No spark?
 

I rebuilt the engine (59A) in my tow truck. It ran pretty good before I pulled it but now, I have no spark. Points are new and set at 15 thou, cap and rotor are new as are the plugs. I had no spark using the condenser that was in it before so I replaced the condenser and still no spark. I had required the truck so, to eliminate any issues there, I ran a jumper wire from the coil to the negative on the battery, no spark. Battery is fully charged and it turns over very well. I'm out of ideas. What am I missing??.

Re: No spark?
 

Did you get slot in cam engaged into dist when installing,remove one side of dist,and crank engine,look to see if rotor is turning!!

Re: No spark?
 

Is your system positive ground? If so you need to connect the distributor to the positive terminal on the battery.

Re: No spark?
 

Yes it's in the slot.

Re: No spark?
 

Yes it's positive ground. Are you saying that I have one wire from the distributor/condenser to one side of the coil and ground the other side of the coil?.

Re: No spark?
 

which distributor are you using? where is the coil mounted?

Re: No spark?
 

Crab dizzy, coil mounted up by the oil filter.

Re: No spark?
 

It is - to the battery & + to the points, but polarity should not cause a no spark condition. Are you getting power to the coil? Is it the correct voltage for the coil you are using?

Re: No spark?
 

I'm running a wire directly from the coil to the battery and the coil is the same one that came with the truck and it ran before.

Re: No spark?
 

Dizzy grounds to the engine. Try a frame or body to engine ground strap. For starters.


If you leave straight power to a coil it will burn out.

Re: No spark?
 

NO


http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ings_links.htm


http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...electrical.htm


The plus/minus on coils are for polarity. Both will make spark, but one produces better spark.


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Re: No spark?
 

6v/12v postive or neg earth dosent mater heres some quick checks you need a multi meter so check for power at coil in check for power at coil to dizzy then if ok there connect multi meter to dizzy in and earth and rotate slowly ohms reading should go from 0 ohms [pionts closed] to infinate [pionts open] and should repeat cycle as you rotate so if ok check for coil circut ohms readings [ check coil specs they vary] not much else goes wrong then all you need to do is make sure coil suits the voltage and setup [with or without ballast resistor and is poled [installed ] to suit +or- earth [simple check if its running remove a plug lead and place an ordinary lead pencil in the arc if it flares towards the plug polarity is correct ps use gloves it bites ]

Re: No spark?
 

just re read your post if the engine was in storage check inside the cap' dust moisture and crap can accumulate and cause the spark to track to earth inside the cap once this happens a carbon track is laid down and all your spark goes straight to ground no fix other than replace the cap and rotor [been caught before]

Re: No spark?
 

If you haven't a Multy meter as A Merc says, Hold the jumper wire to the body of a bulb (at the coil end ) with the central contact to ground it should light up, if not double check that during the work the battery cables have not been switched at the starter solenoid and ground ,making it a Neg earth ,You could temporary attaché the jumper to x that could get you a spark ,if so if may indicate a fault in the Ing switch ect ..

Re: No spark?
 

Start by shorting the distributor side of the coil to ground a few quick times...if you get spark from coil it´s most likely points having oxide on them...run a file through points.

Re: No spark?
 

That's going to depend on the coil, not all coils require a ballast resistor voltage wise, but very good advice if you are keeping power on the coil when it is not running!!!!

Re: No spark?
 

I have good, large ground straps from the engine to the frame and the engine to the body but will check their contacts to be sure.

Yes. I do not leave it connected. In fact, the wire is connected to the coil and we just put it on the battery while cranking and leave it off the battery when not running cranking tests.

Re: No spark?
 

Cap, rotor, points, condenser and plugs are all new.

Re: No spark?
 

I agree with post #14 & #15, need to sort out where the issue starts. Before the coil, after the coil, input to distributor, etc. That will tell you what the most likely problem is.

Re: No spark?
 

There is no solenoid for the starter. It's direct power form the battery (-), through a starter switch on the floor to the starter. Battery + to frame. I am using a jumper wire from the coil direct to the battery to eliminate any possible ignition switch/wiring issues.