8n 1952 weak spark

   / 8n 1952 weak spark #11  
Your starting problems are not the fault of a 6 volt system. Converting to 12 volt seems to be everyone's cure all. You have something else going on that is giving you the problem.
 
   / 8n 1952 weak spark #12  
Things do wear out; the bushings for the distributor cam shaft may be worn affecting the dwell angle. The cam lobs may be worn as well as the spark coil. Have you inspected the inside of the distributor for carbon tracking?
Some electrical systems that use a START and a RUN two position switch, having a one or two Ohm resistor in the START circuit and no resister in the RUN circuit to limit the maximum current. This resistor may have gone bad.
 
   / 8n 1952 weak spark #13  
yep.. NO resistor in start, and resistor in run.

52 8n ford won't have that though... at least not oem.

soundguy
 
   / 8n 1952 weak spark #14  
If you want to confirm that the problem is indeed a weak spark, remove a spark plug and connect it to the lead and ground shell. Crank the engine and observe the spark. If it's not a loud, fat, blue spark, then it can be considered a weak spark. If it is yellow, it is for sure a weak spark.

Hope this helps.
 
   / 8n 1952 weak spark #15  
If I recall from the days of points, I always replaced the condenser when I changed points. That way you are sure of a good condenser that will suck that spark up as the points open so they dont burn up the contacts. You may want to view the whole system when it is running while in a dark room, that will show you any escaping fire in the system also. I would replace the distributor cap if it is really old as they can develop minute cracks that moisture seaps in and you only have a problem with starting, Once it starts and runs a while the moisture dries out from the electrical current running the minute crack and it runs ok from then on. If it cranks up well when Hot that could be your problem or just a weak coil. I can remember replacing the coil once because of weak fire and still had a problem. Pulled my hair out looking for something else till I finally took the coil back and they tested it. The new one was bad also. Not much on those old 8n's to be the culprit-wires, plugs, distributor cap, points, condenser, coil and rotor . If the battery is hot, it should have good fire if all the above are verified good.
 

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