It Just Died

[DScott]

I took my '29 A for a short ride today, and I noticed it was low on gas, so I pulled into a station to fill it up. When I pulled in, I put the car in neutral and was about to turn the key off, and it just died. I thought it had run out of gas, so I filled it up, got back in it, turned the key on and started cranking her. The starter turned fine, but it never fired. Got her home, held the coil wire a little ways from the distributer, no fire. Swapped the coil out of another car, still no fire. I pulled out a meter and turned the key on and checked the positive terminal of the coil and I had 12 volts going to the coil. Checked the negative pole and was grounded.

Any ideas ? I recently replaced the condensor, and what is the wire that is inside the distributer that the condensor is connected to ? Is that the negative ground going to the coil ?

Also, what is the trick getting the plate out that the points mount to ? I disconnected the linkage that adjust the timing, and turned the plate inside the distributer until it was free but it does not want to come up off the distributer.

[jmeckel]

With the points closed and the switch on, one side of the coil will be at ground, with points open, both sides of the coil will be at supply. To remove the plate you need to remove the distributor cam, then turn the upper plate to the openings line up with the "ears" on the plate and lift it off.

[christian]

when something like this happens its nice to be able to narrow down the problem. For starters, I like to crank over the engine with the ignition on and check to see if the ammeter does its dance. if it does, then I know the primary side of the ignition is functioning properly i.e. points, condenser, that little wire included...

[Duffy1]

There is a fellow who lives not to far from you that is a Model A guru and works on Model A for a living ( very reasonable hourly rate ). Will come to your house and work on your A . Send me a PM and I will send you one back with his name and contact information. You can also use the search feature and find much information as it relates to diagnosing your problem .

[heneste]

Have you checked the coil wire going from the coil to the distributor cap? Almost sounds like it's loose or broken inside.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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By your first post I have to assume you changed the system from 6 volt + ground to 12 volt - ground. With the key on the points side of the coil should be grounded only if the points are closed. Stop the engine with the points OPEN, then short the points on and off with a screwdriver while you hold the coil wire 1/4" from a head nut.
What happens?

[DScott]

How do you remove the distributer cam ?

[DScott]

Yes sir, previous owner switched from 6 volts to 12

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by DScott

How do you remove the distributer cam ?

Remove the rotor, then remove the screw under the rotor. Then the cam should lift off, but may be stuck and need a couple screwdrivers to pry it up.

[DScott]

Thanks young man !

[DScott]

I will try the test you mentioned with the points tonight when I get home. Thank you. By the way, I have some in-laws that live in your neck of the woods. A nephew that just moved from Minneapolis to Holland, and a brother-n-law that lives in Rochester. I come through there each year on the way to Chetek, Wisconsin.

[DScott]

Bob found the short, it was in the bottom of the distributer. Thanks Duffy and Bob !
It is back up and running.