The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Condenser Life w/ the Nu-Rex upper plate

Kurt in NJ · 07-07-2011, 09:45 AM

I don't see the advantage of the "modern" type of ignition ---other than the therapy of going from Napa to Napa to buy parts ---most of the modern production points and condensers seem to be troublesome, adjustment of the modern points is not as easy as original, I did have condenser problems with the original setup --untill I got the A&L one, the first one I got so hot it melted the solder holding the strap on ---so I bent the strap to make contact and kept going, at Hershey I made a comment about melting the solder to Al, he gave me a new one that had the strap welded on ---20 years later it is still going, as for heat bothering it I would say I have tested it enough to say it will survive long term use with a almost red hot manifold, and with exhaust gasses blowing on it from a crack in the manifold

I have looked at the quality of the "modern plate", it was at a demonstration in one of the club tents at Hershey --there was enough play between the plate and dist housing to change the gap more than .005, the cam was chrome plated over a rough surface --then I heard the speaker giving the seminar say -- to be reliable --you need--but I got drug out of there before I could ask questions ---to many booth to look at,too little time--

My friend has a 42 harley, it came with a new condenser, it barely ran, put in an old cond I had laying around ---it ran good, he got a new aftermarket cond, ran for 3 hours, got a new one from the dealer, it didn't work from new, got another one, it lasted 100 miles, the bike has now had the old one I found in a junk box for the last 2 years with no problems, but has had 2 new coils fail.

At work I get the problem cars, and the old cars, for a while the good Bosch points were on backorder, the cheap ones failed soon, I would take apart the old ones, clean up the contacts and relube them ( for my own cars I don't buy new)

I believe most "improvements" detract from the original reliability of the "A".---but they can make for good therapy if you like to tinker, and profit for the economy, I have other projects to tinker with, my car has thrived on the neglect that the original designs reliability has allowed.

07-07-2011, 09:45 AM	#12
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,673	Re: Condenser Life w/ the Nu-Rex upper plate I don't see the advantage of the "modern" type of ignition ---other than the therapy of going from Napa to Napa to buy parts ---most of the modern production points and condensers seem to be troublesome, adjustment of the modern points is not as easy as original, I did have condenser problems with the original setup --untill I got the A&L one, the first one I got so hot it melted the solder holding the strap on ---so I bent the strap to make contact and kept going, at Hershey I made a comment about melting the solder to Al, he gave me a new one that had the strap welded on ---20 years later it is still going, as for heat bothering it I would say I have tested it enough to say it will survive long term use with a almost red hot manifold, and with exhaust gasses blowing on it from a crack in the manifold I have looked at the quality of the "modern plate", it was at a demonstration in one of the club tents at Hershey --there was enough play between the plate and dist housing to change the gap more than .005, the cam was chrome plated over a rough surface --then I heard the speaker giving the seminar say -- to be reliable --you need--but I got drug out of there before I could ask questions ---to many booth to look at,too little time-- My friend has a 42 harley, it came with a new condenser, it barely ran, put in an old cond I had laying around ---it ran good, he got a new aftermarket cond, ran for 3 hours, got a new one from the dealer, it didn't work from new, got another one, it lasted 100 miles, the bike has now had the old one I found in a junk box for the last 2 years with no problems, but has had 2 new coils fail. At work I get the problem cars, and the old cars, for a while the good Bosch points were on backorder, the cheap ones failed soon, I would take apart the old ones, clean up the contacts and relube them ( for my own cars I don't buy new) I believe most "improvements" detract from the original reliability of the "A".---but they can make for good therapy if you like to tinker, and profit for the economy, I have other projects to tinker with, my car has thrived on the neglect that the original designs reliability has allowed.