Not getting fire!! Won't start. PLEASE HELP FAST!!

Turn the motor over until the points are closed, then place end of coil wire close to ground, with key on, open and close points with your thumb... have fire from coil?

crotex said:
I get fire up to the points but no fire to the plug wires. .
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Edit: Could it be the wire under the dist. plate? grounding out?
 
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start with coil go backwards
remove small wire that goes to dissy,check for voltage from coil where you removed the wire to ground,if you have voltage there, use a wire to go from coil to ground put it on and off coil should spark.if it does spark then you have dizzy problems
 
Do you have 6 volts on the movable points contact with the points open and key on?

Do you have 0 volts on the movable points contact with the points closed and key on?

Are you using a stranded coil wire, and NOT a carbon coil wire?

Being there in person, this problem should be diagnosed in less than three minutes.

Over the internet shouldn't take long, as long as we know exact answers to specific questions.
 
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Check the pigtail wire between upper and lower distributor plate. Is it shorting out? Also like others mentioned, your condenser connection.

Hope you get 'er going.
 
with a test lite on the side of the coil to the pop out switch, crank the engine the lite should blink. if steady and you have power at the points open, close points and the lite should go off post results. scotty
 
What changed since you had running last? Start there. Left fuel on, batter low, messed with timing, messed with points? -D
 
if Im reading him right
he has "fire up to the points",but not to the spark plug
Not reading anything else into it

the rest of the circuit is
through the points
the condenser
the rotor
the distributor bakelite housing

the next two shouldn't be a part of the problem
the spark plug wires
the spark plug to ground

is the distributor rotor turning?
 
Contact your local club; kindly request someone to drop over and take a look. Admit you can not fix it and seek hands on help. It is probably some small over looked item and an older wiser gentleman will find in a minute.
 
An engine only needs 3 things to run, gas, spark and air. Your engine was just running so realistically you should first determine if it’s a spark or gas problem. In EVERY CASE, the first thing you do is watch your ammeter needle while you’re cranking the starter to see if it moves (bounces). If the needle bounces you more than likely have a fuel delivery problem however there is an outside chance your coil just quit. If your needle does not bounce then you have a spark problem inside your distributor or ignition circuit. Does your needle bounce??
 
That little wire under the distributor plate is a real bear. You can't see what it's doing until you take it out, and by then, you have changed it's position. That was the hardest "A" puzzel that I have had to figure out.
MIKE :)
 
Is there a replacement distributor that corrects that problem?
FL&WVMIKE said:
That little wire under the distributor plate is a real bear. You can't see what it's doing until you take it out, and by then, you have changed it's position. That was the hardest "A" puzzel that I have had to figure out.
MIKE :)
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Is the little carbon pile in the middle of the distributor cap still there? Maybe it broke and fell out. Or is the arm on the rotor not making contact with carbon pile in the middle of the distributor cap? Good Luck!
 
lower plate with a brass contact in place of the wire.
17300.jpg
 
I still haven't heard an answer to the first basic question:

Does the coil wire have a spark when held 1/4" from a head stud?

As I said earlier, the problem can be diagnosed in a few minutes, IF we get some accurate answers to specific questions.
 
the coil does get fire 1/4 inch from the head stud at times but then other times it does not. I have tried alot of stuff and also have ha my buddy who is more familiar look at it as well and he does not know the problem. Is there anyone close by that can come take a look at this thing for me and fix it?? I will pay a person for their time.
 
Could the coil wire be screwwed into the distributor body too far? I did this once and my coupe had the same issues as your describing. Took about 20 minutes to figure out.-Weeks
 
crotex said:
the coil does get fire 1/4 inch from the head stud at times but then other times it does not. I have tried alot of stuff and also have ha my buddy who is more familiar look at it as well and he does not know the problem. Is there anyone close by that can come take a look at this thing for me and fix it?? I will pay a person for their time.[
/QUOTE]

OK, an intermittent spark means an intermittent problem, such as a loose wire, or a bad ingition switch, like the repro I had to fix. Dirty points can give an intermittent spark. A loose connection on the terminal end of the condenser can give this problem. (Seems like that was mentioned):D If the terminal on the end of the condenser turns, throw it away and buy a new one.

To eliminate a repro ignition swtich, use a jumper wire. To eliminate the terminal box and amp guage, use a jumper wire from the starter switch to the power terminal on the coil primary.

If the wire between the upper and lower plates of the distributor is unknown then I'd remove the top plate and inspect it to make sure it is in good condition and made of very fine strands, and to make sure the terminals aren't touching ground. Marco had a picture showing how to locate the terminals.

Also the distributor needs a good ground. An original distributor popout cable offers a good ground, but most repro switches rely on the metal distributor touching the head for a ground. Most of the old heads and distributors have a fair amount of rust where they touch each other. I always sandblast the rust when I restore a distributor, then put some grease on the shaft part that slips into the head. If you suspect a bad ground, just clip a jumper wire from the condenser ground strap to a head bolt, or other good ground.
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do you remove the distributor if so make sure youdid not screw the pop out cable in to far it will ground out.
 
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