Condenser check

K

kimlinh

Senior Member
Last time out in my A the car started running a little rough on the way home. I couldn't find anything wrong. I suspect something electrical. How can I check the condenser to see if it is starting to fail. Can I use my VOM to check its condition? ( I know, use a new one). Is anyone using a remote mounted condenser? How well does it work?

Thank you for your responses
 
Make sure your point gap hasn't closed up. Pull a spark plug strap off of a plug about a 1/4 inch and see if you have a nice hot steady spark. If its weak and or sporadic you may want to try a new condenser. You can test it with any DVOM that has a capacitance tester or else use an OHM meter, but it will likely test fine as you will be testing it cold. Otherwise get a can of Canned Air duster, hold it upside down and spray it on the condenser. That will cool it down. If the idle smooths out, replace the condenser. On the second question, yes you can install the condenser up on the firewall by the coil.
 
Just turn the key on and open and close your points with your finger or a stick. The spark when you open the point should be a clean spark, not a big messy one. YOur condenser is probably just fine. Clean the plugs and check that point gap.
 
In my experience, when a condenser is going, it's a lack of power, not rough running, that is a symptom. Was it hot out the last time you took her out when it ran rough? It could have been the gas boiling in the carb bowl, causing alternating too rich/too lean conditions.
 
I used to collect condensers and test them, got good at changing them,had a lot of short term failures. Then I got the A&L burnout proof one, been 30 years, still good, have replaced the spare one several time replacing other peoples condensers though

I used the condenser checker on a dist machine, the failed ones many times worked again cold and would pass the test--till cooked in oven to 200 degrees
 
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