modern dist. condenser problem

Ed Saniewski

Ed Saniewski

Well-known member
I am having a problem with my ignition system,engine ran for 5 min. and died. The dist. gives a spark when i open and close the points, but when assembled the body and rotor,I don't get a strong spark to the spark plug. I have tried 3 dist bodies and rotors and caps, and 2 coils and coil wire. . I switched out the dist for another modern point and con. and it ran for 5 min. then died. finally we dug out an old dist. with original points and it runs great.the spark now jumps 1/2 inch and bright. How do I test the modern condenser to see if it is bad? would this give me a weak spark? What would cause 2 condensers to go bad, could a short somewhere in the electrical system damage it? I will go out today and get another modern condenser and try again.
 
Yes, a bad condensor could make the spar weak. A short to ground in the lower plate wire should make the spark go dead, but make sure the lower plate wire terminals are positioned in such a way that they can't touch ground when the advance lever moves the upper plate. Marco has good pictures on his website showing how the terminals should be positioned.

I bought a condensor tester on ebay a few years ago for about 30 or 40 dollars, but most people just carry a new heat proof condensor and swap it out to test the old one. It's a good idea to carry a spare condensor anyway.
 
Yes you are right, but then original is probably engineered with more time and money, and directed more closely to the vehicle that was being built at the time than most after-market or garage built products.
 
I went to the parts store and got a new condenser, and the problem seems to be fixed, but not solved. The parts are only V8 points and condenser, not modern electronic ignition. I will keep looking for what would cause 2 of them to go bad, seems very strange. I was hoping testing the old ones would be easy, but swapping out the part is just as easy. Thanks Tom and Ken for the help.
 
Ed, these days it's very possible to have condensers right out of the box turn out to be junk. It's happened to me on some of my tractors. It isn't the design of the system that's the problem, it's the workmanship making the parts and/or the lack of quality testing that's the trouble.
 
J Franklin said:
Posts like this always remind me that modern does not necessarily mean better or easier.
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6 volt system with pos. ground. Truck is running great now, I took the chassis out for a ride today. It is amazing how much you can spin tires when there is no weight on the frame.
 
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