The Ford Barn

J Franklin · 08-08-2021, 02:32 PM

Any thing new or old can fail at any time.

philcobill · 08-08-2021, 02:55 PM

True enough. What is the normal life expectancy of these condensers? I had it on my car for just a few weeks, and it looks like it was "bad" from the first time I installed it.

nkaminar · 08-08-2021, 03:52 PM

Phil, Glad you may have fixed the problem. Many people, including me, have said to replace the condensor or go to a known good distributor.

Yes, many new condensors are bad. There is a way to test them with an ohm meter. The condensor will charge up so it will low resistance when first connected to an ohm meter and then very high (infinate) resistance once charged. Reversing the leads will repeat the reading. Some ohm meters have a setting for measuring the capacitance of the condensor. If the condensor is bad the car may start up but not run well above an idle. A better spark is needed when the throttle is open than when it is shut for idling. If the condensor is really bad the car will not start. The condensor can be bad by being open (won't show being charged up when first connected to the ohm meter) or they can be shorted or just low capacitance.

The modern condensors used on later V8 cars are better quality than the reproduction ones for original systems, but there is still no guarantee that they will be good out of the box.

jg61hawk · 08-08-2021, 07:14 PM

Go drive it! I still say send one carb to Bullock and install that....I'm glad you're doing better....Great forum here...try to get to Morgantown in 2022!!!

jg61hawk · 08-08-2021, 07:16 PM

I still want to know why nkaminar's car grows red hair...that could clog the venturi in the carb. I'm sure Les Andrews addressed this problem.

Greg Jones · 08-09-2021, 02:00 PM

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Where did you get the condenser from? Was it one of the "burn-proof" ones sold by Snyders, Berts, Brattons, et al? I think they are made by A+L which makes top notch stuff if they are the burn-proof ones. Interestingly, a few cars in my area have had electrical problems which turned out to be bad condensers, and they had just bought them new (not sure where they bought them). Supposedly the burn-proof type, so not sure what is going on. I never had any problem with them myself.

philcobill · 08-10-2021, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Jones

Where did you get the condenser from? Was it one of the "burn-proof" ones sold by Snyders, Berts, Brattons, et al? I think they are made by A+L which makes top notch stuff if they are the burn-proof ones. Interestingly, a few cars in my area have had electrical problems which turned out to be bad condensers, and they had just bought them new (not sure where they bought them). Supposedly the burn-proof type, so not sure what is going on. I never had any problem with them myself.

Not sure where I bought them. But yes, why would something that is supposed to be brand new fail so quickly. Is there someone of helping the manufacturers be accountable.

Bill

nkaminar · 08-10-2021, 08:00 AM

Back in the 60's I drove a stock Model A coupe all over California. I never had any problem with the points or condensor. I would adjust the points as part of regular maintenance but never had to replace them. They were original Ford parts. I don't know if they were put on the the car in 1930, but could have been. If someone replaced them along the way they put original Ford parts in.

The modern reproduction parts are just not as good as the ones that Ford made originally, in my opinion.

Benson · 08-10-2021, 08:58 AM

deleted

08-08-2021, 02:32 PM	#21
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? Any thing new or old can fail at any time.

08-08-2021, 02:55 PM	#22
philcobill Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Walworth, New York Posts: 138	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? True enough. What is the normal life expectancy of these condensers? I had it on my car for just a few weeks, and it looks like it was "bad" from the first time I installed it.

08-08-2021, 03:52 PM	#23
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? Phil, Glad you may have fixed the problem. Many people, including me, have said to replace the condensor or go to a known good distributor. Yes, many new condensors are bad. There is a way to test them with an ohm meter. The condensor will charge up so it will low resistance when first connected to an ohm meter and then very high (infinate) resistance once charged. Reversing the leads will repeat the reading. Some ohm meters have a setting for measuring the capacitance of the condensor. If the condensor is bad the car may start up but not run well above an idle. A better spark is needed when the throttle is open than when it is shut for idling. If the condensor is really bad the car will not start. The condensor can be bad by being open (won't show being charged up when first connected to the ohm meter) or they can be shorted or just low capacitance. The modern condensors used on later V8 cars are better quality than the reproduction ones for original systems, but there is still no guarantee that they will be good out of the box. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 08-08-2021 at 03:57 PM.

08-08-2021, 07:14 PM	#24
jg61hawk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 407	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? Go drive it! I still say send one carb to Bullock and install that....I'm glad you're doing better....Great forum here...try to get to Morgantown in 2022!!!

08-08-2021, 07:16 PM	#25
jg61hawk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 407	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? I still want to know why nkaminar's car grows red hair...that could clog the venturi in the carb. I'm sure Les Andrews addressed this problem.

08-09-2021, 02:00 PM	#26
Greg Jones Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 695	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Where did you get the condenser from? Was it one of the "burn-proof" ones sold by Snyders, Berts, Brattons, et al? I think they are made by A+L which makes top notch stuff if they are the burn-proof ones. Interestingly, a few cars in my area have had electrical problems which turned out to be bad condensers, and they had just bought them new (not sure where they bought them). Supposedly the burn-proof type, so not sure what is going on. I never had any problem with them myself.

08-10-2021, 08:00 AM	#28
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? Back in the 60's I drove a stock Model A coupe all over California. I never had any problem with the points or condensor. I would adjust the points as part of regular maintenance but never had to replace them. They were original Ford parts. I don't know if they were put on the the car in 1930, but could have been. If someone replaced them along the way they put original Ford parts in. The modern reproduction parts are just not as good as the ones that Ford made originally, in my opinion. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

08-10-2021, 08:58 AM	#29
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,597	Re: Engine sputtering - where to go from here? deleted Last edited by Benson; 08-10-2021 at 04:30 PM.