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Old 05-18-2015, 02:06 PM   #1
rottenron36
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Default crab distributor, no spark

Hey Guys, I need your help again. I set up my crab distributor by setting the points at .0015, and set the advance in the middle to start my 59ab after a rebuilt. I started it and ran it for about 40 minutes. I took the crab to a local shop that set up distributors, it was tested,spun up and set. I brought it home and now I have no spark. I have a new condenser,coil, and points. I tried another condenser and coil with no results. I looked the distributor over and it looks right. I called the shop owner and he told me to try another condenser. I have one ordered, and will be here later today. If anyone can help me with the next move, or what I did wrong, Please let me know. Thanks Ron
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Old 05-18-2015, 02:17 PM   #2
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

They did put the rotor back in, I hope.
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Old 05-18-2015, 03:41 PM   #3
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

Put all the old stuff back in .?Ted
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Old 05-18-2015, 03:54 PM   #4
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

Happened to a buddy of mine a couple of weeks ago. He found that he had a bad rotor, and the spark was jumping through the rotor and grounding into the shaft.
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Old 05-18-2015, 04:04 PM   #5
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

check first current to the dist connection from the coil. If that is good, pull the dist, connect the wire back up with the dist body grounded and see if the points are getting current. Lots of times the connecting piect that your wire hooks too (and has a spring loaded plunger that contacts the points) is bad and will not pass current to the points. I have started removing them and running a wire thru the hole to the points like a modern dist plugging the hole with silicone. This way I know there is power to the points as required. If all that checks out than consider the cond. etc.
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Old 05-18-2015, 05:03 PM   #6
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

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Simple test .replace the coil with a bulb ,distributor grounded ,turn it and the bulb should go off/ on ,This will tell you if the low tension circuit / points are ,is working ,Ted
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Old 05-18-2015, 05:17 PM   #7
JM 35 Sedan
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

Did the shop replace any components before they "tested, spun up and set"? New components are not always good components. Also, shop technicians can sometimes make mistakes.
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Old 05-18-2015, 07:45 PM   #8
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

I would assume the distributor shop knows to set each contact different on a dwell meter..???
If all else fails send it to me for a test and tune session.......
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Old 06-02-2015, 03:57 PM   #9
rottenron36
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

Thanks again for all your help. One set of points were not insulated where they screw in to the power. Easy fix once it was figured out. Thanks Ron
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Old 06-02-2015, 04:17 PM   #10
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

I have mentioned that fault several times here. We found four of six sets of points shorted due to incorrectly installed insulators. All came from the same vendor. Al the point sets and springs were of poor quality. If you plan to keep the points, always check the connector with an ohmmeter to be sure it isn't grounded.
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Old 06-03-2015, 07:44 AM   #11
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

Quote:
Originally Posted by rottenron36 View Post
Thanks again for all your help. One set of points were not insulated where they screw in to the power. Easy fix once it was figured out. Thanks Ron
I doubt if your distributor was set up on a distributor machine. If it was the ground would have been detected, it wouldn't work on the machine either. G.M.
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Old 06-03-2015, 04:02 PM   #12
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

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Originally Posted by G.M. View Post
I doubt if your distributor was set up on a distributor machine. If it was the ground would have been detected, it wouldn't work on the machine either. G.M.
What he just said!
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Old 06-04-2015, 07:29 AM   #13
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Default Re: crab distributor, no spark

Another what he said, how did they possibly set it correct if one contact set was grounded?
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