The Ford Barn

Tom Cavallaro · 08-29-2013, 02:48 PM

I read and the info says with the key on there should not be six volts on the right side of the coil. I have the key on and have six on the right but only one volt on the left, but no voltage on the point arm. With the key off I have six volts on both sides of the coil and still nothing on the arm. What is it I am not understanding.

Patrick L. · 08-29-2013, 03:01 PM

Are you checking this with the points open or closed ? 6v points open, zero points closed.
Your voltage is correct with key off. Coil should have battery voltage to both leads. Ford was screwy with the wiring back then. It didn't hurt anything, just confusing to those used to more modern stuff. The key switch is the key, so to speak. Key on, voltage should be fed thru distributor lead to points. Points open [ not grounded] voltage should be battery. Points closed [grounded] no voltage. That is if points contacts is/are clean.
Don't know if this helps or not. If so, good. If not, ask and we'll figure something out to explain it 'more better'.

Mike V. Florida · 08-29-2013, 03:54 PM

The points are closed.

Tom Cavallaro · 08-29-2013, 04:18 PM

points open. key off. 6 volts to both sides of the coil.
Points open. key on. 6 volts to the coil on the right side, 1 volt on the left side.
I don't expect to find voltage at the points with key on with the points closed.

Patrick L. · 08-29-2013, 04:43 PM

Try unscrewing the distributor lead a turn or 2. It may be grounding itself in the distributor. Or just remove it and check for voltage or lack of it with key off. That lead could also be bad and internally grounded. Check for continuity between housing/casing and lead end, wiggle it around just to make sure. If that lead proves to be good and not screwed in too far, then it appears you have a grounding problem internally in the distributor which could be a couple things. Upper/lower plate, points, etc.

Tom Cavallaro · 08-29-2013, 06:28 PM

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There is no continuity between the points and ground with the points open, with the key on or off, and positive battery post lifted. That is why I thought the pop out switch might be bad, except that the voltage drop to 1 volt on the one side of the coil is confusing me. The distributor was the first thing I thought of. I've tried 3 different condensers and no change either.

Tom Wesenberg · 08-29-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Cavallaro

There is no continuity between the points and ground with the points open, with the key on or off, and positive battery post lifted. That is why I thought the pop out switch might be bad, except that the voltage drop to 1 volt on the one side of the coil is confusing me. The distributor was the first thing I thought of. I've tried 3 different condensers and no change either.

The 1 volt with the points closed is due to line loss between the points and coil. The coil drops most of the voltage, but the wires betweent the points and coil are also dropping one volt. If the points have high resistence that can also add to the line loss. I'd say you are good to go.

Tom Cavallaro · 08-29-2013, 07:56 PM

tom, the car cranks fine, but no spark at the points??? I'm at a loss with a simple system...LOL

Tom Wesenberg · 08-29-2013, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Cavallaro

tom, the car cranks fine, but no spark at the points??? I'm at a loss with a simple system...LOL

You really don't want spark at the points, though there is a very small spark often during operation. The condenser job is to soak up the voltage to eliminate the spark at the points.

If you turn the key on with the points open, then short the points contacts with a screwdriver, do you get a good blue spark at least 1/4" from the coil wire?

If you have an original popout switch wire, the insulation may be dry and broken, allowing the wire to touch ground inside the cable.

Tom Cavallaro · 08-29-2013, 09:46 PM

I don't have continuity between ground at the wire or the cable, checking with an ohm meter.

1931 flamingo · 08-30-2013, 05:01 PM

TTT
Paul in CT

Tom Cavallaro · 08-31-2013, 07:30 PM

I'm sorry but I'm at a loss as to what TTT means...LOL

Tom Wesenberg · 08-31-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Cavallaro

I'm sorry but I'm at a loss as to what TTT means...LOL

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08-29-2013, 02:48 PM	#1
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	what am I missing I read and the info says with the key on there should not be six volts on the right side of the coil. I have the key on and have six on the right but only one volt on the left, but no voltage on the point arm. With the key off I have six volts on both sides of the coil and still nothing on the arm. What is it I am not understanding. __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

08-29-2013, 03:01 PM	#2
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: what am I missing Are you checking this with the points open or closed ? 6v points open, zero points closed. Your voltage is correct with key off. Coil should have battery voltage to both leads. Ford was screwy with the wiring back then. It didn't hurt anything, just confusing to those used to more modern stuff. The key switch is the key, so to speak. Key on, voltage should be fed thru distributor lead to points. Points open [ not grounded] voltage should be battery. Points closed [grounded] no voltage. That is if points contacts is/are clean. Don't know if this helps or not. If so, good. If not, ask and we'll figure something out to explain it 'more better'. Last edited by Patrick L.; 08-29-2013 at 03:15 PM. Reason: continuation

08-29-2013, 03:54 PM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida between Sarasota and TampaSouth Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: what am I missing The points are closed. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-29-2013, 04:18 PM	#4
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Re: what am I missing points open. key off. 6 volts to both sides of the coil. Points open. key on. 6 volts to the coil on the right side, 1 volt on the left side. I don't expect to find voltage at the points with key on with the points closed. __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

08-29-2013, 04:43 PM	#5
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: what am I missing Try unscrewing the distributor lead a turn or 2. It may be grounding itself in the distributor. Or just remove it and check for voltage or lack of it with key off. That lead could also be bad and internally grounded. Check for continuity between housing/casing and lead end, wiggle it around just to make sure. If that lead proves to be good and not screwed in too far, then it appears you have a grounding problem internally in the distributor which could be a couple things. Upper/lower plate, points, etc.

08-29-2013, 06:28 PM	#6
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Re: what am I missing Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There is no continuity between the points and ground with the points open, with the key on or off, and positive battery post lifted. That is why I thought the pop out switch might be bad, except that the voltage drop to 1 volt on the one side of the coil is confusing me. The distributor was the first thing I thought of. I've tried 3 different condensers and no change either. __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

08-29-2013, 07:56 PM	#8
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Re: what am I missing tom, the car cranks fine, but no spark at the points??? I'm at a loss with a simple system...LOL __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

08-29-2013, 09:46 PM	#10
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Re: what am I missing I don't have continuity between ground at the wire or the cable, checking with an ohm meter. __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

08-30-2013, 05:01 PM	#11
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: what am I missing TTT Paul in CT

08-31-2013, 07:30 PM	#12
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Re: what am I missing I'm sorry but I'm at a loss as to what TTT means...LOL __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.