Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-24-2018, 07:40 PM   #1
Ian in Mississauga
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 136
Default Model B condenser

I have a model B distributor that I want to try. I already have a B timing gear cover and an ignition cable that will work. I had planned to use a model A condenser from A&L. Here's the problem: I see from Vince Falter's site that the 2 condensers have different capacitances.(.20-.25 microfarads for the A and .45-.63 for the B). Is the A&L condenser still a good choice?
Ian in Mississauga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2018, 07:44 PM   #2
J Franklin
Senior Member
 
J Franklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,947
Default Re: Model B condenser

I would use a condenser with the correct compactly.
J Franklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 02-24-2018, 08:06 PM   #3
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,713
Default Re: Model B condenser

Totally different condenser, Berts has new USA B condensers.
https://parts.modelastore.com/show_Product.asp?ID=4240

Bob
Attached Images
File Type: jpg B-condenser.jpg (4.9 KB, 9 views)
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2018, 09:31 PM   #4
Charlie Stephens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 7,017
Default Re: Model B condenser

Does anyone know why there would be two different capacities?

Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2018, 10:26 PM   #5
CWPASADENA
Senior Member
 
CWPASADENA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PASADENA, CA
Posts: 1,882
Default Re: Model B condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens View Post
Does anyone know why there would be two different capacities?

Charlie Stephens

It may be because of the longer dwell time with the B distributor?


I have been told the grind on the B Distributor Cam is different than the A because they were trying to get more dwell time for better coil saturation and a hotter spark.


Chris W.
CWPASADENA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2018, 10:34 PM   #6
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: Model B condenser

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Just guessing here but I do know that the coil and condenser have to be matched or the points will burn out. Maybe Ford used a different coil with the B engine.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2018, 11:56 PM   #7
ursus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,369
Default Re: Model B condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by CWPASADENA View Post
It may be because of the longer dwell time with the B distributor?


I have been told the grind on the B Distributor Cam is different than the A because they were trying to get more dwell time for better coil saturation and a hotter spark.


Chris W.
If that is the case, then we better warn all the guys running B distributor cams in their Model A distributors. I find the claim of such a great difference in capacitance hard to believe as I have used both A and B condensers in my Model B distributors, with no noticeable difference. I've even used the early V-8 condensers, again with no noticeable difference.
ursus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2018, 02:07 AM   #8
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: Model B condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian in Mississauga View Post
I have a model B distributor that I want to try. I already have a B timing gear cover and an ignition cable that will work. I had planned to use a model A condenser from A&L. Here's the problem: I see from Vince Falter's site that the 2 condensers have different capacitances.(.20-.25 microfarads for the A and .45-.63 for the B). Is the A&L condenser still a good choice?


I wonder if the B reading is a misprint somewhere along the line?


All the ignition capacitors I know of are between .20 and .30 microfarads.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2018, 10:00 AM   #9
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,434
Default Re: Model B condenser

The condenser absorbs the current spike that occurs in the primary coil winding when the points open and the field collapses. So the condenser is a match to the coil, not the points.

Typically, distributor coils use a 600V, 0.25-0.29 microfarad condenser.
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2018, 10:34 AM   #10
CT Jack
Senior Member
 
CT Jack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Hebron, CT
Posts: 430
Default Re: Model B condenser

They will both work. The B condenser will store 2 times more energy (more electrons) which might provide a slightly hotter spark. I am just guessing this because I have never seen any testing results to prove that the B distributor with a 0.5 microfarad condenser works better than a 0.25 condenser. BTW 1 microfarad = 1 X 10 to the minus 6th farands.
CT Jack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2018, 05:57 PM   #11
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: Model B condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde View Post
The condenser absorbs the current spike that occurs in the primary coil winding when the points open and the field collapses. So the condenser is a match to the coil, not the points.

Typically, distributor coils use a 600V, 0.25-0.29 microfarad condenser.
Exactly right. That's why I guessed that because they used a different condenser, Ford might have used a different coil on the B engines.
FWIW,
A few years ago, I was building a replica 1920's Grand Prix car and I had bought a Bosch coil for it. I rang their technical department to find out what condenser should go with it. The young guy at the other end didn't have a clue what I was talking about but said that the "old guy" in the office might know. He'd ask and get back. To my surprise, he did ring back and was clearly amazed that the "old guy" knew without using a computer.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2018, 06:13 PM   #12
ursus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,369
Default Re: Model B condenser

My understanding is that, at some point, Ford no longer supplied the Model A-xxxx numbered coil as a replacement and directed the dealers to supply the Model B-xxxx coil for replacement in the Model-A. This would imply there wasn't much if any difference.
ursus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2018, 10:31 AM   #13
BILL WILLIAMSON
Senior Member
 
BILL WILLIAMSON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRESNO, CA
Posts: 12,560
Default Re: Model B condenser

If the burned SPIKE is on 1 point, the capacity is TOO GREAT. If it's on the opposite one, it's TOO LITTLE. If NO SPIKE, IT'S JUST RIGHT!
Bill Scientific
__________________
"THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"
BILL WILLIAMSON is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:42 AM.