Broke Down

Man that's not fun, and it sure spoils breakfast.

I've had similar problems when condensers failed and stopped me cold while driving, so I carry extras and enough tools to change one when it happens.

Hope the problem isn't serious.
 
Not a good thing about that, except at least you got it home safely. My car broke down the first four test rides I had in it. I still carry a tow strap, just to get it off the road at least.
Be Safe!
Mark
 
Dave Renner at Renner's corner sells good and inexpensive test equipment to diagnose coil and condenser issues. Good value here in the UK and even better in the USA
 
Mike in AZ said:
first check to see if you have juice to the coil??....it crank, but no start??,....Mike
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Correct Mike, crank but no start. It shut off as I shifted into 3rd gear about 8 miles from home. I tested it for 35 miles yesterday and it ran fine. I read somewhere on here to use a test light on both sides of the coil. It lights on the ignition side but not the distributor side when cranking.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
Think about sending those parts, maybe the complete distributor, to Skip Haney in Punta Gorda, FL. He could test the coil and condenser. If coil checks bad he can rewind with modern insulated components. There could also be something else internally wrong in the distributor that he could straighten out for you. Just a thought or two.
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Ross F-1 said:
Wouldn't Bubba be the obvious choice for ignition?
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We have an Auto Electric shop here in town that has been in business since the 40's. Before I started the car I took the dizzy there and they put new points in it and checked out said it was good.
 
It sounds like you have a tube type coil ,One of the best things you can have in your kit is is a 6ft piece of wire with a Alligator clip on both ends ,clip one to the hot side of battery (if its pos earth then on the Neg side )then the other to coil (incoming side ) if its starts then the problem is on the dash side such as the key etc .If non then move the wire to coil out to distributor .Still nothing .? Hook up a condenser between your jump wire case and earth ,then the tail of condenser to the out/ Dist side on the coil,Still nothing .Change coil or Remove distributor check for broken points spring ? PM me for the rest .
 
FlatheadTed said:
It sounds like you have a tube type coil ,One of the best things you can have in your kit is is a 6ft piece of wire with a Alligator clip on both ends ,clip one to the hot side of battery (if its pos earth then on the Neg side )then the other to coil (incoming side ) if its starts then the problem is on the dash side such as the key etc .If non then move the wire to coil out to distributor .Still nothing .? Hook up a condenser between your jump wire case and earth ,then the tail of condenser to the out/ Dist side on the coil,Still nothing .Change coil or Remove distributor check for broken points spring ? PM me for the rest .
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Thanks for the reply but as I said in my post #9 I have juice to the + side of coil (ign.) but nothing from dist to the - side of coil (dist.).
 
A short time ago there was a tread about making up a fresh condenser with test leads for quick hook up on the side of the road, just to get me home, this would be a home made way to test your condenser ?? Not sure how or if ever on the diven bell helmet dist. but could hook up on the crab dist. just saying ,,
PS; sorry about your hubcaps ........OLD......BILL
 
If you have juice coming in ?? You must have tested the out put side ?? if not with coil wire removed ,attach the test wire to out. scratch that on ground to see if you get a reaction .If non then get a fresh coil .The crab doesn't need a adapter ,To attach a condenser I describe in my previous post,
 
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gkgeiger said:
I have a modern (tube style) coil but what's this adapter kit? My car has a 59AB engine & crab style dist.
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Well that's good to know. I thought you had the original engine, distributor and coil. Forget what I said in my earlier post or I can just delete that.
 
Did the Auto Elect Shop, test your dist CAP with your Rotor, and your Coil ?? if not, give that a try, ...and Please let us know what you find ?? it will help us with the next break down.....thanks .......OLD.....BILL
 
Coils rarely fail suddenly even a condenser most times give some warning ,even a Rotor will often run, but rough .I would say its likely a failure on the Distributor side of the circuit like points closed up ,broken points spring ,faulty terminal contact spring thingy ,
 
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You can use the test light on the power side of the coil but not the distributor side. Switch to a voltmeter on the distributor side. Look for between 2. to 3. V (if zero all the time the coil may be open circuit(check with ohmmeter), or the condenser is shorted to ground) when the distributor points are open and Zero V (if voltage does not drop to 0 then points are dirty and not closing properly or the distributor is not grounded properly) when they are closed. Remove the high tension plug wire from the coil so the engine does not start and hand turn the engine over slowly.
 
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