The Ford Barn

Afordman31 · 11-09-2025, 10:40 AM

Retarding the spark when starting engine was fine but when I went over half the travel advancing the spark the engine wanted to cut out. Any suggestions to the problem?

johnbuckley · 11-09-2025, 11:08 AM

I'd suspect soemthing shorting ... possibly the pigtail wire under the plate.

nkaminar · 11-09-2025, 11:15 AM

Check to see if the top plate is not closing up the points in the advanced condition or if the wire going from the top plate to the bottom plate is not shorting out when the top plate is in the advanced position. Another possibility is the arm for the moving points shorting out. Just carefully examine what changes when you advance the timing including using your multimeter. The top plate should not be loose in the distributor so that it's center moves when advancing the timing.

Bob C · 11-09-2025, 12:01 PM

Make sure the flag terminal has the correct bend in it.

Marshall V. Daut · 11-09-2025, 01:24 PM

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Also ensure that the spark rod from the steering column to the distributor isn't rubbing against something metal in its travel, killing the ignition. If for some reason the armored ignition cable is "hot" and the rod touches metal, that will kill the ignition until you move the spark lever and change the position of the rod.
But I agree with the others that the problem most likely is the wire connecting the lower plate to the upper plate, whose flag is touching the metal distributor body and shorting out the ignition. A very common problem. The wire Ford used originally is WAY too thick, stiff and short for the job it has to perform. A longer, smaller gauge wire that is flexible would have been a far better choice and would have saved millions of owners a ton of electrical headaches over the past 97 years!
Marshall

11-09-2025, 10:40 AM	#1
Afordman31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 600	Checking spare Distributor Retarding the spark when starting engine was fine but when I went over half the travel advancing the spark the engine wanted to cut out. Any suggestions to the problem?

11-09-2025, 11:08 AM	#2
johnbuckley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,600	Re: Checking spare Distributor I'd suspect soemthing shorting ... possibly the pigtail wire under the plate. Last edited by johnbuckley; 11-09-2025 at 01:53 PM.

11-09-2025, 11:15 AM	#3
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,855	Re: Checking spare Distributor Check to see if the top plate is not closing up the points in the advanced condition or if the wire going from the top plate to the bottom plate is not shorting out when the top plate is in the advanced position. Another possibility is the arm for the moving points shorting out. Just carefully examine what changes when you advance the timing including using your multimeter. The top plate should not be loose in the distributor so that it's center moves when advancing the timing. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

11-09-2025, 01:24 PM	#5
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,899	Re: Checking spare Distributor Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Also ensure that the spark rod from the steering column to the distributor isn't rubbing against something metal in its travel, killing the ignition. If for some reason the armored ignition cable is "hot" and the rod touches metal, that will kill the ignition until you move the spark lever and change the position of the rod. But I agree with the others that the problem most likely is the wire connecting the lower plate to the upper plate, whose flag is touching the metal distributor body and shorting out the ignition. A very common problem. The wire Ford used originally is WAY too thick, stiff and short for the job it has to perform. A longer, smaller gauge wire that is flexible would have been a far better choice and would have saved millions of owners a ton of electrical headaches over the past 97 years! Marshall Last edited by Marshall V. Daut; 11-09-2025 at 01:38 PM.