Condensor capacitance question

[Milt K from Pa]

Barners,
I have a friend whose LB engine runs VERY hot, it's a newly purchased car. I verified the distrib. timing,which didn't help solve the problem. I did find the capacitor to measure 0.49 micro farads. Could an out of the 'sweet-spot" rating cause overheating in anyone's experience?? The engine now has been completely disassembled now with no cracks or leaks found, under pressure test.

Milt K from Pa

 

[Old Henry]

No. Capacitance out of the "sweet spot" of .2 to .3 microfarads only affects the life of the points. Not the operating temperature of the engine.

A condenser with too much storage or capacitance will cause a build up (metal transfer) on the mounting side of the points. While a condenser with not enough storage or capacitance will cause a build up (metal transfer) on the arm side of the points. Sometimes the right sized condenser will end up in your ignition system and no transfer will occur.

This is why you have to file a used set of points (eliminate the metal transfer) before you can gap them with a feeler gauge. You do not have to file points if you use a dwell meter. The dwell meter takes into account the metal build up, because it looks at the points' electrical measurement rather than the mechanical measurement.

The typical condenser will have between .2 to .3 microfarads. The variation in condenser capacity can vary widely, (most condensers fall somewhere around .25 microfarad). This is why some contact points last longer than others. It is not the points fault but is the condensers fault instead.

Look for the metal transfer. If there is none consider not replacing the condenser as it is matched to your particular ignition system. If there is metal transfer replace the condenser as you have nothing to lose in the process.

From here: http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=38576

 

[Kurt in NJ]

Since the radiator is probably drained have you looked in it at the top of the tubes, the radiator that was in my 36 has over 50% of the tubes visible through the filler neck clogged

The Ford service bulletins for march of 36 listed condenser capacitys
18-12300-B is listed as.33-.36mfd
40-18823 is listed as .45-.63mfd ---the 18000 area of numbers makes me think it is a radio noise supression ---this could be on the battery side, the 12300 type numbers are in the dist--ignition section of the parts book ---this would be on the points side, you don't say what ignition you have or where the condenser you tested is hooked up, if the condenser is bad enough to cause problems the car probably wouldn't run good and the points would burn quick

 

[keith oh]

Old Henry, About your cold weather starting problem, have you solved it, if so, how. Or are you just sticking your head in the sand, or in this case snow, and waiting for a warm weather cure. Keith

 

[Old Henry]

Old Henry, About your cold weather starting problem, have you solved it, if so, how. Or are you just sticking your head in the sand, or in this case snow, and waiting for a warm weather cure. Keith

Yes. Couldn't "stick my head in the sand" (or snow, as the case may be). I had a 700 mile road trip to the Tetons the next weekend.

I solved the starting problem primarily by heating the engine compartment over night but also installed a "coil booster" aka "resistor bypass" circuit from the starter solenoid to the coil and found the ground strap from my engine loose on the firewall and tightened that. For "the rest of the story" read here: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131140