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05-27-2022, 06:56 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 10
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“A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Back story….. Purchased 1928 CCPU in early November, 2021. Got it home, drove it a few miles over the course of next few days. Went to give ride to wife and it wouldn’t start. Turned over well, had fuel, etc. Because it was late in the year and Wisconsin winter on its way I pushed the truck into heated portion of garage. Over winter did I a few small tasks…..speedometer, repair fuel gauge, head light repair, etc. Spring has arrived and still won’t start. Changed points/condenser to new style, new plugs, new coil, checked wiring connections from starter to junction box to coil to distributor to switch to amp gauge. Besides new points, condenser, plugs, distributor etc the popout switch and distributor cable was also replaced. Have good spark at points but nothing is getting to the plugs. At wits end. What’s left to check/replace? Almost ready to move on from A’s!!??!
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05-27-2022, 09:22 AM | #2 |
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Location: Pennsylvania
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Check the wire from the lower plate to the points. These can break or fray and if they ground out, there will be no power going to the points.
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05-27-2022, 09:57 AM | #3 |
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Location: South East Wisconsin
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
You have spark at points. Good. With ignition switch turned on, you have pulled the closed pints apart and gotten a spark across the points. OK, good.
Now take the big coil wire that goes from the distributer cap to coil and hold it an eighth inch or so from a bare head bolt nut and pull your points apart again like you did to test spark at points. You should get a nice blue spark at the head bolt nut. Unless you have a bad distributer cap or distributer body, you should have spark to the plugs. |
05-27-2022, 10:14 AM | #4 |
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Location: Red Deer, Alberta
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Are you getting spark from the coil high tension lead to ground when you open the points?
Rotor installed? Check rotor for leakage top to bottom in the centre. Too big of a spark at the points can indicate a bad condensor.
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If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! Last edited by katy; 05-27-2022 at 10:16 AM. Reason: Addition |
05-27-2022, 10:20 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Also check the tab on the top of the rotor and the contact on the bottom of the distributor cap. That contact needs to make a good connection to the rotor tab to deliver the spark to the 4 contacts on the distributor body and out to the plugs.
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05-27-2022, 01:13 PM | #6 |
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
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05-27-2022, 01:47 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Dec 2021
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Thanks. Did your test. Had a nice blue spark at the points but when I put the coil wire to a head bolt, the spark wasn’t blue but more orange in color. Nice audible spark though just not blue.
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05-27-2022, 01:50 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2021
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Don’t mean to sound rude but what exactly am I looking for at the rotor and the distributor contact point. Both are new but I understand that todays “new” doesn’t always mean they work as they should
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05-27-2022, 02:48 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Make sure the metal tab on top of the rotor is bent upward a little so it makes contact with the button on the bottom of the cap. I've seen that button either missing or jammed up in the cap a couple times over the years. This is my car. You can see a mark on the tab where the button contacts it.
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05-27-2022, 07:24 PM | #10 |
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Location: Eagle Bend, MN
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
I'd put a voltmeter across the primary of the coil. When point closed should have FULL battery voltage, when open should have zero. If not full battery when points closed, trace til you find out why.
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05-27-2022, 10:03 PM | #11 |
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Take the top off the distributor and crank it over. Watch the shaft where the rotor button goes. If it turns, go to the posts above. If it doesn't you have a stripped timing gear.
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05-28-2022, 10:40 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Sounds like a bad or poor condensor.
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If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! |
05-28-2022, 08:54 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 10
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
Basically took all advice from you all and started over. Rechecked connections, reset points, retimed, checked rotor gap and the spring tab on rotor top. Hit the starter and off she went. Could have been any of the above or a combination but I’m leaning towards the rotor and the spring tab which I adjusted to give it more resistance. Thanks to all.
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05-29-2022, 04:23 AM | #14 |
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Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Re: “A” won’t start…….no spark to plugs
I love a happy ending!
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