<VV> now, what

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

I've been working on some fairly old engines lately, one's in a WWII  
searchlight (a cool project in its own right!), and have come across TWO bad  
condensers right out of the box. Damn annoying, given the first assumption is  it's 
NOT the new parts! 
 
So, I've been checking out EVERYTHING, making no assumptions. Fortunately,  
ignitions on these cars are VERY simple, and easy to diagnose. 
 
Getting 12v at the coil with the points open?
Getting something like 6v or so with the points closed? 
Getting a HOT spark when the coil wire is about 1/2" from ground, and the  
engine is cranking?
Getting a HOT spark when a plug wire is about 1/2" from ground? If in  doubt, 
use a known good spark plug, and see if there's a hot spark. 
 
Fortunately, if one were to replace coil, condenser, points, cap, rotor,  
wires, plugs, and resistance wire, it's still not a huge amount of money, albeit  
an inefficient way to figure out the problem. 
 
And if this works, are you getting compression on #1, etc? A busted or  
slipped timing gear isn't unheard of. 
 
And if that works, if the mixture is way off, flooded or too lean, nothing  
will happen either. 
 
Forgive me if I am restating other stuff, but it's NEVER anything  
complicated on these cars. Some things may be a REAL pain, like the timing gear,  but it 
should NEVER be that mysterious. 
 
In a message dated 12/22/2008 7:13:56 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
jciampi at embarqmail.com writes:

I did  repalce the rotor and distributor cap. No improvement in starting.

More  later....


Jay Ciampi


 
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