coil to distributer harness

[FrankWest]

Dirty points could also leave the ammeter with no movement while cranking the engine. You need a test light to follow where the electricity drops off. Touch each side of the coil primary to see if the coil is passing current, then work your way down to the points, which should be grounded when they are closed.

Just one last question. If the points were bad after 20 years, why did the car start right up? And it ran great, beautiful smooth sound, sounded better than my hinda accord! Ran for more than 1 hour straight on each of the 3 starts. Would the point actual get worse upon running.

Can I just use a test light probe bought at autozone?

 

[FrankWest]

Yep, even on the Model A I've seen some very stuck rotors. I would only pry up on the center part of the rotor. I haven't touched a B distributor in a long time, and I don't remember if a long thin screwdriver can be used to pry up on the bottom part of the center around the shaft.

If I get the rotor off successfully Do I have to put it back on with the exact orientation for timing?

 

[Bob C]

The rotor will only go on one way.

Bob

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Points usually don't just stop working, but my car wouldn't start after setting for a few months with very damp weather. Even after I tried cleaning the points it wouldn't start. I hand cranked it and it fired right away and ran great. After running a few minutes all was fine again.

You can use any 6 or 12 volt test light, but it would pay to buy a good one for about $5 rather than one from the dollar store. I'm not sure how your 1933 ignition switch is wired, so I would need to see a schematic to follow the path of power to the coil, then from the coil to ground through the points. You can follow the path by starting at the battery and working towards the coil.

 

[FrankWest]

My coil looks like an original. Can the windings of these 80 years old coils really survive. I am surprised it worked at all. Have you every heard of electric stresses on these windings and insulations that could break down in use after becoming fragile for their age? I only hope I am able to see the terminal marking to connect the polarity right.I huess if I cannot, I will have to trace the wires to find the positive.

 

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

You need a volt ohm meter, and read up on the basics of how to use it. Have you checked around for a local club? That can really be an asset when you're learning.