46 v8 dist wiring

[middleole]

i have a 46 Ford that i can't get any spark to plugs. With neither wire to coil, and I touch dist wire to coil terminal I get a spark at terminal. why is this happening and is it correct? No other wires on coil or dist are installed.

[51woodie]

Welcome to the Barn. The information on page two in particular, may be helpful, and I'm sure other members will add suggestions.

[drolston]

Originally Posted by middleole

i have a 46 Ford that i can't get any spark to plugs. With neither wire to coil, and I touch dist wire to coil terminal I get a spark at terminal. why is this happening and is it correct? No other wires on coil or dist are installed.

That is not correct; so good question. With neither wire connected to the coil, where is the voltage coming from to create a spark? Certainly not from the distributor unless there was a charge on the capacitor. Did it spark just once, or the sparking would repeat? Are you still 6 volts positive ground? Was the ignition switch on or off when you did that?

[Terry,OH]

Coils can store energy. Putting the distributor wire back to its position on the coil can ground the coil causing a discharge seen as a spark. With the distributor points closed the wire will have a ground path. Sounds correct to me.

[JayChicago]

Coils can store energy? I didn't know that. I'm skeptical.

[tubman]

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Originally Posted by JayChicago

Coils can store energy? I didn't know that. I'm skeptical.

Maybe if it had a real good condenser installed.

[drolston]

Originally Posted by JayChicago

Coils can store energy? I didn't know that. I'm skeptical.

My mistake. Condenser stores energy, not the coil.

[JayChicago]

Not your mistake, drolston. Someone else said "coils can store energy". You suggested discharge from the capacitor (AKA condenser), which does seem like a possibility to me.