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Old 08-10-2019, 09:08 PM   #1
Lawson Cox
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Default Woops. What next

Took Apatchy out for a short spin today, pulled up to the garage door and he choked out. FORGOT to turn off the switch. Dead as a doornail after a couple of hours. What's the first thing I do to determine if points burned and coil fried. I'm OLD and hate to have to pull distributor if I don't have to. Coil is easy to get to but the distributor is a lot of work for an old man. Thanks in advance fellows. I just got out of hospital with a pulmonary embolus so not really in shape to do much work. Lawson
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Old 08-10-2019, 09:15 PM   #2
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Charge battery and see if it will start?
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Old 08-10-2019, 09:37 PM   #3
Clem Clement
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Good that you're getting out and about
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Old 08-10-2019, 10:45 PM   #4
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Default Re: Woops. What next

if you got lucky, the points were open. i agree with 40 coupe, charge the battery and see what you get
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Old 08-10-2019, 11:07 PM   #5
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Quote:
Originally Posted by cas3 View Post
if you got lucky, the points were open. i agree with 40 coupe, charge the battery and see what you get
If the points were open, the battery likely would not have died so quickly.
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Old 08-11-2019, 12:52 AM   #6
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Default Re: Woops. What next

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Quote; If the points were open, the battery likely would not have died so quickly


My thoughts too, however, irrespective, first thing to do is charge the battery, then you can begin to troubleshoot.
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Old 08-11-2019, 02:34 AM   #7
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Where in GA are you located? If you aren't too far away I can swing by and lend a hand sometime.
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Old 08-11-2019, 04:51 AM   #8
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Zax40...Lawson is around exit 90 off of I-20 not far from Atlanta. Send him a pm on Fordbarn.
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Old 08-11-2019, 12:38 PM   #9
Lawson Cox
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Default Re: Woops. What next

I'm just off of I-20 at Exit 93. My plan was/is to charge the battery and see if I got lucky. if I didn't I am going to have to have some help with R&Ring the distributor at the front of the engine. LIKE TO NEVER HAVE GOTTEN IT DONE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. If it wont crank, off the coil goes to Skip for yet another rebuild. Keeping fingers crossed. Anyone around that wants to help an old man will be greatly appreciated, LOL. 770-784-0507.
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Old 08-11-2019, 05:10 PM   #10
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Got the Old Boy hooked up to a Battery Tender (Optima). Will check it out tomorrow the next day after several doctor visits, and report back. Thanks fellows. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
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Old 08-11-2019, 05:30 PM   #11
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Default Re: Woops. What next

The last time I was in the horsepistol it was for clots in the lungs. I had to poke myself with Lovenox injectors for a while after I got out. I just take the rat poison now. It ain't much fun and that's for sure.

Hopefully your coil by Skip took the heat but try a new condenser first. Easiest thing first until problem is rectified. If the points were good & closed, they shouldn't be damaged. The coil would have been a basic electro magnet until the battery gave out. Skip uses the good stuff for his coils so keep your fingers crossed. You already broke a leg in a manner of speaking.
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Old 08-11-2019, 06:37 PM   #12
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Xxx

Last edited by HDowse; 08-11-2019 at 06:39 PM. Reason: Incorrect post...
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Old 08-11-2019, 07:55 PM   #13
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawson Cox View Post
I'm just off of I-20 at Exit 93. My plan was/is to charge the battery and see if I got lucky. if I didn't I am going to have to have some help with R&Ring the distributor at the front of the engine. LIKE TO NEVER HAVE GOTTEN IT DONE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. If it wont crank, off the coil goes to Skip for yet another rebuild. Keeping fingers crossed. Anyone around that wants to help an old man will be greatly appreciated, LOL. 770-784-0507.
That's around the Covington area right? I'm in the north Atlanta, Alpharetta area. But if you need a hand sometime I could make the trip. I'm a newbie on flatheads still, but I would gladly turn wrenches in exchange for knowledge. I've always been a mid 50's to 60's guy until I got my '40.
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Old 08-12-2019, 07:47 AM   #14
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Default Re: Woops. What next

I think there is a better chance then not that the coil is wasted. I know of a couple of guys who left the switch on and had to have Skip redo their coils. I hope you get lucky on the points and don't have to remove the distributor.
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Old 08-12-2019, 05:58 PM   #15
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Default Re: Woops. What next

The points should be fine. If they were open, nothing happens at the points. If they were closed they would be conducting current, which may overheat the coil, but is no stress on the points. If the condenser was good to start (not leaking), no harm is done. What burns up points is running with a bad condenser, which allows arcing at each break.
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Old 08-13-2019, 03:53 PM   #16
Lawson Cox
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Default Re: Woops. What next

Thanks guys. I should be able to try and crank him up after my doctors appointment tomorrow. Heart beat is way up a lot of the time and my home nurses tell me not to try and fool with my truck till the doctor gives me a heads up.
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