Losing spark

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Have you replaced the condenser?

Condenser.
We have old cars and the new condensers are junk. I've tuned up an old car with new parts only to have the new name-brand condenser bad. If your meter has a capacitor range it should be about 0.47ufd. Lead across it, don't hold leads.
An open condenser = a weak spark.

 

[jimjumper]

Quick question, is the condenser the same for front mount and side mount? They look the same in the tuneup kits but TSC only has the side mount kits in stock.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

As long as it's across the points it should work fine.
A simple animation:

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

As already mentioned new condensers are poor quality, I keep a spare in the Model A for that reason and have needed to use it.

They tend to short when they get hot and you get no spark and work again when they cool, at least a few times. A quick check is to disconnect the condenser and see if it starts. If you leave it off it will eventually burn the points but you can get out of a bad location that way.

 

[John0829]

Learn to read the points, they will tell you if the condenser is doing the job. Because of the quality of the "new" parts I seldom ever change the condenser unless I see signs it is failing.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

When my wife & I took automotive classes in the 70s the instructor for ignition said (about points) if the negative contact is negative material then it's negative capacitance.
If battery is negative ground the points mounting plate is ground and negative.
I have a box of new old stock condensers 50+ years old still good and measure 0.42 to 0.49ufd.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Condenser.
We have old cars and the new condensers are junk. I've tuned up an old car with new parts only to have the new name-brand condenser bad. If your meter has a capacitor range it should be about 0.47ufd. Lead across it, don't hold leads.
An open condenser = a weak spark.

I believe its going to turn out to be the distributor cap though. Pops and spits are a symptom of sparks getting to the wrong time/place.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I believe its going to turn out to be the distributor cap though. Pops and spits are a symptom of sparks getting to the wrong time/place.

Could be, carbon traces or crack.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Minor problem with getting anything done today...Over 300 acres already and its only 5 miles away. Sorry if this is off-topic.

Looks like youre safe.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Did you get your 8N running ok?