Elect. Gremlin #2 or why doesn't my engine start?

I'm back from my appointment. I ran a continuity test on the coil wire and it was zilch, nada! I found I had some high tension wire that had real wire in it (Packard 880?) and I made a new coil wire but nothings coming off the coil. I checked the voltage going into the coil, 6V both sides, key on or off. It's getting colder out in the garage, so I quit for today. So Is it possible I burned the coil out ?
 
Stop the engine with the points open, then see if the open contact has 6 volts with the key on. If it does, then short the points contacts with a screwdriver to see if you get a spark out of the coil wire.

When everything seems to check out but you still don't get spark, make sure the distributor actually has a good ground.
 
Yes, use your ohm meter from distributor to a KNOWN ground. like the battery. If you have no spark when points open the coil wire was not the problem. Disconnect the wire from ignition switch and attach a new wire from battery direct to distributor. If now have spark at the points you know where the problem is.
 
noboD said:
Yes, use your ohm meter from distributor to a KNOWN ground. like the battery. If you have no spark when points open the coil wire was not the problem. Disconnect the wire from ignition switch and attach a new wire from battery direct to distributor. If now have spark at the points you know where the problem is.
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The ignition is for switching on the ground side of the coil. If you disconnect that wire and run a wire from the battery to the distributor, you will have a dead short and cook the points.
 
Did you ever get burnt by a shorted wire while holding it?
It leaves a burned indent ouch.
 
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Terry said:
And no spark at the points! The meter reads 6 V but jumping them with a screwdriver does not produce a spark as you would expect ??????
Terry
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This is from the OP's second posting. He says no spark at the points. A rotor, cap, or coil wire would not cause this.
 
Yaay and Yipppee< LOL It ain't just a nice day, It's a Beautiful Day! Finally got the fornicatin' thing running! You aren't gonna believe this, but it was a loose wire on the ammeter! All that Shee-it for a loose wire! But it's running better than before when it was just running good! The timing is 1/2 of a degree better I think (Advanced? Retarded? who knows) but better! Thanks to everyone who took the time to write out their possible causes and solutions. You all helped!
Terry
 
That is good news!

Thank you for posting the conclusion to this situation. Too many threads get left dangling with no resolution.
 
Terry said:
I have a Condenser tester. It's an "Orbit 2" Simple little thing, even I can figure this thing out! Just plug it in (110V), the light goes on. Connect the two leads and if the condenser is OK it will blink, the faster the blink rate, the more micro farads, at least I think that's the way it will read for you. The Condenser I'm using in it is new. I buy them two at a time.
Terry
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Did you find the problem ?????
 

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HO, HO, HO! Today I started it up and pulled it back up on the ramps to get under it to work on the light wiring (the original problem). I finally gave up and went to start it, THE SAME THING! It was dead! No spark! I took the dash panel off and and just for laughs, tried to start it. Next thing I knew it was running again (off the dash board, just hanging) I'm going to shim the panel out off the dash/ tank maybe .030 and see what happens. Still no lights or horn, power to the switch OK.
Terry
 
Terry said:
HO, HO, HO! Today I started it up and pulled it back up on the ramps to get under it to work on the light wiring (the original problem). I finally gave up and went to start it, THE SAME THING! It was dead! No spark! I took the dash panel off and and just for laughs, tried to start it. Next thing I knew it was running again (off the dash board, just hanging) I'm going to shim the panel out off the dash/ tank maybe .030 and see what happens. Still no lights or horn, power to the switch OK.
Terry
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Did u insulate the tank with a piece of rubber tire tube or such..

make sure your switch is adjusted / screwed in as far as it will go away from the tank..

I wouldnt shim it..
 
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