The Ford Barn

JBohannon · 01-03-2016, 03:45 PM

Well having a tough time starting 29 A. Tried it this morning for first time in a while and ran for about 5 seconds then nothing. I have to own up to something I used a 12 volt charger because it was cold. Now it seems I have no spark at spark plugs unless I am not grounding them correctly. How can I check coil spark? I do have sparking at points when cap is off and ignition on. I have put in new coil, points, condenser and plugs. I notice the 2 points "post" or where they both meet for spark do not line up very well. Anyway can I take coil wire and check it for spark?

700rpm · 01-03-2016, 04:07 PM

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wmws · 01-03-2016, 05:07 PM

Thats not a good idea 700. He may have a heart condition that your procedure will not help.

700rpm · 01-03-2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmws

Thats not a good idea 700. He may have a heart condition that your procedure will not help.

Thank you. I forget that we -including me- are not 16 anymore.

Ed H. · 01-03-2016, 05:33 PM

Key on, cap and rotor off, hold coil wire about 1/4" from block, open and close points with a screw driver, spark should come out of coil wire. Or if you have someone crank it over results will be the same.

wmws · 01-03-2016, 05:37 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

To test for spark take the coil wire out of the top of the distributor and hold it about 1/2 inch away from a head stud. Do not hold the end of the wire. Crank the engine over and you should see a good spark jump across the gap.

Mike V. Florida · 01-04-2016, 02:12 AM

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpo...87&postcount=4

RonC · 01-04-2016, 07:02 AM

If you have sparking at the points and you are not getting the coil to jump spark to the plugs then make sure while cranking you are getting sparking at points with cap off. Also try swapping out rotor and cap some are defective. The points only need to connect and disconnect to get the coil to spark.

1crosscut · 01-04-2016, 09:03 AM

To align your points pull the upper plate and see if you can adjust the fixed post.

Tom Wesenberg · 01-04-2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBohannon

Well having a tough time starting 29 A. Tried it this morning for first time in a while and ran for about 5 seconds then nothing. I have to own up to something I used a 12 volt charger because it was cold. Now it seems I have no spark at spark plugs unless I am not grounding them correctly. How can I check coil spark? I do have sparking at points when cap is off and ignition on. I have put in new coil, points, condenser and plugs. I notice the 2 points "post" or where they both meet for spark do not line up very well. Anyway can I take coil wire and check it for spark?

Are you saying that because the weather was cold you used a 12 volt charger on a 6 volt battery?
If so, I can only think of 3 problems that might cause.

1. Start something on fire

2. Ruin the battery

3. Fry the charger

I've experienced all 3 over the years, and that was even with using the correct voltage to charge the battery. That's why I don't like to leave a battery on a charger unattended. If it's unattended, then put it outside where it won't damage other things if the battery explodes or the charger catches on fire.

katy · 01-04-2016, 11:25 AM

If you're getting big sparks at the points, your condensor is bad, you should only be getting small sparks at the points.

captndan · 01-04-2016, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmws

To test for spark take the coil wire out of the top of the distributor and hold it about 1/2 inch away from a head stud. Do not hold the end of the wire. Crank the engine over and you should see a good spark jump across the gap.

The jump you mention should be your feet leaving the ground momentarily. That's when you break the circuit.

JBohannon · 01-04-2016, 12:31 PM

Thanks Everyone for help. What I meant was I use a portable quick start 12V battery box to help start. I will not do that again. My question is do you think that would have ruined the coil ? I also think I have a weak battery so I may replace it first.

Tom Wesenberg · 01-04-2016, 12:49 PM

I doubt it would have ruined the coil unless you left it on for several minutes.
If the coil has current flowing through it (key on and points closed) I've seen a 6 volt coil used with a 6 volt battery go bad after 30 minutes. It happened to a guy in our club when his engine didn't start and he forgot to turn the key off.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 01-04-2016, 06:56 PM

I was trying to start a newly rebuilt engine with a weak 6v, that didn't spin it, so I used a 12v just to crank. I would pull it off as soon as it started. I ended up damaging either the coil or the capacitor, or both. Got a new battery, replaced the coil ect, and everything was fine.

01-03-2016, 03:45 PM	#1
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Will not start Well having a tough time starting 29 A. Tried it this morning for first time in a while and ran for about 5 seconds then nothing. I have to own up to something I used a 12 volt charger because it was cold. Now it seems I have no spark at spark plugs unless I am not grounding them correctly. How can I check coil spark? I do have sparking at points when cap is off and ignition on. I have put in new coil, points, condenser and plugs. I notice the 2 points "post" or where they both meet for spark do not line up very well. Anyway can I take coil wire and check it for spark?

01-03-2016, 04:07 PM	#2
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: Will not start ... __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. Last edited by 700rpm; 01-03-2016 at 05:19 PM.

01-03-2016, 05:07 PM	#3
wmws BANNED Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Coatesville, Pa Posts: 719	Re: Will not start Thats not a good idea 700. He may have a heart condition that your procedure will not help.

01-03-2016, 05:33 PM	#5
Ed H. Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Milton NH Posts: 148	Re: Will not start Key on, cap and rotor off, hold coil wire about 1/4" from block, open and close points with a screw driver, spark should come out of coil wire. Or if you have someone crank it over results will be the same. __________________ If you see a bomb technician running, do everything in your power to keep up with him. United States Navy

01-03-2016, 05:37 PM	#6
wmws BANNED Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Coatesville, Pa Posts: 719	Re: Will not start Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) To test for spark take the coil wire out of the top of the distributor and hold it about 1/2 inch away from a head stud. Do not hold the end of the wire. Crank the engine over and you should see a good spark jump across the gap.

01-04-2016, 02:12 AM	#7
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Will not start https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpo...87&postcount=4 __________________ 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

01-04-2016, 07:02 AM	#8
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Will not start If you have sparking at the points and you are not getting the coil to jump spark to the plugs then make sure while cranking you are getting sparking at points with cap off. Also try swapping out rotor and cap some are defective. The points only need to connect and disconnect to get the coil to spark.

01-04-2016, 09:03 AM	#9
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,909	Re: Will not start To align your points pull the upper plate and see if you can adjust the fixed post. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

01-04-2016, 11:25 AM	#11
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,044	Re: Will not start If you're getting big sparks at the points, your condensor is bad, you should only be getting small sparks at the points. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

01-04-2016, 12:31 PM	#13
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Re: Will not start Thanks Everyone for help. What I meant was I use a portable quick start 12V battery box to help start. I will not do that again. My question is do you think that would have ruined the coil ? I also think I have a weak battery so I may replace it first.

01-04-2016, 12:49 PM	#14
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Will not start I doubt it would have ruined the coil unless you left it on for several minutes. If the coil has current flowing through it (key on and points closed) I've seen a 6 volt coil used with a 6 volt battery go bad after 30 minutes. It happened to a guy in our club when his engine didn't start and he forgot to turn the key off.

01-04-2016, 06:56 PM	#15
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Will not start I was trying to start a newly rebuilt engine with a weak 6v, that didn't spin it, so I used a 12v just to crank. I would pull it off as soon as it started. I ended up damaging either the coil or the capacitor, or both. Got a new battery, replaced the coil ect, and everything was fine.