The Ford Barn

Bob C · 09-09-2012, 03:53 PM

You should have a nice blue spark and it should jump at least 1/4".

Bob

BILL WILLIAMSON · 09-09-2012, 04:29 PM

With just the rotor oon the dist, hold coil wire barely above rotor metal spring, long crank to see if spark is jumping "THROUGH" THE ROTOR & grounding out to the dist shaft. A very SLIGHT, thin spark might be seen, but shouldn't see a strong CRACKLE like spark. Look inside rotor bore, if it's been arcing, it usually leaves a rainbow lookin' discoloration in the bottom of that hole. Bill W.

1931 flamingo · 09-09-2012, 07:13 PM

Change the coil and condenser, probably condenser first. JMO
Paul in CT

bogdonj · 09-09-2012, 08:28 PM

Change the condenser and make sure the inside screw that hold the condenser is there and tight... I had the same symptoms as you and for days exhausted myself trying to trace the problem down and just happened to look and the dist and seen the set screw for the condenser missing...replaced it and it started on its first crank

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 09:49 PM

Where is The set screw on the condenser? On the bottom?

bogdonj · 09-09-2012, 10:14 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulsa

Where is The set screw on the condenser? On the bottom?

Look at the dist and find the hole on it take a light and u will see a screw in there (drivers side)

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 10:32 PM

So driver side there is an access hole for the set screw on side of distributor?

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 10:41 PM

I see a spot on pass side. No screw. Threaded for small screw. Is that it? On pass side of dist.

Only hole I see on driver side is a thru hole on forward side. Then one on rear side that a wire goes into.

bogdonj · 09-09-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulsa

So driver side there is an access hole for the set screw on side of distributor?

Correct it grounds the condenser I believe..may not be your problem but check to make sure it's there or try changing out the condenser....it's easy to do and doesn't take long

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 10:47 PM

Were you Still getting spark before you found that problem?

bogdonj · 09-09-2012, 10:47 PM

Pic of the dis.. does yours have this?

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 10:51 PM

No!!! I'm getting excited now! Where can I get one of those parts? Just have the hole

So I can still get spark but this part does what?

bogdonj · 09-09-2012, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulsa

Were you Still getting spark before you found that problem?

Yes.. I was getting spark.. it was the most frustrating thing ever. This is a video of me trying to start it... felt like it wasn't getting gas but it was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gddWy...6&feature=plcp

Finally got it running but used alot of throttle to try and keep it going... right after this I noticed the screw missing on the inside of the dis that hold the condenser...changed it out and started right up. again, this might NOT be your problem but its good to check... it took me a week to figure it out.. patients is the best.

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 10:56 PM

What's the part called? Where did you get it?

bogdonj · 09-09-2012, 10:59 PM

http://macsautoparts.com/model-a-for...0R3CHL1065715/

remember to buy the screw also.... MAC's is what most people use... I'm in Canada so I have suppliers that I buy from here also.

Do you have a pictures of your dis? be interesting to see what it looks like

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 11:06 PM

Yeah it doesn't have the condenser at all. I found another dist in my bin of extra parts. I will toss it in there tomorrow and try it. I will snap some pics then. Thanks for the help!

bogdonj · 09-09-2012, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulsa

Yeah it doesn't have the condenser at all. I found another dist in my bin of extra parts. I will toss it in there tomorrow and try it. I will snap some pics then. Thanks for the help!

No worries, just remember the old condenser that you have may be garbage also..then again some would say the new ones don't last long either. keep us updated.. interested to see what happens tomorrow. This is definitely your problem if you don't have one currently in the dist.

Tulsa · 09-09-2012, 11:22 PM

Sweet. We will try this one and if nothing order a new one asap!

redmodelt · 09-09-2012, 11:34 PM

If you have a NAPA store they may have one in stock or get it the next day or so.

Tom Wesenberg · 09-10-2012, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulsa

No!!! I'm getting excited now! Where can I get one of those parts? Just have the hole

So I can still get spark but this part does what?

The condenser keeps the points from arcing and burning up quickly. It also greatly intensifies the spark.

Sometimes owners have removed the condenser from the distributor and mounted one up on the coil. Do you have one on the coil?

09-09-2012, 03:53 PM	#21
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,741	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb You should have a nice blue spark and it should jump at least 1/4". Bob

09-09-2012, 04:29 PM	#22
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb With just the rotor oon the dist, hold coil wire barely above rotor metal spring, long crank to see if spark is jumping "THROUGH" THE ROTOR & grounding out to the dist shaft. A very SLIGHT, thin spark might be seen, but shouldn't see a strong CRACKLE like spark. Look inside rotor bore, if it's been arcing, it usually leaves a rainbow lookin' discoloration in the bottom of that hole. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

09-09-2012, 07:13 PM	#23
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb Change the coil and condenser, probably condenser first. JMO Paul in CT

09-09-2012, 08:28 PM	#24
bogdonj Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Walkerton, Ont. Canada Posts: 623	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb Change the condenser and make sure the inside screw that hold the condenser is there and tight... I had the same symptoms as you and for days exhausted myself trying to trace the problem down and just happened to look and the dist and seen the set screw for the condenser missing...replaced it and it started on its first crank __________________ _________________________________________ 1931 Ford Model A Tudor 1930 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster 1930 Ford Original Rolling Chassis- Restoring Last edited by bogdonj; 09-09-2012 at 08:37 PM.

09-09-2012, 09:49 PM	#25
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb Where is The set screw on the condenser? On the bottom?

09-09-2012, 10:32 PM	#27
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb So driver side there is an access hole for the set screw on side of distributor?

09-09-2012, 10:41 PM	#28
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb I see a spot on pass side. No screw. Threaded for small screw. Is that it? On pass side of dist. Only hole I see on driver side is a thru hole on forward side. Then one on rear side that a wire goes into.

09-09-2012, 10:47 PM	#30
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb Were you Still getting spark before you found that problem?

09-09-2012, 10:51 PM	#32
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb No!!! I'm getting excited now! Where can I get one of those parts? Just have the hole So I can still get spark but this part does what?

09-09-2012, 10:56 PM	#34
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb What's the part called? Where did you get it?

09-09-2012, 10:59 PM	#35
bogdonj Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Walkerton, Ont. Canada Posts: 623	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb http://macsautoparts.com/model-a-for...0R3CHL1065715/ remember to buy the screw also.... MAC's is what most people use... I'm in Canada so I have suppliers that I buy from here also. Do you have a pictures of your dis? be interesting to see what it looks like __________________ _________________________________________ 1931 Ford Model A Tudor 1930 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster 1930 Ford Original Rolling Chassis- Restoring

09-09-2012, 11:06 PM	#36
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb Yeah it doesn't have the condenser at all. I found another dist in my bin of extra parts. I will toss it in there tomorrow and try it. I will snap some pics then. Thanks for the help!

09-09-2012, 11:22 PM	#38
Tulsa Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb Sweet. We will try this one and if nothing order a new one asap!

09-09-2012, 11:34 PM	#39
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,339	Re: 30 Starting... No fuel to cylinders, just carb If you have a NAPA store they may have one in stock or get it the next day or so.

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