The Ford Barn

Dink66 · 07-29-2016, 06:27 AM

Long story short, I burned up the coil. A friend put a charger on it. 12v neg ground, you guess the rest. New coil, no spark. Think the points burned so I got the whole distributor. I need to file the contacts, but this thing doesn't want to turn. Is this normal or am I missing something? Thanks!

koates · 07-29-2016, 06:42 AM

Hi Dink, Well I guess that I cant quite understand the story you are trying to tell us. Do you have a 6 volt or 12 volt system ? Do you have an original top of the distributer type coil ? Did you leave the ignition switch turned on with the engine not running for some time ? 12 Volt charger connected on a 6 volt system ? What wont turn, the distributer ? We are not mind readers so please give us the full information so we can answer your concerns. Regards, Kevin.

4dFord/SC · 07-29-2016, 07:02 AM

Echoing Kevin, it's a bit difficult to sort out your situation, but I suggest you will find it easier to maintain/replace the points by removing the breaker plate from the distributor.

G.M. · 07-29-2016, 07:40 AM

The ignition switch was ON. There is NO voltage to the coil when
the switch is OFF. The points were also closed, if points are open
there is also no voltage connected to the coil. G.M.

Dink66 · 07-31-2016, 10:18 AM

It's a 6v system. The gen wire was on the coil so straight to the battery. I have the new distributor ready to go on but it sure seems hard to turn by hand. I mean turning the shaft that connects to the motor.

JSeery · 07-31-2016, 10:59 AM

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This is still a bit confusing, why was the "gen wire" straight to the battery and what does this have to do with the coil? Does the car not have an ignition on/off switch? Was the coil wired directly to the battery? See the confusion?

As G.M. pointed out charging the battery incorrectly should have any effect on the ignition system which is the other side of an on/off switch.

koates · 07-31-2016, 07:34 PM

Well reading between the lines I think I get it now ! The battery feed wire which normally would go to the front terminal on the round generator cut out was accidentally connected down on the coil which powered up the coil all the time (not through the ignition switch). The distributer contacts were closed and the coil was burnt out. The distributer contacts are also burnt and overheated. You will need to remove and dismantle the distributer to fit new contacts and set them up on a timer if you have one otherwise just set both sets at .015". AND change those wires around, meaning the cut out and the ignition feed wires. Get your ignition coil rebuilt by Skip Haney. Your rebuilt distributer could be hard to turn with your fingers on the shaft because you are fighting the spring tension of the contacts against the cam. Just fit it on and it will be OK. Regards, Kevin.

07-29-2016, 06:27 AM	#1
Dink66 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 12	37 Distributor Long story short, I burned up the coil. A friend put a charger on it. 12v neg ground, you guess the rest. New coil, no spark. Think the points burned so I got the whole distributor. I need to file the contacts, but this thing doesn't want to turn. Is this normal or am I missing something? Thanks!

07-29-2016, 06:42 AM	#2
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,079	Re: 37 Distributor Hi Dink, Well I guess that I cant quite understand the story you are trying to tell us. Do you have a 6 volt or 12 volt system ? Do you have an original top of the distributer type coil ? Did you leave the ignition switch turned on with the engine not running for some time ? 12 Volt charger connected on a 6 volt system ? What wont turn, the distributer ? We are not mind readers so please give us the full information so we can answer your concerns. Regards, Kevin.

07-29-2016, 07:02 AM	#3
4dFord/SC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,579	Re: 37 Distributor Echoing Kevin, it's a bit difficult to sort out your situation, but I suggest you will find it easier to maintain/replace the points by removing the breaker plate from the distributor.

07-29-2016, 07:40 AM	#4
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: 37 Distributor The ignition switch was ON. There is NO voltage to the coil when the switch is OFF. The points were also closed, if points are open there is also no voltage connected to the coil. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

07-31-2016, 10:18 AM	#5
Dink66 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 12	Re: 37 Distributor It's a 6v system. The gen wire was on the coil so straight to the battery. I have the new distributor ready to go on but it sure seems hard to turn by hand. I mean turning the shaft that connects to the motor.

07-31-2016, 10:59 AM	#6
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 37 Distributor Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) This is still a bit confusing, why was the "gen wire" straight to the battery and what does this have to do with the coil? Does the car not have an ignition on/off switch? Was the coil wired directly to the battery? See the confusion? As G.M. pointed out charging the battery incorrectly should have any effect on the ignition system which is the other side of an on/off switch.

07-31-2016, 07:34 PM	#7
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,079	Re: 37 Distributor Well reading between the lines I think I get it now ! The battery feed wire which normally would go to the front terminal on the round generator cut out was accidentally connected down on the coil which powered up the coil all the time (not through the ignition switch). The distributer contacts were closed and the coil was burnt out. The distributer contacts are also burnt and overheated. You will need to remove and dismantle the distributer to fit new contacts and set them up on a timer if you have one otherwise just set both sets at .015". AND change those wires around, meaning the cut out and the ignition feed wires. Get your ignition coil rebuilt by Skip Haney. Your rebuilt distributer could be hard to turn with your fingers on the shaft because you are fighting the spring tension of the contacts against the cam. Just fit it on and it will be OK. Regards, Kevin.