The Ford Barn

Relvis P. Johnson · 05-31-2014, 05:56 PM

When the points are closed, the top plate becomes charged and the fuse by the starter blows. With the plate out of the distributor body, it lights up the test light. When I put the plate back into the body it shorts out and blows the fuse when I turn the key on. Can anyone tell me why?

Gunmetal blue2 · 05-31-2014, 06:02 PM

you have a distributor that is hot and when you put it in the engine and turn the key on it shorts out blowing your fuse. Did you have the condenser go bad and its shorting out.

Relvis P. Johnson · 05-31-2014, 06:08 PM

Thanks.

I have the original condensor in now. Could I put in the one I have in my nu-rex distributor, which is sitting on the shelf?

Bob C · 05-31-2014, 06:15 PM

Wow This is the fifth thread you have started on the same problem and it
makes it really hard to follow and help you. You need to let use know how
the ignition switch is wired because if it is still wired like it was for the Nu-rex
it will blow the fuse when wired to the stock distributor.

Bob

Relvis P. Johnson · 05-31-2014, 06:30 PM

Is it the fifth? It seems like more. I'm new to this forum stuff, I'll get the hang of it eventually.

If I could locate my nu-rex documentation, it would make it less difficult for sure. I just want to go back to stock.

12 volt, positive ground, key to + side of coil, connected to the distributor at the other end. The yellow w/ black on the street side of junction box. The solid Yellow wire is on curbside, connected to black wire on - side of coil.

Still, I blow fuses...

MAG · 05-31-2014, 06:32 PM

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Need more info...
Is a complete NuRex ignition system installed? Yes or No?
Is a complete original Model A ignition system installed? Yes or No?

Relvis P. Johnson · 05-31-2014, 06:54 PM

The Nu-rex is on the shelf.

The stock distributor is in and wired...

MAG · 05-31-2014, 07:22 PM

A short in any element; switch, wire, condenser, points, upper plate, lower plate, whatever, on the + side of the coil will only turn the coil ON. It will not blow the fuse unless the fuse is under-rated.
Try another coil.

Relvis P. Johnson · 05-31-2014, 07:25 PM

The coil is the one used with the nu-rex...

MAG · 05-31-2014, 07:32 PM

With a good ohm meter, preferably a swing (analog), check the resistance between the - terminal and the + terminal. Should be around 2 or 3 ohms. If full meter deflection the coil is shorted.

Tom Wesenberg · 05-31-2014, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mag

a short in any element; switch, wire, condenser, points, upper plate, lower plate, whatever, on the + side of the coil will only turn the coil on. It will not blow the fuse unless the fuse is under-rated.
Try another coil.

Bingo

BILL WILLIAMSON · 05-31-2014, 09:19 PM

PLEASE, get someone who KNOWS Model A's, to help you wire all systems to stock & it will work.
We can't help you much, in your confusion, when we can't see & touch & test stuff to find/correct the problems.
Off hand I think something is screwed up from whatever NU-Rex stuff you had wired up in the car.
STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, the original wiring diagram & hook up stuff accordingly! Excluding the lighting system, Model A wiring is about as simple as it gets. About the ONLY odd thing is that the ignition switch turns the current off/on, between the coil & the distributor, unlike most other cars.
Sorry if I tipe "stern", I gotta' go pee!----Bill W.

Purdy Swoft · 05-31-2014, 09:42 PM

I run a three ohm epoxy filled coil on my 12 volt positive ground model A. I run the original distributor with original style points. I also run the original style color coded wiring harnesses connected as original. The three ohm coil needs no external resister.

There could be a short against the distributor housing where the wire from the lower plate connects to the points. The terminal end needs to be bent and installed in a way that it can't contact the distributor housing. There could be a short between the lower plate and the housing, caused from tightening the ignition cable too tight. Maybe falty rivets on the lower plate.

Check out the wiring diagram on page 94 of Brattons catalog . This is the best and easiest to follow wiring diagram for the model A that I have seen. This is exactly how mine is wired.

Relvis P. Johnson · 05-31-2014, 10:44 PM

Thanks Bill & Purdy.

I'll follow the Bratton's diagram, it's simple and everything's clearly marked.

Thanks so much to everyone, I really appriciate your time & experience...

Mike V. Florida · 05-31-2014, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Bingo

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

PLEASE, get someone who KNOWS Model A's, to help you wire all systems to stock & it will work.
We can't help you much, in your confusion, when we can't see & touch & test stuff to find/correct the problems.
Off hand I think something is screwed up from whatever NU-Rex stuff you had wired up in the car.
STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, the original wiring diagram & hook up stuff accordingly! Excluding the lighting system, Model A wiring is about as simple as it gets. About the ONLY odd thing is that the ignition switch turns the current off/on, between the coil & the distributor, unlike most other cars.
Sorry if I tipe "stern", I gotta' go pee!----Bill W.

The wiring diagrams are on the other threads you have started for the same problem.

Mike V. Florida · 05-31-2014, 11:53 PM

He solved the problem,

Problem Solved!

If the wires are hooked up wrong, one can't expect it to work right.

The Bratton's Schematic did the trick.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Purdy Swoft · 06-01-2014, 11:28 AM

Thanks Mike, its good to know that the problems worked out. After reading the posts, it was obvious to me that the wiring was wrong . Rather than trying to explain where each wire should connect, I figured if he studied the wiring diagram, he would see the problem. The next problem may well be the ohm of the coil that is being used.

Relvis P. Johnson · 06-02-2014, 12:09 AM

Mike The Swami!

You know of my next problem before I do!

Now that I'm past the mis-understood wiring diagrams (Bratton's is the easy one to understand) I have weak spark at the plug wires and it won't even fire.

I've timed it using the pin, get spark at the points but no go.

The distributor sat around the garage for about ten years, perhaps I should think about putting in the modern points and a new condenser if I'm going to run it rather than the nu-rex.

The coil is the one used on the nu-rex, I guess I'll need to check the point gap tomorrow when I jump back into it. I probably should invest in some diagnistic tools as well, any suggestions?

tbirdtbird · 06-02-2014, 12:25 AM

gulp

tbirdtbird · 06-02-2014, 12:29 AM

why do ppl have so much trouble with electrical?
Concentrate on hooking up one wire at a time. Be sure you know EXACTLY where each end of every wire is. That is how the rest of us do it.
Do not look at a diagram with a bunch of wires and have a seizure over the apparent maze that is to be mastered. Just do one at a time.

05-31-2014, 05:56 PM	#1
Relvis P. Johnson Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40	Points Pointers When the points are closed, the top plate becomes charged and the fuse by the starter blows. With the plate out of the distributor body, it lights up the test light. When I put the plate back into the body it shorts out and blows the fuse when I turn the key on. Can anyone tell me why?

05-31-2014, 06:02 PM	#2
Gunmetal blue2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Columbia, TN.38401 Posts: 422	Re: Points Pointers you have a distributor that is hot and when you put it in the engine and turn the key on it shorts out blowing your fuse. Did you have the condenser go bad and its shorting out.

05-31-2014, 06:08 PM	#3
Relvis P. Johnson Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40	Re: Points Pointers Thanks. I have the original condensor in now. Could I put in the one I have in my nu-rex distributor, which is sitting on the shelf?

05-31-2014, 06:15 PM	#4
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,757	Re: Points Pointers Wow This is the fifth thread you have started on the same problem and it makes it really hard to follow and help you. You need to let use know how the ignition switch is wired because if it is still wired like it was for the Nu-rex it will blow the fuse when wired to the stock distributor. Bob

05-31-2014, 06:30 PM	#5
Relvis P. Johnson Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40	Re: Points Pointers Is it the fifth? It seems like more. I'm new to this forum stuff, I'll get the hang of it eventually. If I could locate my nu-rex documentation, it would make it less difficult for sure. I just want to go back to stock. 12 volt, positive ground, key to + side of coil, connected to the distributor at the other end. The yellow w/ black on the street side of junction box. The solid Yellow wire is on curbside, connected to black wire on - side of coil. Still, I blow fuses...

05-31-2014, 06:32 PM	#6
MAG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Points Pointers Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Need more info... Is a complete NuRex ignition system installed? Yes or No? Is a complete original Model A ignition system installed? Yes or No? __________________ I noticed the harder I work the luckier I get!

05-31-2014, 06:54 PM	#7
Relvis P. Johnson Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40	Re: Points Pointers The Nu-rex is on the shelf. The stock distributor is in and wired...

05-31-2014, 07:22 PM	#8
MAG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Points Pointers A short in any element; switch, wire, condenser, points, upper plate, lower plate, whatever, on the + side of the coil will only turn the coil ON. It will not blow the fuse unless the fuse is under-rated. Try another coil. __________________ I noticed the harder I work the luckier I get!

05-31-2014, 07:25 PM	#9
Relvis P. Johnson Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40	Re: Points Pointers The coil is the one used with the nu-rex...

05-31-2014, 07:32 PM	#10
MAG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Points Pointers With a good ohm meter, preferably a swing (analog), check the resistance between the - terminal and the + terminal. Should be around 2 or 3 ohms. If full meter deflection the coil is shorted. __________________ I noticed the harder I work the luckier I get!

05-31-2014, 09:19 PM	#12
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Points Pointers PLEASE, get someone who KNOWS Model A's, to help you wire all systems to stock & it will work. We can't help you much, in your confusion, when we can't see & touch & test stuff to find/correct the problems. Off hand I think something is screwed up from whatever NU-Rex stuff you had wired up in the car. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, the original wiring diagram & hook up stuff accordingly! Excluding the lighting system, Model A wiring is about as simple as it gets. About the ONLY odd thing is that the ignition switch turns the current off/on, between the coil & the distributor, unlike most other cars. Sorry if I tipe "stern", I gotta' go pee!----Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

05-31-2014, 09:42 PM	#13
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Points Pointers I run a three ohm epoxy filled coil on my 12 volt positive ground model A. I run the original distributor with original style points. I also run the original style color coded wiring harnesses connected as original. The three ohm coil needs no external resister. There could be a short against the distributor housing where the wire from the lower plate connects to the points. The terminal end needs to be bent and installed in a way that it can't contact the distributor housing. There could be a short between the lower plate and the housing, caused from tightening the ignition cable too tight. Maybe falty rivets on the lower plate. Check out the wiring diagram on page 94 of Brattons catalog . This is the best and easiest to follow wiring diagram for the model A that I have seen. This is exactly how mine is wired.

05-31-2014, 10:44 PM	#14
Relvis P. Johnson Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40	Re: Points Pointers Thanks Bill & Purdy. I'll follow the Bratton's diagram, it's simple and everything's clearly marked. Thanks so much to everyone, I really appriciate your time & experience...

05-31-2014, 11:53 PM	#16
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Points Pointers He solved the problem, Problem Solved! If the wires are hooked up wrong, one can't expect it to work right. The Bratton's Schematic did the trick. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! __________________ 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

06-01-2014, 11:28 AM	#17
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Points Pointers Thanks Mike, its good to know that the problems worked out. After reading the posts, it was obvious to me that the wiring was wrong . Rather than trying to explain where each wire should connect, I figured if he studied the wiring diagram, he would see the problem. The next problem may well be the ohm of the coil that is being used.

06-02-2014, 12:09 AM	#18
Relvis P. Johnson Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40	Re: Points Pointers Mike The Swami! You know of my next problem before I do! Now that I'm past the mis-understood wiring diagrams (Bratton's is the easy one to understand) I have weak spark at the plug wires and it won't even fire. I've timed it using the pin, get spark at the points but no go. The distributor sat around the garage for about ten years, perhaps I should think about putting in the modern points and a new condenser if I'm going to run it rather than the nu-rex. The coil is the one used on the nu-rex, I guess I'll need to check the point gap tomorrow when I jump back into it. I probably should invest in some diagnistic tools as well, any suggestions?

06-02-2014, 12:25 AM	#19
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Points Pointers gulp __________________ '31 180A

06-02-2014, 12:29 AM	#20
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Points Pointers why do ppl have so much trouble with electrical? Concentrate on hooking up one wire at a time. Be sure you know EXACTLY where each end of every wire is. That is how the rest of us do it. Do not look at a diagram with a bunch of wires and have a seizure over the apparent maze that is to be mastered. Just do one at a time. __________________ '31 180A