The Ford Barn

Tom Wesenberg · 03-16-2013, 04:28 PM

Two important things to look for in the distributor are the insulating washer that goes under the condenser screw head, and the bottom plate wire terminal. The insulating washer not only keeps the buss bar on the lower plate from hitting the cast body, it keeps the screw from bottoming out in the end of the condenser, which can lead to the condenser terminal spinning and ruining a good condenser. The flag terminal MUST be bent at 90* (as Marco has pictured in the past) so it hugs the hex nut on the points pivot stud. If it isn't bent down at 90*, it can reach the spring and short out.

I better add one more thing to check is that the points spring and thin copper strap must not touch the distributor cam at any time, or it causes problems.

Just to be sure, when you check for voltage at the points, you DO HAVE THEM OPEN, don't you? If the points are closed, then you are sending the ground path to the coil, and will have no voltage reading.

03-16-2013, 04:28 PM	#23
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: short in distributor keeps reappearing - any ideas? Two important things to look for in the distributor are the insulating washer that goes under the condenser screw head, and the bottom plate wire terminal. The insulating washer not only keeps the buss bar on the lower plate from hitting the cast body, it keeps the screw from bottoming out in the end of the condenser, which can lead to the condenser terminal spinning and ruining a good condenser. The flag terminal MUST be bent at 90* (as Marco has pictured in the past) so it hugs the hex nut on the points pivot stud. If it isn't bent down at 90*, it can reach the spring and short out. I better add one more thing to check is that the points spring and thin copper strap must not touch the distributor cam at any time, or it causes problems. Just to be sure, when you check for voltage at the points, you DO HAVE THEM OPEN, don't you? If the points are closed, then you are sending the ground path to the coil, and will have no voltage reading.