ignition 101

[60tudor]

Ok I think I goofed a bit this evening. I finally got the motor in the wagon unstuck(after sitting for 35 year), so I went and got all the tune up parts to see if I could bring this beast to life again. I came home with everything I needed and went to changing parts. When I went to swap out the points and condensor I found that they gave me the wrong points. I went back and got the right one but now Im not sure how they were wired up under the cap. Ive got power to the battery side of the coil and it, the cap rotor and points and condensor are new. Ive got a point gap that isnt perfect but its close and I have no spark./ Does anyone have a diagram I can use to make sure the points are wired up right. I havent messed with anything that wasnt electronic ignition since I had my bug in high school so Im a bit rusty. Any help would be great. Thanks

Darrell

 

[addo]

So, you've got the new condenser fixed off inside the distributor body, and the new points installed with a gap around 25 thou?

Run a jumper wire from battery positive to the coil positive. Run a jumper wire from battery negative to the block, on an unpainted bracket somewhere. Plug the coil lead into the ignition coil, and leave the other end of it free, sitting about 1/8" off an unpainted bolt on the motor. Turn the engine a small amount (maybe 30 degrees) until the points are now closed.

With the distributor cap out of your way, use a long insulated shank screwdriver to push the points open. As you do this, expect to see a clear, strong spark jump from the coil lead tip, to the adjacent "ground" point. Repeat once or twice to check.

If this is all as stated above, then refit your distributor cap and start the motor.

 

[60tudor]

The ground wire inside the distributor gets screwed to where the points screw down, and the condensor and ground wire from the coil are screwed to the points. This is how I have it wired up under the cap. Ill try to pop the points open and see if the coil sparks tomorrow after work. IF anyone could pop off their dist cap and take a quick pic under the rotor Id be much appreciative

Darrell

 

[BIGREDRASA]

Neg wire from coil & terminal from condenser are attached to the post on the side of the points.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg54/FamiliaSalazar/For Sale Items/P10100122.jpg

 

[60tudor]

Thats the way I have it. Thanks for the input. I also have a ground wire that is hooked in on the body of the points where it is screwed to the body of the distributor.

 

[fordconvert]

For testing you can remove the condenser. I have had a couple of bad condensers in recent years. If it works without the condenser you know where the problem is.

 

[60tudor]

I got it running finally. There is a braided copper wire under the advance plate and I had it hooked up to where the breaker points screw down. I disconnected it and it fired up. Now I just need to see if the fuel pump works. Thanks for the help

Darrell