with heat sound aweful a lot like "reflowing"electronics.That temperature for that amount of time will get any solder liquid again.I hope this works for my saw.It has awesome compression.I think I have tracked down a junker with a points setup.Worst case I go to it,but going to try the stove treatment twice before installing.There is another troublesome coil in the lawn and garden industry for decades.That is the Tecumseh solid state ignitions on 1000's of engines.Also NLA and currently at 200.00 price range online.Going to try the heat process on it and see what happens.Anyways will keep you posted.

Leon Crouch

2/14/2017 11:35:37 am

Whether it is moisture removal or reflowing electronics, I like it when it works! Remember if you use the points coil, you'll either have use an aftermarket electronic ignition chip or swap the entire crankshaft out so you have a points lobe. Good luck!

Robert

3/7/2017 08:33:04 am

Put the coil in a crockpot on low for 14 hours.Reassembled it this morning and it worked.YES IT WORKED!!My SXL fired right up.NICE FAT SPARK!!!.Thank you Leon Crouch!!!!

mike scully

10/10/2017 01:34:55 pm

Looking for a coil core for a homelite wico/prestolite blue coil. Recently purchased a 69324 from leon it looks very similar but no cigar.Does anyone out there have one?

Leon Crouch

10/10/2017 04:25:43 pm

Mike Scully, the core was not not sold separately for these models. You'll have to find a "junker" to rob one from. You are welcome to return the one you purchased from me as long as it is still in new condition.

Rick link

10/11/2018 10:03:20 am

Hey I tried the crock pot trick and work Great fired up on first pull, Your a genius Dude!!! Thanks a ton.. was wondering how and what could I seal the lament's with to keep it from drawing moisture again??

Rickie chappell

10/20/2018 07:14:59 am

When I put this coil in the crockpot, does the spark plug attachment and wire have to be removed or can those go in crockpot also?

Martin Heglund link

9/17/2020 01:22:04 pm

I have one of these blue prestolite 340-5347 can I cook it in the Crock-Pot for 10 hours

John McCloskey

3/28/2019 02:49:50 pm

Thank you ! I had two super EZ’s in here for repair . One had a dead coil . Then read this ... 18hrs in a crockpot on low 180* ,and the saw has a brightblue spark .

George Peirce link

6/18/2019 09:22:14 am

Worked like a charm! Put the coil in my daughters crock pot, set it to low (185-200 degrees F), let it warm about 18 hrs., put it back in my Super XL Automatic and voila. One crank produced a strong spark. Put the spark plug in and one more crank it started right up. I guess 18 hrs in the warm crock pot dried it out and caused the electrical potting compound to reform. Perfect fix! Thank you Leon for posting such useful information that is available for all to see and share. Kudos!

john

7/24/2019 12:38:26 am

WhatI do with the super ez coils, is buy the sxl coil which is cheaper take a screwdriver and switch the metal laminites out they work just fine.

Mike Naas link

10/20/2019 01:37:08 pm

Great information I have a Pioneer Farmlite that has one of the blue Prestolite coils checked on off switch checked good My question is how much of the coil has to be dissembled and how to go about it. Referring to the metal laminate and spark plug and small wire beside it.

Bob Dunkin

12/10/2019 07:17:26 pm

anyone try this with homelite 360-750 coils. My local small engine mechanic said he has used heat guns on coils with some success before .

Eva HAMILTON

1/27/2020 04:09:24 pm

I have one I need repaired, will you rebuild it for me and if so how much??

R Butchart

4/8/2020 06:20:28 pm

Have a 1984 Homelite V1-130, this has been a great saw until the blue ignition coil gave up. Took your advice on heating it. I put the coil in a tin can (tomato can) and turned on my wife's old hair drier to heat it up and let it run for almost an hour. Later on installed the coil, pulled the starter cord and checked for spark, wow, nice bright spark on the spark plug. Installed the plug and after about 4 pulls the saw fired up. Let the saw run for a few minutes, shut it off, started it after about 10 minutes and it started on first pull like it use to.. And its still working after a couple days. Thanks for your advice on the ignition coil.

Jake

4/15/2020 08:13:21 pm

This worked for me! 1982 SXL. Thanks for the help!

Tony

4/22/2020 08:28:29 pm

Hi Leon, I have a XL12 I've owned since bought new in about '82. I had it running about six months ago (first time in more than 20 years!) and it ran fine but haven't run it since. Now, I'm getting no spark from it, so obviously won't run. We found about 5,000 ohms resistance through the coil, so has continuity, but resistance seems high, but don't know what it should be. Do you? I haven't tried baking this yet, but in case that fails, would you happen to have a replacement you can send to me in New Zealand?

Dennis W. Masek

5/29/2020 06:03:44 pm

I read the web sight about heating the blue coil for several hours, and there was two posts that asked about what to do about the plug wire and small wire. Are they left on the coil or removed during heating process, THANK YOU!!! I also enjoy and learn a lot from your videos.

John Souza link

7/23/2020 08:22:16 am

I'm in need of a intake Mangold for my XL925 my phone is 401 479 1523

John Souza link

7/30/2020 10:29:04 am

I was hoping you could help me out I would like to restore the two saws. I have thank you Leon

Ronald m Vorio

8/24/2020 02:42:58 pm

Looking for a ignition coil for older 70s big red homelite xl15 chainsaw can u help can not find any ut num on saw only num I can find is on coil fwm2513a saw is all original and not running thank you 203 305 4869 if no answer please leave message if u have one

Carlito Quebek

9/24/2020 06:28:07 pm

Thanks Leon, my coil is just jump in the oven at 200 Fahrenheit... wish is gonna work tomorrow

Carlito Quebek

9/25/2020 09:30:52 pm

That's work !!!! Thanks so much Leon

allan benton

10/22/2020 01:24:48 am

I have 2 pioneer chainsaws and a part saw that I tried a heat gun on the coil. I bought the last one a couple weeks ago for 50 bucks. It had,nt been run in many years and was in sad shape but clean on outside.After cleaning carb and changing dissolved fuel lines it still wouldn,t start. After heating the coil for an hour with heat gun holding it by the spark plug wire it started on 2nd pull with choke on.My wife will not let me use stove or crock pot. Will pick up used crock pot for future use.I also picked up a homelite 290 and classic 300 at a yard sale mainly for bars and chains but maybe they will be my winter projects.Thanks for good advice on heating coils.

william jones

11/26/2020 09:15:27 am

yes i used to restore early farm tractors from the twenties back in the sixties and seventies ..learned the trick from a really old man .. take the coil out of the magneto and put it in the oven at about 300 for 5 or 6 hours.. leave the door open a bit. it smokes up the kitchen.. but it works.! .. did about 200 of them over the years..

chris

12/13/2020 06:56:50 pm

Tried this on my Homelite super xl it was working great one day than the next morning no spark after some research I found Leon's post so I baked the coil in the oven at 185 degrees for 10 hours with the spark plug wire removed and it works great now it has so far held up to 3 weeks of use without any coil problems thank you

Peter link

1/7/2021 11:28:38 am

Great reading your bloog post

Peter link

1/11/2021 02:29:37 pm

Thhis was a lovely blog post

Sawyer link

3/10/2021 08:25:49 am

The EZ and super EZ core lamination for the Blue coil of death 94111 module is/was available as part number Homelite 68555.
I've installed a $15 Anzac 503901401 Module onto a EZ Blue coil A94111 coil core lamination and got a good run.
I've also heard that a Stihl #0000 400 1300 Module can also be used on the Homelite Wico/Prestolite.
Of course this mod requires using the electronic Wico/Prestolite flywheel that has the N pole entering the module 1st when going CCW. I've heard rumors that some Phelon flywheels (rotors) can be used if the magnets are of the proper polarity.
Note that the plug wire is made into these modules and will have to be cut due to being too long and needs to be installed so as to not melt due to heat.
Some posts about such are at the House of Homelite website.

Jim

6/3/2021 03:01:47 pm

Leon, looking for a replacement coil . Do you have one and how much . Prestolite 3405347. Tried cooking it and it worked very well for about ten minutes do not think cooking it again will work suffered some damage to the outside. Thank you for your help. Is there a part I could use instead

Luke

6/8/2021 10:58:54 am

Hi Leon.
I have an old green machine string trimmer mod # 3000SS with a HMC s-25-H engine. It is in real good condition. I need a ignition coil for it. Hope you can help me, or point me in the right direction.
Luke.

Jay-P

6/16/2021 06:39:15 am

I was not sure at first but the oven thing really worked! My homelite XL1 started like a charm!! Thanks Leon!!!!!

Wayne Christians

6/16/2021 10:35:44 am

Hello
I am the original owner of a Homelite XL1, built in Canada, I have owned it for over 50 yrs, ran perfect until a few days ago, no spark, tried the oven treatment but no go. The coil is a Presolite 3405347, do you know the updated part number? I live in British Columbia and it takes forever to get parts shipped here. Thanks for your help. Wayne C

Stephen

10/18/2021 05:07:22 am

Worked for me too! XL 76, 2hr at 200 deg F sufficed. Many thanks for this website!

JOHN FIFE

10/18/2021 05:54:45 pm

Do you have the a blue predtolite or whatever they replaced it with for a homelite super ez automatic?

Roger Snider

10/26/2021 04:42:07 pm

I’m in search for pretolite A94111 coil for Homelite Super EZ .Do you one your know where I can get one.

Jesse

1/1/2022 11:47:05 pm

I am looking for a presto light ignition coil for a Craftsman 3.7 horsepower chainsaw part number 3558j if you have one would you please let me know what it would run or if there's an alternative part number I can use thank you the model number on the chainsaw is 917-353-774

Ronnie Bush

3/18/2022 11:23:57 am

I have a SuperXL ut10045-C. Flywheel says Prestolite, & I need a coil for it.

Rich

6/28/2022 10:00:20 am

Miracles do happen, Crock-Pot coil trick worked like a charm! Put my 1982 super xl Auto away last fall after getting it going the first time in about 25 years. My father aquired the saw back in the early 80s, after everyone complained could ever seem to get it to idle right, so it got shoved off to the side for years. I was able to get it running pretty well last fall needed a few parts, cork gasket gas cap, air filter few odds and ends etc. So I had a few dollars wrapped up in it. Even Mcgyvered a rubber handle rap tightly out of bungee strap, made it really nice to grip, lesson the vibes. I was disappointed to say the least, had it stored in a heated garage, for no reason, I lost spark, and found out about troubles getting coils etc. So I grateful I found you all on this site, put a smile on my face when it fired up first pull after testing it and had big blue spark!! Thanks again Leon stay safe everybody!

Author

I'm Leon, the owner and sole proprietor of this business. I'm a Homelite collector and love to chat about old chainsaws. This blog is a place to do just that!

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