Checking for Spark Solo

joltesvig

joltesvig

Senior Member
My Model A cranks but won’t start. Getting lots of fuel to the carb. I’m all alone and I need to see if I’m getting a spark to the plugs. Is there a way to do this solo?
 
You can use an inductive spark tester. You can also Open the hood and run the starter from there while holding the plug to the block.
 
Pull a plug and tape it to a nut on a head bolt so that it is grounded. run a wire from that plug to where it would normally be connected to the distruberter. with the ignition on and the fuel off crank the motor while standing next to the motor and see if the plug fires. crank the motor from outside the car by pulling on the starter rod.
 
Run a length of wire from a spark plug to where you can hold on to it while cranking. Fool proof. You may find the result shocking.
 
I just reach over and grab the starte switch--- take the top cap off and hold the center button near a head nut----
 
cjkohnast said:
Pull a plug and tape it to a nut on a head bolt so that it is grounded. run a wire from that plug to where it would normally be connected to the distruberter. with the ignition on and the fuel off crank the motor while standing next to the motor and see if the plug fires. crank the motor from outside the car by pulling on the starter rod.
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THANKS, VERY HELPFUL! I’ll try this tomorrow!
 
Another way is to pull a strap off a sparkler and set it si it's about 1/4" from the sparkler top nut and crank the engine with key on. There should be a good spark.
 
The easiest way is to watch for the ammeter to "pulse" when cranking with the ignition on. If there is a "pulse" or twitch of the ammeter to the discharge side, the coil is getting current and the points are opening and closing. If the ammeter shows a constant discharge, then either there is a ground in the cable to the distributor or a ground at the pigtail wire or points. If there is no pulse, then more electrical checks are needed. An easy check without leaving the driver's seat.
 
If the model A was running when last parked, the first thing that I would try would be to sand and check points gap .
 
From the passenger side reach over the engine and push the starter rod, WHEN your arm is to close to a spark plug connector you will know if you have electron’s following! I’ve had this done to me :-(
 
Put the distributor end of the coil wire next to a head nut. With the ignition on, use a screwdriver to open the points without grounding them. You should jump a spark from the coil wire to the head nut. Another way is to use a voltmeter across the points (from the point arm to ground). If it registers a little over 6 volts, you have current at the points. The point method doesn't tell you if the coil is good however.
 
The quickest simplest is to reach over from the carb side to push the starter rod with your arm near a plug strap----
 
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