I have a freind with a 30 A pickup with the stock banger, he switched over to a breaker plate with a newer set of points/condensor, problemn is the engine will run like **** for about 5 minutes then shut down, the points will be blue & toast, Iv'e never seen a new set of points burn up in 5 minutes, any idea's?
sure sounds like a bad condenser if nothing else was messed with...try a new one. i know they come with differnt farad ratings maybe consider that?
Never had one fail with these symptoms, usually just find them shorted,I'll check it out in the morning, thanks
He thought that the newer point set would be an upgrade from stock, newer must be better right, it does actually look like a pretty clean setup, just a different plate with 70's vintage ford points.
i know the one you mean...you might also check that there is no oil on the points and the condenser is grounded good....a long shot but it dont hurt to check...
Your probably right about the grounding of the condensor, its mounted to the point plate but the plate has no ground strap from the plate to the distributer body, thanks, I'll try adding a grounding strap.
Stuff: Modern point plate is pretty shaky on space--they chose a point set alsmost too big in some places. You have the hookup between lower plate and points--several places there and on lower plate where bad things can happen, and be su****ious also of whatever repro of the armored ignition cable is in use. Ignition switch is wired into circuit in an unusuall way on Model A, and can be screwed up by someone who made ***umptions. I like the original Ford points, but buy from someone trustworthy or just gettem at NAPA...I have gotten repro points that looked like someone with a pair of pliers folded them from an old Budweiser can. Original points should be used with cleaned up original lower plate with spring br*** or bronze contact spring, not the steel tin can strip used on repros, and orientation and shape/length of terminals on connecting wire are critical.
It has to be the breaker plate not grounded. If you ever seen the coil voltage on the scope there is voltage spikes as high as minus 400 volts at the coil primary circuit (coil negative) the condenser clips the voltage so the points do not break that much voltage yours is not that is why the points are turning blue.
Another possibility might be that the cap is shorted, or the points are just switching to ground. If the points are turning blue the hot and ground are connecting there, and no missing ground strap. Maybe a little insulator is missing, is the spring of the points what's roasting?
Ok heres the scoop, I failed to mention the battery was dead so I was jump starting it with a jump box then disconnecting it when it was running, the amp gauge was showing 3/4 on the charge scale so I didnt think much about voltage, today I checked voltage at the coil lead, 15+ volts! ,The battery must have been so smoked that the generator was charging at max, put a new 6 volt battery in, re checked everything & all is good, thanks for all the replies.
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