The Ford Barn

cjkohnast · 07-06-2017, 01:08 PM

The condensers made today are about 1/8 inch longer. At least the good ones made by A and L. are.This places the copper screw head very close to the distributor housing.If you use a longer screw and place a nut under the condenser between it and the housing it moves the condenser away from the housing. This gives you a nice gap between the copper screw head and the housing and also allows room to install the the little rubber button that they are now selling to plug the hole.

Tom Endy · 07-06-2017, 02:04 PM

The good quality condensers sold by the majority of the quality suppliers are slightly longer than those of yesteryear. I also encountered this problem early this year with a late 31 casting. These castings are visibly identified with having a bridge across where the snap arms are adjoined. The casting are also slightly more robust and can be found to have a protrusion on the inside of the casting where the condenser attaches to the lower plate.

The attached article was published in the Victoria Bustle publication of April 2017 and explains my encounter with this problem.

The original poster's idea of placing some type of spacer under the fiber washer seems to be a viable alternative and good idea.

Tom Endy

Big hammer · 07-06-2017, 07:52 PM

Thanks Tom for the article. You always have great information!

katy · 07-07-2017, 11:59 AM

Tom, what do you do w/all them rebuilt distributors? Sell them? Hoard them?

Jeff/Illinois · 07-07-2017, 09:53 PM

He 'distributes' them

SeaSlugs · 07-07-2017, 10:13 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

He 'distributes' them

dont quit your day job!

H. L. Chauvin · 07-07-2017, 10:36 PM

Tom is most likely the only Model A person we know who is knowledgeable enough to plant Model A distributors and raises new Model A distributors as a side line business.

Always great to hear from Tom.

RawhideKid · 07-07-2017, 10:47 PM

I bet he has a window box with them sprouting up from the mulch.

Jim/GA · 07-08-2017, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Endy

<snip>

The original poster's idea of placing some type of spacer under the fiber washer seems to be a viable alternative and good idea.

Tom Endy

I don't think that is where the OP suggested the spacer be placed. I think he placed it on the outside of the distributor, between the flat strap of the condenser and the distributor body. This moves the brass business end of the condenser back a bit from the hole where the copper screw installs.

Or I'm reading the OP wrong. Let me know.

.

cjkohnast · 07-08-2017, 06:17 AM

Jim You are correct

Tom Endy · 07-08-2017, 01:51 PM

That makes more sense now that I think about it.

Tom Endy

CB919ER · 08-01-2017, 01:31 PM

I don't have my repair manual yet (It's ordered should be here soon) but this question has been bugging me. Where is the condenser. I don't have the one that sits up with the points so I'm guessing it is hidden elsewhere.

Bill G · 08-01-2017, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CB919ER

I don't have my repair manual yet (It's ordered should be here soon) but this question has been bugging me. Where is the condenser. I don't have the one that sits up with the points so I'm guessing it is hidden elsewhere.

Your question indicates you have the older (original) style set-up for the points and condenser within the body of the distributor. The condenser is, in fact, kind of hidden in the body of the distributor and is kind of tricky to change in that there is a screw that you have to be careful not to lose in the process of changing things. I believe there are links to several topics that address the changing of it, and the Les Andrews book addresses it too. I am not where I have full access to articles, but there is a series of articles by Tom Endy and Tom Wesenberg that also address that. I notice he is on this forum and so I am sure you will get a lot of info. Also, if you do a search on this forum, you will find a wealth of information.

I got my car a couple months ago and I have been trying to be a sponge trying to absorb a lot of information about A's. I have been more than familiar with a 64-1/2 Mustang that I owned for 25 years that I bought from my dad many years ago. Frankly, I am amazed at how similar the basic components are between the two vehicles, notwithstanding many years of changes in those years.

That being said, use the search function and go to the club websites. Lots of stuff out there.

CB919ER · 08-01-2017, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magicbox51

Also, if you do a search on this forum, you will find a wealth of information.

That being said, use the search function and go to the club websites. Lots of stuff out there.

I've been trying to absorb as much as possible and the guys here have been great at putting up with my newb-ness.

The Search feature is how I found this thread. I'll have my repair manual soon and all will be well!

1955cj5 · 08-01-2017, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CB919ER

I don't have my repair manual yet (It's ordered should be here soon) but this question has been bugging me. Where is the condenser. I don't have the one that sits up with the points so I'm guessing it is hidden elsewhere.

There are some pictures in this article....may help..

http://modelabasics.com/Ignition.htm

Bill G · 08-01-2017, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CB919ER

.....I'll have my repair manual soon and all will be well!

Maybe that will just be the beginning....

Tom Wesenberg · 08-01-2017, 04:30 PM

Changing the condenser is very quick and easy of you follow these steps exactly.

Lay the new condenser by the distributor.
Remove the ground screw first, then go to the other side and unscrew the hidden screw.
Keep light pressure on the hidden screw as you slip out the old condenser and slip in the new.
Tighten the hidden screw, then walk to the other side and tighten the ground screw.

RawhideKid · 08-01-2017, 05:13 PM

I am sitting here reading all this and wondering if I am the only one that owns one or three of these? If I am, shame on the rest of you since the Model A is built with a LOT of slot top screws!

jax55 · 08-01-2017, 05:46 PM

I have for both flat and phillips,,,they come in very handy in situations like these.
I forget where I got mine, it was about 50 years ago ;-))

Bill G · 08-01-2017, 05:58 PM

I have one of those tools too. I use it all the time, and I did use it for changing my condenser after reading Tom W's instructions somewhere about two weeks ago.

There is another kind that I used to have that I really miss. Unfortunately this style has such a spring load to it, sometimes the screws go flying if it accidentally slips off its detent. The other type I have seen, but cannot find anywhere was kind of a clam-shell tip (best way for me to describe it). I used them in the military back in the '70's and I used to have one, but they seem to be made of unobtanium.

07-06-2017, 01:08 PM	#1
cjkohnast Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 357	Condensers The condensers made today are about 1/8 inch longer. At least the good ones made by A and L. are.This places the copper screw head very close to the distributor housing.If you use a longer screw and place a nut under the condenser between it and the housing it moves the condenser away from the housing. This gives you a nice gap between the copper screw head and the housing and also allows room to install the the little rubber button that they are now selling to plug the hole.

07-06-2017, 07:52 PM	#3
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,129	Re: Condensers Thanks Tom for the article. You always have great information! __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

07-07-2017, 11:59 AM	#4
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,043	Re: Condensers Tom, what do you do w/all them rebuilt distributors? Sell them? Hoard them? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

07-07-2017, 09:53 PM	#5
Jeff/Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,789	Re: Condensers He 'distributes' them

07-07-2017, 10:36 PM	#7
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Condensers Tom is most likely the only Model A person we know who is knowledgeable enough to plant Model A distributors and raises new Model A distributors as a side line business. Always great to hear from Tom.

07-07-2017, 10:47 PM	#8
RawhideKid BANNED Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Lower Left Coast Posts: 469	Re: Condensers I bet he has a window box with them sprouting up from the mulch. __________________ Before Walmart you had to buy a ticket to the fair to see a bearded lady!

07-08-2017, 06:17 AM	#10
cjkohnast Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 357	Re: Condensers Jim You are correct

07-08-2017, 01:51 PM	#11
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Condensers That makes more sense now that I think about it. Tom Endy

08-01-2017, 01:31 PM	#12
CB919ER Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 114	Re: Condensers I don't have my repair manual yet (It's ordered should be here soon) but this question has been bugging me. Where is the condenser. I don't have the one that sits up with the points so I'm guessing it is hidden elsewhere.

08-01-2017, 04:30 PM	#17
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Condensers Changing the condenser is very quick and easy of you follow these steps exactly. Lay the new condenser by the distributor. Remove the ground screw first, then go to the other side and unscrew the hidden screw. Keep light pressure on the hidden screw as you slip out the old condenser and slip in the new. Tighten the hidden screw, then walk to the other side and tighten the ground screw.

08-01-2017, 05:46 PM	#19
jax55 Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Santa Barbara, Ca Posts: 329	Re: Condensers I have for both flat and phillips,,,they come in very handy in situations like these. I forget where I got mine, it was about 50 years ago ;-))

08-01-2017, 05:58 PM	#20
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: Condensers I have one of those tools too. I use it all the time, and I did use it for changing my condenser after reading Tom W's instructions somewhere about two weeks ago. There is another kind that I used to have that I really miss. Unfortunately this style has such a spring load to it, sometimes the screws go flying if it accidentally slips off its detent. The other type I have seen, but cannot find anywhere was kind of a clam-shell tip (best way for me to describe it). I used them in the military back in the '70's and I used to have one, but they seem to be made of unobtanium.