I'm trying to get the new '57 started. The engine cranks fine. There's no spark. I've tried 2 coils so far, the original and an MSD Blaster. They both get 12 volts on the positive side off the starter solenoid, but there's no spark coming out of either of them. The ignition switch will crank the motor, but I've been using a screwdriver on the starter to crank it, since I'm working alone. What am I doing wrong?
You're not going to get a spark unless your points are opening and closing...have you checked them? Also, your ignition switch has to be in the on position when you're doing your screwdriver trick.
The ignition is in the on position. When I say there's no spark, I mean there's nothing coming out of the coil. Wouldn't I see spark out of the coil wire regardless of the points?
No, your points have to be open to build the field in the coil...when your points close the field collapses and you get the spark. If your points are staying either open or closed your coil won't do anything...well, it'll get hot if the points are closed but that's about it.
Change the condenser, and if you used new screws to hold down the condenser and points, check the length, had that happen to me once and the long screw interfered with the rotation of the armiture
manually open and shut the points(screwdriver). then with the spark tester on the coil only. if you are getting spark there, move to the cap. if you are getting it at the cap, then move to the plugs. process of elimination. its mostly likely your points/condenser as stated. check compression too, and maybe rebuild the carb too.
I set the points. I'm going to get a new condenser and points tomorrow. I just want to get it started to get a video of it running so I can sell it. It's coming out anyway.
so take some sand paper to the points turn on the ignition and watch for blue spark. when you open and shut the points. its 7pm here go out there now and tell us the results.
at the points, or the coil? and you said you are getting power to the coil right? and is there power coming out of the coil? will your coil spark when you touch the negative wire to ground? sounds like you need condenser and points set.
No spark at the coil or the points. There's 12 volts at the coil on the positive and negative posts of the coil. You mean touching the negative coil wire to the battery ground?
The ground wire from the coil should be going to the points. If the points are open, you'll have 12 volts on both sides of your coil. Have you tried cleaning the points using fine sandpaper? If you can, have someone check the ground side of the coil while you short across the points with a wire. If the 12 volts disappears, it means your points are open. If it doesn't disappear it means the wire going from the coil to the distributor is open.
Actually, when the points are closed the magnetic field builds and the opening of the points collapses that field, inducing voltage in the secondary winding of the coil, producing the higher voltage for the spark. Flatman
Do You Have An Ohm Meter?you Can Turn The Points With No Power On And See If You Make A Circuit Thru The Points. All So See If The Negative Side Of The Points Are Grounded, And The Positive Side Has A Connection To The Coil.
Flatman... You're absolutely correct...I had 'em backwards (a long time since I went thru electon theory) but in either case the points have to open and close for the coil to work. "When the points close, current through the coil primary increases from zero to maximum in an exponential manner, rapidly at first, then slowing as the current reaches it's maximum value. At low engine speeds, the points are closed long enough to allow the current to reach a higher current level. At higher speeds, the points open before the current has time to reach this maximum level. In fact, at very high speeds, the current may not reach a level high enough to provide sufficient spark, and the engine will begin to miss. This current through the coil builds a magnetic field around the coil. When the points open, the current through the coil is disrupted, and the field collapses. The collapsing field tries to maintain the current through the coil. Without the Condenser, the voltage will rise to a very high value at the points, and arcing will occur."
Yeah, it's funny what I remember from getting a question wrong on a high school auto test 26 years ago Did he get a spark yet? Flatman
No. I went to Auto Zone for points and a condenser and they had to order them. They'll be in tomorrow and I'll report back. Thanks again for all the help.
Ok. I got the points and condenser. I have spark. The engine is grumbling. I haven't gotten it to run, but it's definitely trying. The battery is pretty dead right now, so it's on the charger and I'll give it a try a little later if it's not raining.
Thanks. It's running on it's own now. I was pouring gas in the carb to keep it going, but I figured I'd sacrifice a couple gallons in the tank to see if it could run on it's own and it does. I still have to pump the carb by hand, the gas pedal's not connected, but once you prime it, you can start it inside the car and it'll run.
Hey guys, here's a video of the engine running. TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME. It's really loud. It's because of my cheap digital camera mic. It's really not that loud. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3YpGhpNlcs
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